What do I need on a final worth 15% to get an A?
A light final cuts both ways: it cannot sink you, and it cannot save you either. At 88% with only 15% of the grade left to play for, an A needs a 101.3 — impossible. Below roughly 88.3 going in, the A is already gone no matter how the exam goes.
Common plus/minus convention; many schools use straight letters or different cut points.
You need 101.3% on the final.
That is above 100%, so 90% is out of reach from the final alone. The highest you can finish with is 89.8%.
🔢 Show the math
- Work graded so far covers 85% of the course; 15% is still to come.
- Points already banked: 88% × 85% = 74.8 points of the 100 available.
- To finish at 90% you still need 15.2 points from the remaining 15%.
- 15.2 ÷ 15 × 100 = 101.33% 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 89.8%.
What you need, at every current grade
With a final worth 15% 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? |
|---|---|---|
| 93% | 73.0% | Yes |
| 91% | 84.3% | Yes |
| 89% | 95.7% | Yes |
| 88% | 101.3% | Not with this final alone |
| 86% | 112.7% | Not with this final alone |
| 82% | 135.3% | 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
What is the lowest current grade that can still reach an A here?
About 88.3%. Below that, even a perfect exam leaves you short, because 85% of your grade is already locked in. The calculator shows the ceiling directly — the "best you can still finish with" figure is the one to look at when the required score exceeds 100.
Is it worth studying hard for a final worth only 15%?
Yes, but for the right reason. A light final rarely changes your letter grade, so the case for studying is protecting the grade you already have rather than chasing one you do not. Scoring 60 instead of 85 on a 15% final costs you nearly four points of course grade.
Can I ask for the weighting to be changed?
Almost never, and asking tends to land badly. What is occasionally available is an alternative assessment or a late-submitted piece of work, which raises your current grade instead — and with a light final, your current grade is where essentially all the leverage is.
What should I do if the A is mathematically out of reach?
Aim at the next boundary and protect it properly. Find the score that secures an A-minus or a B-plus, which will be far lower, and study to clear it comfortably rather than exactly. Chasing an impossible target usually costs the achievable one.
Other targets
The free study kit: schedule template, exam-day checklist, grade tracker
One email when the numbers change. Double opt-in, no spam, unsubscribe anytime.