What score do I need on my final exam?
Find the final exam score you need for a target course grade: subtract the weighted points you already have from the target and divide by the final's weight.
Needed final score = (target grade − current grade × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight. With an 84.4% average on the first 60% of the course and a final worth 40%, reaching 85% overall takes a final score of (85 − 50.65) ÷ 0.40 = 85.9%.
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If you know your current grade and how much the final is worth, you can work out the score you need.
needed = (target − current × (1 − w)) ÷ w
Where target and current are percentages, and w is the final’s weight as a decimal
Worked example
Your average across homework, quizzes and the midterm is 84.4%, and those make up 60% of the course. The final is worth the other 40%. You want an 85% overall.
- Weighted points you already have: 84.4167 × 0.60 = 50.65.
- Points you still need: 85 − 50.65 = 34.35.
- The final is worth 40 points of the 100, so you need 34.35 ÷ 40 = 85.9% on it.
Try it: 34.35 of the final’s 40 weighted points
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Different targets
| Target course grade | Final score needed |
|---|---|
| 70% | 48.4% |
| 80% | 73.4% |
| 85% | 85.9% |
| 90% | 98.4% |
| 93% | 105.9% (not possible) |
Try it: Needed for a 90%: 39.35 of 40
Open in calculatorA useful sanity check: if your target is above your current average, you need to beat your current average on the final, and by more when the final’s weight is small.
When the final is worth a lot
With a 40% final, there’s a wide range of possible outcomes. Here, the course grade can be anything from 50.65% (a zero on the final) to 90.65% (a perfect final). That makes the final the deciding factor for most targets.
Finding your current grade first
You need your weighted current grade, not a simple average of every assignment. If you’re not sure, work it out from the syllabus weights. The weighted grade guide walks through it with this same example.
Points-based courses
If your course adds up points rather than using weights, it’s simpler. Suppose you have 412 points out of 500 so far, the final is worth 200, and you want 85% of the total 700 points. You need 0.85 × 700 = 595 points, so 595 − 412 = 183 points on the final, which is 183 ÷ 200 = 91.5%.
Pass/fail thresholds
Some courses require a minimum score on the final itself, regardless of your overall grade. Check the syllabus for a rule like “you must score at least 50% on the final to pass.” The formula above won’t catch it.
For tests where you need a certain number of correct answers, see how many questions do I need right to pass. To turn a raw score into a percentage, see test score percentage.
Questions
What if the answer is over 100%?
Then the target isn’t reachable with the final alone. Ask whether extra credit or a retake is possible, or set a target you can reach.
What if the answer is negative?
You’ve already secured the target. Even a zero on the final would leave you above it, though a zero might break other course rules, so don’t test it.
The calculator links in this guide are checked against the PercentSwift calculator every time the site is built. How we calculate explains the rounding rules. If you spot a mistake, email hello@percentswift.com.
