What do I need on my final to get an A?
An A is usually 90%, and how reachable it is depends almost entirely on how much your final is worth. Sitting at 87% with a final worth a fifth of the course, you need a 102 — just out of reach. The table below shows the exact score required from every starting point.
Common plus/minus convention; many schools use straight letters or different cut points.
You need 102% on the final.
That is above 100%, so 90% is out of reach from the final alone. The highest you can finish with is 89.6%.
🔢 Show the math
- Work graded so far covers 80% of the course; 20% is still to come.
- Points already banked: 87% × 80% = 69.6 points of the 100 available.
- To finish at 90% you still need 20.4 points from the remaining 20%.
- 20.4 ÷ 20 × 100 = 102% 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 89.6%.
What you need, at every current grade
With a final worth 20% of your course grade and an A (90%) as the goal, this is the score you need on the final from each starting point:
| Current grade | You need on the final | Reachable? |
|---|---|---|
| 95% | 70.0% | Yes |
| 92% | 82.0% | Yes |
| 89% | 94.0% | Yes |
| 87% | 102.0% | Not with this final alone |
| 84% | 114.0% | Not with this final alone |
| 80% | 130.0% | 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
Can I still get an A if I am at 87%?
It depends on the weight of the final. At 87% with a final worth 20% of the course you need slightly over 100, so no. Make the final worth 30% and the same 87 needs a 97, which is hard but possible. The weight is the whole story.
Why does a heavier final make an A easier from below?
Because a heavier final gives the exam more room to move your average. When the final is worth half the grade, half your existing average is discarded and replaced by whatever you score. If you are behind your target, that replacement works in your favour.
Is 89.5% an A?
Only if your course rounds, and many do not. Some instructors round to the nearest whole number, some truncate, and some publish a policy of no rounding at all. Check the syllabus before assuming half a point will be handed to you at the boundary.
What if I need an A for a scholarship?
Then find out now whether the requirement is a course grade or a GPA, because they behave differently: one bad course can be offset elsewhere in a GPA but not within itself. Work out the exact score, then talk to your instructor before the exam rather than after it.
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