I am at 70% and need a B — what do I need on the final?
Thirteen points behind with 30% of the course remaining puts the B beyond reach: the requirement is 113, and the best finish still available to you is 79. That is a C+, and it needs a 93.3 on the exam. The C at 73 needs an 80. Those are the two real targets.
Common plus/minus convention; many schools use straight letters or different cut points.
You need 113.3% on the final.
That is above 100%, so 83% is out of reach from the final alone. The highest you can finish with is 79%.
🔢 Show the math
- Work graded so far covers 70% of the course; 30% is still to come.
- Points already banked: 70% × 70% = 49 points of the 100 available.
- To finish at 83% you still need 34 points from the remaining 30%.
- 34 ÷ 30 × 100 = 113.33% on what is left.
- That is above 100%, so this target is out of reach from the remaining work alone — the best you can still finish with is 79%.
What you need, at every current grade
With a final worth 30% of your course grade and a B (83% on a plus-minus scale) as the goal, this is the score you need on the final from each starting point:
| Current grade | You need on the final | Reachable? |
|---|---|---|
| 84% | 80.7% | Yes |
| 79% | 92.3% | Yes |
| 75% | 101.7% | Not with this final alone |
| 70% | 113.3% | Not with this final alone |
| 64% | 127.3% | Not with this final alone |
| 57% | 143.7% | Not with this final alone |
Grading scales vary by institution — your school's own table and syllabus govern. Conversions shown here follow common published conventions.
Frequently asked questions
Does the answer change if my B starts at 80 instead of 83?
It improves and still does not arrive. A straight-letter B at 80 needs 103 from here, which is three points past a perfect paper. Both conventions put the B outside what a 30% final can deliver from 70, so the scale your school uses does not rescue this particular gap.
What is actually worth aiming at now?
The C+ at 77 needs a 93.3 and the C at 73 needs an 80, so the C is the target with margin in it and the C+ is the stretch. Choosing one now and preparing to clear it comfortably beats splitting effort across a boundary you cannot reach and one you nearly can.
Should I withdraw instead of sitting the exam?
Only if the grade you can still reach is worth less to you than a W on the transcript, and only while the deadline is open. A C that satisfies a requirement is usually worth keeping. A C in a course your programme needs at B or above is the case where withdrawal genuinely competes.
Could anything still change my current grade?
It is the question to ask this week rather than after results. A regrade on a paper you queried, an outstanding submission, a dropped-lowest rule you have miscounted, or a marking error each lift your current figure — and every point there removes 3.33 points from what the exam has to earn.
Other targets
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