Final Grade Calculator
What do you need on the final to hit your target grade?
The question it answers
"What do I need on the final?" is a weighted-average rearrangement: your current grade counts for (100 โ weight)% and the exam for the rest, so the needed score is (target โ current ร (1 โ weight)) รท weight. Enter the three numbers and read the answer, with a what-if table showing where each possible exam score lands you.
Sitting at 78% with an 80% target and a 30% final: (80 โ 78ร0.7) รท 0.3 โ 84.7% needed. The verdict line calls it honestly, including the case where the target is already secured โ or already out of reach, where it tells you the best still achievable.
Using it well
The smaller the final's weight, the more your grade is already decided: with a 20% final, each exam point moves the course grade a fifth of a point. That cuts both ways โ a bad final cannot sink a strong term, and a great final cannot rescue a weak one.
If several assessments remain, treat their combined weight as the "final" here for the aggregate score needed across them. And check the syllabus for how the course actually weights components โ some drop the lowest quiz or weight categories rather than points, which changes the arithmetic. Whole-degree averages are the GPA calculator's job; the percentage mechanics are unpacked in our percentages guide.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate what I need on my final exam?
Needed = (target โ current ร (1 โ weight)) รท weight, with weight as a decimal. Enter your numbers above and the calculator does it, with a table of outcomes.
What if it says I need more than 100%?
The target is mathematically out of reach. The calculator then shows the highest grade still possible โ a perfect final โ so you can set a realistic goal.
My course has two exams left, not one. Can I still use this?
Yes โ add their weights together and treat them as one final. The answer is then the average you need across both.
Can I already have secured my target?
If the needed score shows at or below zero, yes โ even a missed final keeps you at or above target. Verify against the syllabus rules before skipping anything.