Exam Score Predictor
Score needed on final for target grade.
education
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The exam score predictor answers the question every student asks in the last week of term: what do I need on the final to end up with the grade I want? Enter your current grade, the weight the final exam carries, and the target, and it solves for the required score.
The formula
Your course grade is the weighted average of what you have already earned and the final exam:
Course grade = current grade × (1 − final weight) + final score × final weight
Rearranged for the unknown:
Required final score = (target grade − current grade × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight
The weight is used as a fraction, so a final worth 40% enters the formula as 0.4.
A worked example
You are sitting at 78% going into a final worth 40% of the course, and you want an 85.
Required = (85 − 78 × 0.6) ÷ 0.4 = (85 − 46.8) ÷ 0.4 = 38.2 ÷ 0.4 = 95.5
So you need 95.5% on the final. Lower the target to 80 and the requirement drops to 83; raise it to 90 and it becomes 108, which the calculator flags as not possible because no exam pays more than 100.
| Target | Required on the final (current 78, weight 40%) |
|---|---|
| 75 | 70.5 |
| 80 | 83.0 |
| 85 | 95.5 |
| 90 | 108.0 (not possible) |
When the answer is "not possible"
A required score above 100 means the target cannot be reached from where you are, regardless of effort. That is useful information: it tells you to aim for the best reachable grade rather than an impossible one, or to ask whether the course offers extra credit, a dropped assessment or a re-weighting on request. A required score below zero means the target is already secured; even a blank paper would not drop you under it.
The weight matters more than people think
The same current grade and target give very different requirements as the final's weight changes. From 78 aiming for 85, a 20% final demands 113 (impossible) while a 50% final demands 92. A heavily weighted final is a second chance; a lightly weighted one locks in whatever you have.
Related tools
If you want the full course grade from all the components instead, use the grade calculator. Indian semester students working in grade points should use the SGPA calculator.
Exam Score Predictor — frequently asked questions
How do I calculate what I need on my final?
Subtract your current grade times (1 minus the final weight) from your target grade, then divide by the final weight. For a 40% final: (target − 0.6 × current) ÷ 0.4.
What does "not possible" mean?
The required score came out above 100, so the target cannot be reached on that exam. Lower the target or check whether the course offers extra credit or drops an assessment.
My current grade already beats the target. What does the calculator show?
A required score at or below zero, meaning the target is secured whatever you score on the final.
Should I enter the final weight as 40 or 0.4?
Enter it as a percentage, 40. The calculator converts it to a fraction internally.
Does this work for a midterm instead of a final?
Yes. Any single remaining assessment works: enter its weight and your grade on everything completed so far.
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