Calculator
Example data table
| Scenario | Current grade | Weights (current/final) | Target | Required exam score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steady performance | 82% | 60% / 40% | 85% | 89.50% |
| Strong coursework | 92% | 70% / 30% | 90% | 85.33% |
| Exam-heavy course | 75% | 40% / 60% | 80% | 83.33% |
Formula used
How to use this calculator
- Select a calculation mode based on your goal.
- Enter your current grade and the grading weights.
- Provide a target grade or an expected exam score.
- Choose strict or flexible weight handling.
- Click Calculate to view results above the form.
Article
Understanding weighted grading models
Weighted grading combines performance across categories such as coursework and a final exam. Each category contributes proportionally to its weight, so a small change in a heavily weighted component can meaningfully shift the outcome. This calculator treats grades as percentages and applies weights as percentages, matching most syllabi. Dropped scores, extra credit, or curves can change weighting, so align inputs with your syllabus.
Forecasting outcomes from an expected exam score
Use the final grade mode when you have a realistic estimate for the exam. By entering your current average and the exam weight, you get an immediate projection of the overall course percentage. This helps you decide whether extra practice yields a meaningful gain or whether maintaining your current level is sufficient. Test a baseline, a stretch score, and a worst case to understand your likely range.
Setting targets with required score analysis
The required score mode reverses the equation to find the exam percentage needed to reach a target final grade. When the required score exceeds 100 or falls below 0, the target is mathematically unreachable under the given weights. That signal guides more practical goal setting and reduces planning uncertainty. If the required score is close to your typical performance, focus on high impact topics and verify rules with your teacher. For students tracking progress, recalculate after each new assignment. Small improvements in current grade can lower the required exam score markedly, particularly when coursework weight is high over the term.
Interpreting results with rounding and letters
Rounding affects how close you appear to thresholds, especially near letter grade cutoffs. Selecting two decimals is usually enough for planning, while zero decimals mirrors many gradebooks. The letter estimate in this tool is a common scale and should be adjusted if your institution uses different plus or minus boundaries. When you are within one point of a cutoff, treat the estimate as guidance and check remaining points.
Using strict versus flexible weight handling
Strict weight handling requires weights to total 100, preventing accidental omissions. Flexible mode automatically normalizes weights, which is useful when you only know relative importance or your course uses additional categories not yet graded. For accuracy, prefer strict mode once your syllabus weights are confirmed. If your course includes multiple exams, use the combined exam average and set the exam weight accordingly.
FAQs
1) What if my weights do not add up to 100?
Use Flexible mode to auto-normalize weights, or switch to Strict mode and update values until they total 100 exactly.
2) Can I use this for points instead of percentages?
Yes, as long as you convert each component to a percentage first. Enter the percentage and keep weights aligned with your grading scheme.
3) Why is the required exam score above 100?
It means the target grade cannot be reached with the current grade and weights. Lower the target, improve current scores, or confirm grading rules.
4) Does the letter grade always match my school’s scale?
Not always. The tool uses a common plus/minus scale. If your institution uses different cutoffs, interpret the percentage result as primary.
5) How should I choose an expected exam score?
Start with your average on recent tests or practice exams. Then run a few scenarios (baseline, optimistic, conservative) to see the impact.
6) Can I model multiple remaining assessments?
Combine remaining items into one category percentage and weight, or update your current grade after each assessment and recalculate for the final exam.