How to Calculate Your Grade: Simple Guide for School, College & University
Every student has asked the same question at some point: “What is my grade right now?”. Whether you are in high school in the US, doing A-levels in the UK, or studying at a university in Canada or Australia, understanding how your grade is calculated gives you control over your results.
This grade calculator lets you enter every test, quiz, homework and project, apply weights (for example, tests 40%, homework 20%, final exam 30%), and instantly see your overall percentage and letter grade. You can also use it as a “what do I need on my final exam?” calculator to plan the rest of your semester.
How weighted grade calculation works
Most schools and universities use a weighted grading system. Instead of treating every assignment the same, each category has a different impact on your final grade. A common example used in the US, UK and Canada is:
- Tests or exams – 40%
- Homework or coursework – 20%
- Quizzes – 15%
- Projects or labs – 15%
- Participation or attendance – 10%
To calculate your final grade:
- Find your average percentage for each category (for example, your average test score).
- Multiply that average by the category weight (for example, test average × 0.40).
- Add all weighted values together – the result is your overall percentage grade.
US, UK, Canada & international grading scales
Different countries and even different schools use slightly different grading scales. Here are a few common patterns:
- United States: A = 90–100, B = 80–89, C = 70–79, D = 60–69, F = below 60. Many colleges also use A-, B+, etc.
- United Kingdom: Schools often report percentages, while GCSE and A-level subjects are graded from 9–1 or A*–E.
- Canada & Australia: Many schools use a similar A–F scale to the US, but cut-offs can vary by province or institution.
- University grading: Some universities convert percentages into a GPA on a 4.0 scale.
Our grade calculator is flexible enough to work with all of these systems. Once you know your percentage, you can also convert it to GPA using our GPA Calculator.
Planning your final exam: what grade do I need?
One of the most popular uses of this tool is to answer: “What do I need on my final exam to get an A or to pass the class?”.
A simple formula you can use is:
Instead of doing this by hand, just enter your current assignments in the calculator, set the final exam weight, and adjust the final exam score until the final percentage matches your goal.
For money-related subjects, you can also try our Loan Calculator or Compound Interest Calculator to understand how grades in finance or math topics connect to real-life numbers.
Tips to improve your grade this semester
Once you know exactly where you stand, it’s easier to improve. Here are realistic, student-friendly tips:
- Focus more on the categories with the heaviest weight (usually tests and exams).
- Never skip “easy points” – homework, small quizzes and participation can lift your average.
- Use the calculator weekly to see if you are on track for your target grade.
- Ask your teacher or professor which upcoming assignments matter most.
For quick checks during study sessions, you can also keep our Percentage Calculator open in another tab.