Figure out exactly what you need on your final exam to hit your target grade.
Final Exam Grade Calculator helps you determine the minimum score required on your final exam to achieve your desired overall course grade. Simply enter your current grade, your target grade, and how much the final exam weighs. The calculator uses the standard weighted grade formula to instantly show what you need — and whether it's even possible.
Use the formula: Required = (Desired Grade − Current Grade × (1 − Final Weight)) / Final Weight. For example, if your current grade is 82%, you want a 90%, and the final is worth 20%, you need: (90 − 82 × 0.8) / 0.2 = 124%, which means it's not achievable with the standard grading scale.
If the calculator shows a required score above 100%, it means achieving your desired grade is not mathematically possible with a standard grading scale. The calculator will show you the highest grade you can realistically achieve instead.
The impact depends entirely on the weight assigned to the final exam. A final worth 20% means your existing coursework accounts for 80% of your grade. A final worth 40% has much more influence — your entire semester can pivot on that one exam.
The formula is: Required = (Desired − Current × (1 − W)) / W, where Desired is your target overall grade, Current is your grade before the final, and W is the final exam's weight as a decimal (e.g., 20% = 0.2). This accounts for how much your existing grade carries forward versus the final's contribution.
It depends on your current grade and the final's weight. If you have a high current grade and the final is a small percentage, failing may still result in a passing overall grade. Use the calculator to check — enter your current grade, the minimum passing grade (e.g., 60%), and the final weight to see what you need.