What Do I Need on My Final?
The most-asked question of finals week, answered in three inputs: your current grade, the grade you want, and how much the final is worth. The calculator runs the weighted-average math instantly and tells you the minimum final exam score that gets you there.
It also tells you the truth when the goal is out of reach — and when you've already clinched the grade, so you can reallocate study time to the class that still hangs in the balance.
Does your final have several parts (e.g. multiple choice + essay)? Enter each part, then your course info below.
Is your class graded by total points instead of percentages? Enter your points so far.
Enter each category's weight and your score in it. Leave a score blank if it's not graded yet.
The formula behind the answer
Needed score = (target grade − current grade × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight. Example: current 78%, target 80% (B−), final worth 25%: (80 − 78×0.75) ÷ 0.25 = 86%. Doable. Same situation with a 90% target: (90 − 78×0.75) ÷ 0.25 = 126% — not doable, and better to know now.
Use the answer to study smarter
A target score turns vague dread into a plan. Need a 70? Focus on the big-point question types. Need a 96? Protect your easy points and drill the topics you keep missing. Students who know their number consistently out-study students who don't — the number makes the work feel finite.
Frequently Asked Questions
What score do I need on my final to pass?
Set your target to your school's passing grade (usually 60%, sometimes 65 or 70) in the calculator above. Example: with a 70% current grade and a final worth 30%, you need (60 − 70×0.7) ÷ 0.3 ≈ 36.7% on the final to pass.
What if I need more than 100% on my final?
Then the target grade is mathematically out of reach — no score can get you there. The calculator shows the best grade still available to you (what a 100% on the final would produce), so you can aim for the highest realistic outcome instead.
What if I need 0 or less on my final?
Congratulations — you've already secured the target grade. Even a zero on the final keeps you above it. Consider studying for a different class instead.
Does my current grade include extra credit?
Only if it's already reflected in the grade your teacher reports. Use the exact current grade from your gradebook portal — that's the number your school's math will use too.