What do I need on my final to get a B?
A B usually starts at 83%. Carrying 78% into a final worth a fifth of the course, you need a 103 — out of reach. This is the most common near-miss on the site, and the table below shows exactly where the line sits from each starting grade.
Common plus/minus convention; many schools use straight letters or different cut points.
You need 103% on the final.
That is above 100%, so 83% is out of reach from the final alone. The highest you can finish with is 82.4%.
🔢 Show the math
- Work graded so far covers 80% of the course; 20% is still to come.
- Points already banked: 78% × 80% = 62.4 points of the 100 available.
- To finish at 83% you still need 20.6 points from the remaining 20%.
- 20.6 ÷ 20 × 100 = 103% 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 82.4%.
What you need, at every current grade
With a final worth 20% 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? |
|---|---|---|
| 88% | 63.0% | Yes |
| 85% | 75.0% | Yes |
| 82% | 87.0% | Yes |
| 78% | 103.0% | Not with this final alone |
| 75% | 115.0% | Not with this final alone |
| 70% | 135.0% | 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
Where does a B start?
On the common plus-minus scale a B runs from 83 to 86, with B-minus at 80 and B-plus at 87. On a straight-letter scale the B usually begins at 80. Which one applies changes the answer by three whole points, so check before planning around it.
I need a B to pass my major requirement. What now?
Find out precisely which grade the requirement names, since some programmes accept a B-minus and some do not. Then work out both numbers here. If the B is unreachable, that is information worth having before the exam, while withdrawal or a retake are still options.
Why does my required score exceed 100 so easily?
Because a light final leaves most of your grade fixed. When only a fifth is in play, every point you are short of the target needs five points on the exam to recover, and five points short becomes an impossible 125. Weight, not distance, drives it.
Is a B still a good grade?
For most purposes, yes, and treating it as a failure is the mistake worth avoiding here. A B is a 3.0 on the standard scale, keeps most scholarships and programme requirements intact, and reads on a transcript as a course you completed competently.
Other targets
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