This calculator combines the grades in a course when each one counts for a different share of the final mark. Use it during a term to see where you stand, or at the end of one to check your overall grade.
How it’s calculated
A weighted grade multiplies each grade by how much it counts, adds the results, and divides by the total weight:
Weighted grade = Σ (grade × weight) ÷ Σ weight
If your weights add up to less than 100%, the result is your current average for the work graded
so far. Blank rows are ignored.
If a category has several items, like ten homework assignments that together are worth 20%, average them first. Then enter that average as one row with the category’s full weight.
Worked example
A course with homework at 92% (worth 20%), quizzes at 85% (15%), a midterm at 78% (25%) and a final exam at 88% (40%):
- Multiply each grade by its weight: 92 × 20 = 1,840; 85 × 15 = 1,275; 78 × 25 = 1,950; 88 × 40 = 3,520.
- Add the results: 1,840 + 1,275 + 1,950 + 3,520 = 8,585.
- Divide by the total weight: 8,585 ÷ 100 = 85.85.
Weighted grade = 85.9%, which is a B on the most common US scale.
A plain average of the same four grades would give 85.75%. Here the gap is small because the grades are close together. It grows when your best or worst result is the one with the most weight, and that is why a final exam can move your grade so much.
For more examples and the mistakes that most often throw the result off, read How weighted grades work.
Most common US grade scale
The US National Center for Education Statistics describes this four-point scale as the most
common. Scales still vary by school and by course, and many use plus and minus grades, so check
your syllabus.
Common questions
What if my weights don’t add up to 100%?
The calculator divides by the total weight you entered, so the result is your average for the work graded so far. If your weights add up to 60%, you are seeing your grade on that 60%, not your final grade. Add the remaining items when you have them. If your total is above 100%, check your entries, because a course’s weights normally add up to exactly 100%.
Can I use points instead of percentages?
Yes. Convert each item to a percentage first by dividing the points you earned by the points possible and multiplying by 100. For example, 42 out of 50 points is 84%. If your whole course is graded on total points, with no separate categories, you don't need weights at all. Divide your total points earned by your total points possible.
How does dropping the lowest score change my grade?
Work out the category without that score. If your teacher drops the lowest of five quizzes, average the four that count and enter that average as the Quizzes row, with the full weight of the quiz category. Don't enter the dropped score, and don't reduce the weight.
Does extra credit count?
It depends on your course. If extra credit is added to an item’s score, enter the adjusted grade for that item, even if it is above 100. The calculator accepts grades up to 150 and shows a note when one is above 100, so you can check it wasn't a typo. If extra credit is added directly to your final grade, add it to the result yourself.
How do I work out the grade I need on my final exam?
Use this formula, with the final's weight as a decimal. Needed grade = (target − current × (1 − weight)) ÷ weight. For example, with a current grade of 85, a target of 90 and a final worth 40%, you need (90 − 85 × 0.6) ÷ 0.4 = 97.5 on the final. The Final Grade Calculator on this site does this for you.
Why doesn't my result match my school's portal?
Schools can round differently, drop scores, or use their own letter grade cut-offs, and some portals only count work that has already been graded. Check your syllabus for how your course is graded, and treat your teacher's or school's figure as the official one.