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Final Exam Calculator

Enter your current grade, the exam's weight, and the pass mark. The calculator returns the lowest score that gets you through.

Details

Results

Exam score needed to pass -
Verdict -
Final score for a C (70) -
Final score for a B (80) -
Final score for an A (90) -

Results computed in your browser.

How the final exam math works

The formula separates what is already locked in from what the final can still change. Take the overall grade you need, subtract what your current grade has already contributed through the non-exam portion, then divide by the exam's weight.

Formula: needed = (target - current x (1 - weight)) / weight

In plain terms: work out how many points your existing grade has already banked, figure out how many points the final can supply, and calculate the percentage of those points you need to hit your mark.

Worked example. You are sitting at 74 percent. The final counts for 25 percent of your grade, and the passing mark is 60 percent. The non-exam portion (75 percent) is locked in at 74, contributing 0.75 x 74 = 55.5 points. To reach 60 overall, the final must supply 60 - 55.5 = 4.5 points through its 25 percent share: 4.5 / 0.25 = 18. A score of 18 on the final is enough to pass. The calculator also shows that a C (70 overall) would need a 58 on the exam, a B (80) would need a 98, and an A (90) is out of reach from the final alone.

Result above 100? That target cannot be reached with the final alone. Ask your instructor about extra credit or a grade replacement option.

More free student tools

Other calculators on the same site.

Related tools: the final grade calculator works the same math around a specific target grade, the grade calculator tracks your weighted course average, and the GPA calculator rolls finished courses into a GPA.

Good to know

FAQs

How do I find what I need on the final exam to pass?

Enter your current grade, the exam weight, and your pass mark. The calculator back-solves the weighted average to find the lowest exam score that still clears the line.

What is a typical passing grade?

Many courses set the pass line at 60 percent (a D) and some at 70 percent (a C). Use the value your syllabus specifies.

Can I still get a C, B or A?

The breakdown shows the exam score needed for a 70, 80, and 90 overall. If a row reads "out of reach," the required score exceeds 100 and cannot be hit through the final alone.

My final exam is worth a different percent. Does that matter?

Yes. A heavier final has more impact on your grade, so the score you need shifts accordingly. Set the exam weight to match your syllabus.

Is this score guaranteed?

It is exact given the numbers you enter. Your instructor's official grading takes precedence if there is any discrepancy.