Required Grade Calculator
“What do I need on the final?” — the most asked question of exam season. Enter your current course grade, how much the final is worth, and the grade you want. The calculator tells you the exact score required — or whether it's already in the bag (or already out of reach).
Final's share of the course
Required score on the final
60.7%
You can finish as high as 81.8% with a perfect final.
How it works
- Enter your current grade in the course as a percentage.
- Enter the final exam's weight (for example, 30% if the final is worth 30% of the course).
- Enter your target final grade — a pass mark (often 50% or 60%) or a specific goal like 80%.
- The calculator returns the required score on the final, your maximum achievable grade, and a clear status.
The formula
Required final score
required = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w where w = final weight ÷ 100
The course grade is current × (1 − w) + final × w. Solve that equation for the final score needed to hit your target.
Worked example
Worked example — the classic case
- Current grade: 74% · Final weight: 30% · Target: 70%
- w = 0.30 → required = (70 − 74 × 0.70) ÷ 0.30
- required = (70 − 51.8) ÷ 0.30 = 60.7
You need 60.7% on the final to finish with a 70% — very achievable.
Common mistakes
- Using the final's percentage of the course instead of its decimal weight.
- Not realizing the final can only lift you to current × (1 − w) + 100 × w — the calculator shows this maximum.
- Assuming the pass mark of the course equals the pass mark of the final.
Frequently asked questions
My target is a pass — what percentage should I enter?
Enter your institution's pass threshold for the course (commonly 50% or 60%). If your syllabus says “D or better”, enter the percentage that corresponds to the lowest passing letter grade.
What if the required score is over 100%?
Then the target is out of reach — the calculator shows the maximum grade you can still achieve and what a perfect final would give you.
Does this work for any weighted course component?
Yes — it works for any single remaining component (final, project, presentation) with a known weight. The “final” doesn't have to be an exam.
Related tools
Students who used Required Grade Calculator also reach for these.
Final Grade Calculator
Predict your final course grade. Enter your current grade, the final's weight, and the score you expect — see the outcome before you sit the exam.
Grade Calculator
Average your assignment and exam scores to find your current course grade. Points-based method with letter grade and instant results.
Weighted Grade Calculator
Calculate your grade when course components have different weights — homework 20%, midterm 30%, final 50%. Enter scores and weights, get your weighted average.