I am at 79% and need a B — what do I need on the final?
One point below a boundary is the most frustrating place to sit and one of the easiest to fix. Taking the B at 80, as straight-letter scales do, a 25% final needs an 83 from your 79. A single point of course grade costs four exam points, and the table shows the rest.
Common plus/minus convention; many schools use straight letters or different cut points.
You need 83% on the final.
That is within reach — the final is worth 25% of your grade.
🔢 Show the math
- Work graded so far covers 75% of the course; 25% is still to come.
- Points already banked: 79% × 75% = 59.25 points of the 100 available.
- To finish at 80% you still need 20.75 points from the remaining 25%.
- 20.75 ÷ 25 × 100 = 83% on what is left.
What you need, at every current grade
With a final worth 25% of your course grade and a B (80% on a straight-letter 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? |
|---|---|---|
| 87% | 59.0% | Yes |
| 84% | 68.0% | Yes |
| 81% | 77.0% | Yes |
| 79% | 83.0% | Yes |
| 75% | 95.0% | Yes |
| 70% | 110.0% | 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
Is 79 a B or a C+?
On a straight-letter scale it is the top of the C range and the B begins at 80, which is the convention this page uses. On the plus-minus scale it is a C+, with the B-minus at 80 and the B itself at 83. Your syllabus decides which of those two questions you are actually asking.
Will my instructor round 79.5 up?
Some do and some publish a policy of not doing so, and one point from a boundary is precisely where the difference bites. Rounding is also applied to the final course figure rather than to individual components, so a generous rule on one assignment does not imply a generous rule at the end.
What is the cheapest way to gain that one point?
Almost always something other than the exam. One point of course grade needs four exam points at this weight, but it might equally come from a late submission accepted at a penalty, an optional assignment, a regrade request on a paper that was marked quickly, or unclaimed participation credit.
What is the risk if I do nothing special?
A middling exam pulls you further from the line rather than leaving you level. Scoring 70 finishes you at 76.75, which is below where you started, because the exam replaces a quarter of an average that is currently higher than that. Standing still requires a 79, not an average performance.
Other targets
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