How weighted grades work
Most syllabi split the grade into categories, each worth a share of the total: homework 20%, tests 40% and so on. Your class grade is the weighted average of your category scores.
Class grade = Σ (category score × weight) ÷ Σ weights
Worked example
Homework 95% (weight 20), quizzes 82% (20), tests 78% (40), project 90% (20):
(95×20 + 82×20 + 78×40 + 90×20) ÷ 100 = 8,460 ÷ 100 = 84.6%, a B on the usual scale.
If the weights don’t add up to 100
Mid-semester, some categories have no grades yet. Leave them out: the calculator divides by the weights you entered, which gives your current standing. It shows a note when your weights don’t total 100.
Letter grade scale used
A 93+, A− 90–92, B+ 87–89, B 83–86, B− 80–82, C+ 77–79, C 73–76, C− 70–72, D+ 67–69, D 65–66, F below 65. Your teacher’s scale is the one that counts.
Worked example
Homework is worth 20% (you have 92), quizzes 30% (84) and tests 50% (78). Your grade is 0.20 × 92 + 0.30 × 84 + 0.50 × 78 = 18.4 + 25.2 + 39 = 82.6, a B− on most US scales.
When some categories have no grades yet
Early in the term, leave empty categories out. The calculator rescales the weights you entered so they add up to 100%, which is how most online gradebooks show your “current” grade. Your final grade can still change a lot once heavier categories, like the final exam, are added.
Points-based classes
If your teacher uses total points instead of weights, add up the points you earned and divide by the points possible. A class with 430 of 500 points is at 86%, no weighting needed.
Related calculators
- Final Grade Calculator: Score you need on the final exam.
- GPA Calculator: Semester GPA from letter grades and credits.
- GPA to Percentage Converter: Convert GPA, percentage and letter grades.
Questions people ask
How do I calculate a category score?
Add up the points you earned in that category and divide by the points possible, then multiply by 100. For example 46 out of 50 homework points is 92%.
What grade do I need on the next test?
Use the final grade calculator: enter your current grade, the test’s weight and the grade you want.
Formula checked October 2026 · How we calculate