Final Grade Calculator
Calculate the score you need on your final exam to reach your target overall course grade, given your current grade and the final's weight.
How It's Calculated
Formula
\text{requiredFinalScore} = \dfrac{\text{targetGrade} - \text{currentGrade} \times (1 - \text{finalWeight})}{\text{finalWeight}}This calculator works out the score you need on your final exam to land on a target overall course grade. Enter your current grade (everything but the final), the final exam's weight toward your overall grade, and the overall grade you want. The result is the exam score required to hit that target — plus an explicit note if the target is already met or impossible to reach with a standard 0-100 exam score.
Worked Examples
Achievable: current 75%, final weight 30%, target 80%
- overallGrade = currentGrade × (1 − finalWeight) + requiredFinalScore × finalWeight
- 80 = 75 × (1 − 0.30) + requiredFinalScore × 0.30
- 80 = 52.5 + requiredFinalScore × 0.30
- requiredFinalScore = (80 − 52.5) / 0.30 = 91.67%
Impossible target: current 50%, final weight 10%, target 95%
- requiredFinalScore = (95 − 50 × 0.90) / 0.10
- requiredFinalScore = (95 − 45) / 0.10 = 500%
- 500% exceeds the 0-100 exam-score domain, so this target is reported as not achievable — the computed value is still shown, not hidden.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if the required score is over 100?
The calculator still shows the computed number, but flags the result as not achievable with a standard 0-100 exam score — that target can't be reached on this final, no matter how well you do.
What if my final exam has no weight (0%)?
With a 0% weight, the final exam can't move your overall grade at all. If your current grade already meets the target, it's reported as already achieved; if it doesn't, the target is reported as not achievable regardless of your exam score.
What if my final exam is worth 100% of my grade?
Then the required score simply equals your target overall grade — your current grade has no effect on the outcome.
What if the required score comes out negative?
A negative required score means your target is already achieved — your current grade already carries you past it regardless of what you score on the final.