Final grade calculator: what do I need on my final?

Your course grade is a weighted average of the work so far and the final exam. If the final is worth $w$ (as a decimal):

Rearranging gives the score you need:

Your grade is 82% and the final is worth 30%. You want 85% overall.

• Work so far counts for 70%: $82 \times 0.7 = 57.4$.
• You need $85 - 57.4 = 27.6$ more percentage points from the final.
• The final is worth 30%, so you need $27.6 \div 0.3 = 92\%$ on it.

Aiming for 80% overall instead: $(80 - 57.4) \div 0.3 = 75.3\%$. Trying a few targets shows you what's realistic.

Convert to percentages first. For points (like 412 out of 500), divide and multiply by 100: 82.4%. For letter grades, use your school's scale, for example the boundaries in your course handbook. If different parts of your course are weighted (homework 20%, tests 50%, and so on), work out your current grade with the weighted grade calculator first.

• Need a lot? Start revising early and focus on the topics worth the most marks. Practice papers are the best way to find your gaps; see how to use practice tests.
• Need very little? Don't coast. A strong final can count for more than you think if your teacher rounds borderline grades or uses it for references.
• Need more than 100%? Ask your teacher whether there's coursework, a resubmission or extra credit, and set a realistic new target.

Courses calculate grades in different ways. Some replace your lowest test with the final, some drop a lowest score, and some require a minimum mark on the final to pass the course whatever your average. Check your syllabus or ask your teacher, and use the calculator as a guide rather than a guarantee.