No final, just assignments left — what do I need to score?
Nothing about the arithmetic requires an exam. Put the combined weight of everything still ungraded where the final's weight goes. With 81% banked and three assignments worth 20% between them, a B at 83% needs an average of 91 across the three. The ceiling, with perfect work, is 84.8.
Common plus/minus convention; many schools use straight letters or different cut points.
You need 91% on the final.
That is within reach — the final is worth 20% of your grade.
🔢 Show the math
- Work graded so far covers 80% of the course; 20% is still to come.
- Points already banked: 81% × 80% = 64.8 points of the 100 available.
- To finish at 83% you still need 18.2 points from the remaining 20%.
- 18.2 ÷ 20 × 100 = 91% on what is left.
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? |
|---|---|---|
| 92% | 47.0% | Yes |
| 87% | 67.0% | Yes |
| 84% | 79.0% | Yes |
| 81% | 91.0% | Yes |
| 78% | 103.0% | Not with this final alone |
| 73% | 123.0% | 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
Does the calculator work without a final exam?
Yes. The formula only cares how much of the grade is still unassigned, not what form it takes. Sum the weights of every ungraded assignment, quiz, and participation component, enter that total, and the result is the average those pieces have to reach for your target to land.
Do the assignments have to be worth the same?
Not for the average shown here, but unequal weights change how that average can be distributed. A ten-point assignment and a two-point one both count toward the 91, yet the larger one carries five times the consequence. Where the split is uneven, the weighted-grade calculator handles each piece separately.
Is a course without a final easier to recover in?
More controllable rather than easier. Marks are spread across several submissions with rubrics, feedback, and no single sitting that decides everything, so a bad day costs less. The trade is that the work is continuous, and late penalties rather than nerves become the main way grades leak away.
What if some assignments are already overdue?
Ask whether they are still accepted before assuming a zero. Many courses take late work at a reduced rate right up to the grade deadline, and a heavily penalised submission still beats nothing at all. One missed piece worth 8% of the course removes eight points from your ceiling permanently.
Other targets
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