Final grade calculator
Enter your current grade, the final's weight, and your target. We'll show the score you need — including when the math goes over 100%.
It does not read Canvas or any other gradebook. This is planning math you can check against your syllabus.
NEEDED ON FINAL
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Enter numbers and calculate.
Estimated course grade: 27.6%
When to use — and when not to
When to use
Sunday night before finals week and you only know three numbers from the syllabus; checking whether an A− is still possible; comparing “I need an 82” vs “I need a 101.”
When not to
You still have big homework left besides the final — model remaining work, or use the weighted grade calculator first. You only want a letter for a known percent — use percentage to letter grade.
Assumptions
Current grade excludes the final. Final weight is a percent of the whole course (default demo 30%). Target is a course percent; letter targets map through the editable scale. Extra credit = 0 unless you raise the max score ceiling.
How it works
needed = (target − current × (1 − w)) / w w = final_weight_percent / 100 if needed ≤ 0 → already secured; if needed > 100 → not reachable without extra credit
- Convert final weight W% → w = W/100.
- needed = (target − current × (1 − w)) / w
- If needed ≤ 0 → target already secured under these weights.
- If 0 < needed ≤ 100 → reachable (use the what-if band).
- If needed > 100 → not reachable without extra credit or a curve.
Examples
current 85, final weight 30%, target 90
needed ≈ 101.7% → not reachable under these weights
Drop target to 88 → needed ≈ 95%.
current 78, final 25%, target 80
needed ≈ 86%
Same current with a 40% final → needed ≈ 83%.
Gotchas
- Canvas “current” may include empty zeros — uncheck “treat ungraded as zero” or rebuild from categories.
- Final inside the “tests” bucket is not the same as a separate 30% final.
- Letter cutoffs differ — a “B” might be 80 or 83; set the scale before trusting letter mode.
- Curves and drops are not modeled; if your prof drops the lowest quiz, your true current is higher.
Compare
Same question in plainer words? → what do I need on my final.
Need categories first? → weighted grade calculator.
Final exam wording specifically? → final exam grade calculator.
Related
FAQ
(target − current × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight. This page does that and shows reachability.