Final Grade Calculator

The final exam formula

Your class grade after the final is a weighted average of the grade you have now and your final exam score:

Class grade = current grade × (1 − w) + final score × w

Rearrange it to find the score you need:

Final score needed = (target grade − current grade × (1 − w)) ÷ w

Here w is the final’s weight as a decimal (25% = 0.25).

Worked example

You have an 84%, the final is worth 25%, and you want a 90% in the class:

(90 − 84 × 0.75) ÷ 0.25 = (90 − 63) ÷ 0.25 = 108%. That is more than 100%, so a 90 is out of reach unless there is extra credit. An 87% would need a 96 on the final.

Reading the result

• Above 100%: the target can’t be reached with the final alone.
• Below 0%: you keep the target grade even with a zero on the final (not recommended to test).
• The table under the result shows the class grade you end with for each final score, so you can plan for a realistic score.

When this formula doesn’t fit

Some classes drop the lowest test, let the final replace a midterm, or use points instead of percentages. If your class uses points, divide your points by the total possible so far to get your current percentage. For classes graded by category, use the weighted grade calculator.

A common mistake

Don’t average your current grade with the exam score. If the final is worth 30%, a 90 on it only moves your grade 30% of the way toward 90. That’s why a big jump late in the term is hard, and why the calculator sometimes says the grade you want is out of reach.

Related calculators

• Weighted Grade Calculator: Class grade from weighted categories.
• GPA Calculator: Semester GPA from letter grades and credits.
• Cumulative GPA Calculator: Combine a new semester with your overall GPA.

Formula checked October 2026 · How we calculate