How to Calculate a Weighted Grade and the Final Exam Score You Need
Learn how weighted grades work, how to calculate your current grade, and how to find the final exam score needed for your target.
Not all marks count equally. A final exam may be worth 40 percent while a quiz is worth 5. The free Weighted Grade Calculator shows your current grade and what you need on the final.
Quick answer
Multiply each score by its weight, add them up, and divide by the total weight so far. To find the final score you need: (target minus points earned) divided by final weight.
The Weighted Grade Calculator tool on shobfree.com, ready to use in your browser.
A worked example
| Part | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 85 | 20% |
| Midterm | 72 | 30% |
| Project | 90 | 20% |
Points earned: 0.20 x 85 + 0.30 x 72 + 0.20 x 90 = 17 + 21.6 + 18 = 56.6 out of 70.
Your current grade is 56.6 divided by 0.70 = about 80.9 percent.
The final is worth the remaining 30 percent. To reach 80 overall you need (80 minus 56.6) divided by 0.30 = 78 on the final. To reach 85 you need about 95.
How to use the calculator
- Enter one line per part: name, score, weight.
- Add the final exam weight and your target grade.
- Read the current grade and the score needed.
Tips
- If the score needed is above 100, the target is out of reach, so choose a realistic one.
- Check your course outline for the exact weights and any rounding rules.
- Use it before the final to decide where to put your study time.
Reading a syllabus
Look for a table of components with percentages. Some courses drop the lowest quiz or give extra credit, which changes the maths. If a rule drops the lowest score, remove it from your list before you calculate. If there is a bonus, add it as an extra line with its own weight.
Planning your effort
If your current grade is 81 and the final is worth 30 percent, a 10-point improvement on the final lifts your overall grade by 3 points. The same effort on a quiz worth 5 percent lifts it by half a point. Put your study time where the weight is, and do not ignore smaller parts that are easy to improve.
Example with a dropped quiz
A course has five quizzes worth 20 percent in total, with the lowest score dropped. Your scores are 70, 90, 60, 80 and 85. Dropping 60 leaves 70, 90, 80 and 85, with an average of 81.25. That average earns 0.20 x 81.25 = 16.25 points. Apply the course's own rule before you enter the figure in the calculator.
Common course structures
Many university courses use around 40 to 60 percent for the final exam, 20 to 30 for a midterm and the rest for assignments. Check your outline in the first week and keep a copy of the weights.
Sources and further reading
- Always rely on your institution's official grading policy for the final decision.
Frequently asked questions
What if my weights do not add to 100? The calculator scales your current grade to the weights entered.
Can I use it for GPA? It gives a percentage. For GPA, use the CGPA Calculator.
Are percentages and letter grades the same? No. Convert your final percentage using your school's grade table.
Next step
Enter your marks in the Weighted Grade Calculator.
