Study & writing
What do I need on my final?
Enter your grade so far, the grade you are aiming for and the weight of the final exam; get the minimum score you need on the final.
Use the current grade your course portal shows for everything except the final, and the weight from the syllabus.
The formula for the score you need
Your course grade is a weighted average of the work done so far and the final exam. If the final counts for a share w of the grade, everything else counts for 1 − w. The score you need on the final is therefore: (target grade − current grade × (1 − w)) ÷ w. The calculator rounds the result up to one decimal place, because rounding down could leave you a fraction short.
Example: your current grade is 82%, you want 85% in the course and the final is worth 30%. The work so far contributes 82 × 0.70 = 57.4 points. You need 85 − 57.4 = 27.6 more points from an exam worth 30, so you must score 27.6 ÷ 0.30 = 92% on the final. A perfect final would give you 87.4%; a zero would leave you at 57.4%.
| Final weight (current grade 75%) | Needed to finish with 70% | Needed to finish with 80% |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | 50% | 100% |
| 25% | 55% | 95% |
| 30% | 58.4% | 91.7% |
| 40% | 62.5% | 87.5% |
| 50% | 65% | 85% |
The table shows the key pattern. The heavier the final, the easier it is to climb above your current grade, and the easier it is to fall below it as well. With a light final, raising your grade by five points can be impossible even with a perfect paper.
Reading the result and common mistakes
The most frequent error is using the wrong current grade. You need your average across everything except the final, already weighted by the syllabus categories. Many course portals show exactly that figure; if yours shows a running total in points instead, divide the points earned by the points possible so far. A second mistake is entering a weight that does not match the syllabus, for example treating a cumulative exam worth 35% as if it were the usual 25%.
A result above 100% means the target is out of reach through the final alone. That is useful to know early: you can ask about extra credit, focus on a lower but realistic goal, or check whether the lowest quiz is dropped. A result in the 90s calls for a study plan built around past papers. A result below your usual exam scores means you have a margin, but not a reason to skip preparation: if the final can also lower your grade, the column for a lower target shows how much room you have before you drop a letter.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate what I need on my final exam?
Subtract current grade × (1 − final weight) from your target, then divide by the final weight. With 82% now, a 30% final and an 85% target: (85 − 57.4) ÷ 0.3 = 92%.
Can a final exam drop my grade?
Yes. If you score below your current grade, the course grade falls. With a 30% final and 82% now, a score of 60% on the final would give 0.7 × 82 + 0.3 × 60 = 75.4%.
What if I need more than 100% on my final?
Then the target cannot be reached through the final alone. Look for extra credit, dropped scores or a regrade, or set a lower target that the calculator shows as reachable.