Weighted average and the final-exam target
Each row has a score percentage and a weight percentage. The current grade is Σ(score × weight) ÷ Σ weight, so it is the average of only the work you have entered, scaled to the weights used so far. The letter next to it follows a plus/minus table: 97 and up is A+, 93 A, 90 A−, 87 B+, 83 B, 80 B−, 77 C+, 73 C, 70 C−, 67 D+, 63 D, 60 D−, and anything below 60 is F.
The final-exam box solves for the missing term. With weights as fractions, it computes needed = (target − current × weight so far) ÷ final weight.
Worked example
Homework 95% (20%), midterm 82% (30%) and project 88% (20%). The points earned are 19 + 24.6 + 17.6 = 61.2 out of the 70% of the course graded, so the current grade is 61.2 ÷ 70 = 87.4% (B+). With a final worth 30% and a target of 90%, you have banked 61.2 points of the 90 needed, leaving 28.8. Divided by the 30% weight, that is 96.0% on the final. For a target of 80% the figure is about 62.7%, and for 93% it is 106.0%, which the page flags as unreachable.
Mistakes to avoid
- Weights that do not match the syllabus. The final calculation assumes your listed items plus the final make up the whole course. If the listed weights plus the final weight do not sum to 100, the tool shows a message with the actual total and leaves the needed score blank, so fix the weights first. The current grade is unaffected.
- Treating the current grade as your course grade. It is an average of completed work only, and it will change as the rest is graded.
- Dropped scores and extra credit. Dropping the lowest quiz means leaving it out, and extra credit can be entered as a score above 100, but the tool does not apply either rule by itself.
- Point-based classes. If a course is graded on total points rather than percentages, convert each item to a percentage and use its point share as the weight.
- Letter cut-offs differ. Some schools use 90/80/70/60 without plus or minus, so read the letter as a guide and check your syllabus.
A result above 100% means the target cannot be reached with that final alone. A negative figure means the target is already secured, whatever the final score. To convert course letters into a term average, put the results in the GPA calculator, and use the percentage calculator for single-item checks.