Grade Calculator
Updated by Grade Calculator Plus
Turn your assignment scores into a course grade and a letter grade with this grade calculator. Enter scores as percentages or as points earned out of points possible, and add weights if your class counts some work more than other work.
For a single test, the test grade calculator gives the score for every possible number wrong.
How the grade calculator works
The grade calculator averages your scores in one of three ways, depending on how they're written and whether you add weights. Your course grade updates as you type, and the working shows under it, such as "63 points earned ÷ 70 possible = 90%".
- Percentages without weights: the plain average. 90, 80 and 70 average to 80%.
- Points without weights: total points earned divided by total points possible. 18 out of 20 and 45 out of 50 make 63 out of 70, which is 90%.
- With weights: each score counts in proportion to its weight. The weights are relative, so 1, 2 and 3 give the same result as 10, 20 and 30.
The weighted formula is (score 1 × weight 1 + score 2 × weight 2 + …) ÷ (weight 1 + weight 2 + …). Give every assignment a weight, or none of them; the calculator flags a mix so you can fix it. If your syllabus lists category weights like Homework 20%, the weighted calculator is set up for exactly that.
Points or percentages
Use whichever matches your gradebook. For points, type each score in Points earned and Points possible: 45 and 50 for 45/50. Points work better when assignments are out of different totals: a 50-point test then counts five times as much as a 10-point quiz without any weights. Percentages treat every score the same unless you add weights.
Adding extra credit
A score above 100% counts in full in every mode, so 105% on a quiz lifts your grade. Points mode without weights also takes bonus rows; the FAQ below shows how.
How the letter grade is decided
The letter comes from the grading scale in use: the 10-point scale with plus and minus, unless you pick another from the Scale menu under the calculator. You can also compare the common grading scales. Grade Calculator Plus rounds your percentage to two decimals before it looks up the letter, so 89.995% shows as 90% and earns an A-, while 89.994% stays a B+.
Your school sets its own scale, so check the syllabus when a result sits near a cutoff.
Example
Your homework average is 90% with a weight of 20, your quizzes average 80% with a weight of 30, and your exam is 70% with a weight of 50.
90 × 20 = 1,800, 80 × 30 = 2,400 and 70 × 50 = 3,500. They add up to 7,700, and the weights add up to 100, so the course grade is 7,700 ÷ 100 = 77%, a C+. Press "Try an example" to fill in these numbers.
If your final is still ahead, open "Plan for your final exam (optional)" under the calculator to see the score you need, or work out how much you need on your final on its own page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my grade?
Divide the points you've earned by the points possible and multiply by 100. If your class counts some work more than other work, multiply each score by its weight, add those up and divide by the total weight. The grade calculator above does either and shows the letter grade on your chosen scale.
How do I add extra credit?
Enter a score above 100%, or more earned points than possible points, and it counts as extra credit. In points mode without weights you can also add a bonus row: set possible points to 0 and type the bonus as earned points. Bonus rows don't work with weights, because a row worth 0 points has no percentage to weight.
Can I see how a future assignment would change my grade?
Yes. Add a row for the assignment you haven't done yet, type the score you expect along with its weight or points, and the course grade updates straight away. Try a few scores to see what it would take to move up a letter.