Final grade calculator
Enter your current grade and how much the final exam is worth. This final grade calculator shows the exact score you need on the final for the grade you want, and for every letter grade at once, so you know before you open your notes whether you are fighting for an A or protecting a C. Free, no account.
Your weighted grade before the final
Its share of the course, from the syllabus
The course grade you are aiming for
To finish at 80%
91.67%
You need 91.67% on the final.
Every letter grade at once
A (90%+)
125%
B (80%+)
91.67%
C (70%+)
58.33%
D (60%+)
25%
Struck through = above 100%, so the final alone can't get you there. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
The formula behind the number
The score you need on the final is your target minus the points you have already banked, divided by the final's weight. Written out: needed = (target − current × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight.
The subtraction matters because your current grade only covers the part of the course that is already graded. At 75% with a final worth 30%, you have banked 75 × 0.7 = 52.5 of the 100 course points. A B needs 80, so the final has to supply 27.5 points out of a possible 30. That is a 91.67%.
Bombed your midterm? Run this before you decide anything
A bad midterm feels final because it is the only grade you are looking at. It is usually 15–30% of the course. Here is a real-shaped example: 95% on homework (20% of the grade), 85% on quizzes (20%), and a 55% on a midterm worth 30%. That student's current grade is 75%, which is the example loaded in the calculator above.
With a final worth 30%, the A is gone (it needs 125%). The B needs a 91.67%, hard but possible. The C needs only a 58.33%. So the 55% midterm did not sink the class. It changed which grade is realistic, and that is the decision you actually have to make: go all in for the B, or protect the C and spend the saved hours on another course.
Do the math before you drop the class or switch to pass/fail, because both decisions are hard to undo and are often made on panic instead of numbers. Stanford's academic advising office gives the same advice: weigh the exam's share of the grade and the work still left, and talk to your advisor before changing your grading basis or withdrawing.
When the calculator says you need over 100%
Over 100% means that grade cannot come from the final alone. Before you accept it, check three things in your syllabus, because each one changes the math:
- Grade replacement. Some courses let a stronger final replace your lowest exam. Then the midterm drops out and its weight moves onto the final. In the example above that makes the current grade 90% with a final worth 60%, and the B falls from 91.67% to 73.33%.
- Dropped scores. A dropped lowest quiz or homework raises your current grade, and a higher current grade lowers what you need.
- Work still ungraded. If papers or labs are still outstanding, the final is not the only thing left, so its weight here is too high. Put your remaining work into the category grade calculator instead.
If none of those apply, the honest move is to pick the highest letter that is still under 100% and plan for that one.
Your current grade has to be the weighted one
This calculator is only as accurate as the current grade you type in. Canvas often averages only what your professor has entered, which can put you several points off in either direction. Take the weights from your syllabus, or build the number category by category in the grade calculator. The reason Canvas drifts is explained in how Canvas calculates your grade.
Know this number all semester, not just in finals week
PassAI reads your syllabus PDF, pulls out every graded item and its weight, and keeps your weighted grade current as scores come in. So the "what do I need on the final" answer is already on your dashboard, for every class, before the panic.
Try PassAI free →Final grade calculator FAQs
How do I calculate what I need on my final?
Multiply your current grade by the share of the course that is already graded, subtract that from the grade you want, then divide by the final exam weight. With a 75% current grade and a final worth 30%, a B (80%) needs (80 − 75 × 0.7) ÷ 0.3 = 91.67% on the final.
Can I still pass the class if I failed the midterm?
Usually, yes, because most midterms are worth 15–30% of the course. A student with 95% on homework, 85% on quizzes and a 55% on a 30% midterm is still at 75% overall, and needs only 58.33% on a final worth 30% to finish with a C. Run your own numbers above before assuming the class is gone.
What does it mean if I need more than 100% on the final?
That grade cannot be reached with the final exam alone. Your realistic options are the next letter down, extra credit, or a grade-replacement policy if your syllabus has one (some courses let a strong final replace your lowest exam score). If a passing grade itself is out of reach, check your school’s withdrawal and pass/fail deadlines with your advisor.
Where do I find the weight of my final exam?
In the grading breakdown of your syllabus, usually a table near the top listing each category and its percentage. If the final is listed inside a combined "Exams 50%" line, ask your professor how that category splits, because the answer changes the math a lot.
What should I enter as my current grade?
Your weighted grade across everything graded so far, not the Canvas number. Canvas often skips ungraded work or counts placeholder zeros, so it can be several points off. Use the PassAI category grade calculator to get the weighted number from your syllabus weights first.
Does a curve change what I need?
It can. This calculator uses standard cutoffs (90/80/70/60), and a curve lowers them. If your professor curves, treat the result as the worst case, and ask what the cutoffs were last term.
Is this final grade calculator free?
Yes. No account, no email, and nothing you type is sent anywhere. The math runs in your browser.
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