What do I need on my final to finish with a 70?
A 70 is the threshold a lot of programmes quietly require: the minimum for a prerequisite, an internship, or a professional registration. From 65% with a quarter of the course left, you need an 85 on the final — a demanding but ordinary target.
Common plus/minus convention; many schools use straight letters or different cut points.
You need 85% 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: 65% × 75% = 48.75 points of the 100 available.
- To finish at 70% you still need 21.25 points from the remaining 25%.
- 21.25 ÷ 25 × 100 = 85% on what is left.
What you need, at every current grade
With a final worth 25% of your course grade and 70% as the goal, this is the score you need on the final from each starting point:
| Current grade | You need on the final | Reachable? |
|---|---|---|
| 78% | 46.0% | Yes |
| 72% | 64.0% | Yes |
| 68% | 76.0% | Yes |
| 65% | 85.0% | Yes |
| 60% | 100.0% | Yes |
| 55% | 115.0% | 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
Why do so many requirements use 70?
It is the C-minus boundary on most US scales and the point at which a grade stops reading as marginal. Health-science programmes, teacher certification routes, and many internships name it specifically, which is why it appears in more requirements than the letter itself does.
Is 69.5 a 70?
Only if your course rounds, and you should confirm rather than assume. Where a programme requirement is involved, the difference between 69.4 and 70 can mean repeating a course, so it is worth knowing your instructor's rounding policy well before the exam.
What if my requirement is a 70 but I only need a C to pass?
Then the requirement is the number to aim at, not the pass mark. Passing the course and satisfying whatever needs the 70 are different tests, and clearing the lower one first can create a false sense that the harder one is handled.
How accurate is this once rounding is involved?
The arithmetic is exact; the rounding is your institution's. Aim a point or two above the number here rather than exactly at it, which absorbs both rounding rules and the small differences that come from how your course handles partial credit.
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.