If you're aiming for…
| Target | You'd need on the final | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| A (93%+) | — | — |
| A- (90%+) | — | — |
| B (83%+) | — | — |
| C (73%+) | — | — |
| D (63%+) | — | — |
How to Calculate Your Final Grade
The formula, a worked example, and the sanity check — in four short steps.
Step 1 — Gather three numbers
Everything comes from two places: your class portal and your syllabus.
- Your current grade — the overall percentage in your portal before the final.
- The grade you want — as a percent. Aiming for a letter? The thresholds are on the grading scale page; an A− is typically 90.
- The final's weight — in the syllabus grading table. “Final exam: 20%” means weight 0.20.
Step 2 — Apply the formula
The logic in one sentence: the rest of the class has already banked Current × (1 − Weight) points toward your goal, and the final has to supply the rest at a rate of Weight per point.
Step 3 — A worked example
Banked: 84 × 0.75 = 63.
Missing: 80 − 63 = 17.
Required: 17 ÷ 0.25 = 68. A 68 on the final holds your B−.
Notice the answer is below the current grade — when your goal is under what you already have, the final only has to not sink you. That surprises people in the good direction.
Step 4 — Sanity-check it
Plug the answer back in: Current × (1 − Weight) + Required × Weight should equal your goal exactly. 84 × 0.75 + 68 × 0.25 = 63 + 17 = 80. If the required score came out above 100, the goal is out of the final's reach; below 0 means it's already locked in — the calculator above flags both instead of printing them as if they were normal answers.