Grade calculator
Add your grading categories and get the overall grade.
| Category | Weight (%) | Score (%) | Remove row |
|---|---|---|---|
- Any number of categories
- Weights that add up to 100%
- Updates as you type
How to calculate a weighted grade
- Add a row for each grading category.
- Set the weight and your score for each.
- Read the overall weighted grade.
How weighted grades are calculated
Multiply each category's score by its weight, add those weighted points together, then divide by the total weight. A category worth more of your grade pulls the average toward its own score harder than a category worth less.
This is the same weighted average method most course syllabi describe in words, just done automatically as you type. Every score should already be a percentage, so a raw score out of a different total needs converting first.
When category weights do not add up to 100%
Not every syllabus lists weights that total exactly 100, whether they add up to less or more. The tool does not assume they do: it adds up the weighted points, then divides by whatever the weights actually total, so the result is still a fair percentage.
| Category | Weight | Score | Weighted points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading logs | 15% | 88% | 13.2 |
| Labs | 20% | 92% | 18.4 |
| Group project | 20% | 78% | 15.6 |
Add the weighted points: 13.2 + 18.4 + 15.6 = 47.2. The weights only add up to 55, so divide 47.2 by 0.55 (55 over 100), not by 1, for a grade of 85.8%. Dividing by 1 instead would wrongly give 47.2%.
Another weighted breakdown: quizzes, participation, projects and a final
| Category | Weight | Score | Weighted points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quizzes | 15% | 84% | 12.6 |
| Participation | 10% | 96% | 9.6 |
| Projects | 25% | 90% | 22.5 |
| Final exam | 50% | 79% | 39.5 |
These weights add up to 100, so the weighted points add straight to the final grade: 12.6 + 9.6 + 22.5 + 39.5 = 84.2%.
Common mistakes
- Averaging the category percentages instead of weighting them. For the quizzes, participation, projects and final above, a plain average of 84%, 96%, 90% and 79% is 87.3%, but the correctly weighted grade is 84.2%, since the heavier categories should count for more.
- Entering a weight as a decimal, like 0.2 instead of 20. A 90% quiz typed with a weight of 0.2, next to a 75% final at weight 80, barely counts the quiz and gives 75.0%. Enter 20 instead of 0.2 and the same scores give the correct 78.0%.
- Setting a missed assignment's weight to 0 removes it from the average completely instead of hurting your grade. Keep its real weight and enter a score of 0 so it counts as a zero.
- Typing a raw score instead of a percentage, like entering 18 for an 18 out of 20 quiz. Convert it first: 18/20 is 90%, and that 90 is what belongs in the score field.
Grade calculator FAQ
How is the overall grade calculated?
Each score is multiplied by its category weight, the results are added up, and the total is divided by the sum of the weights.
What if my weights do not add up to 100%?
The tool still works: it divides by whatever your weights add up to, but a warning appears so you can check your syllabus for the correct weights.
What is 20% homework at 92%, 30% midterm at 85% and 50% final at 78%?
That averages to 82.9%, since (20 x 92 + 30 x 85 + 50 x 78) / 100 = 82.9.
Can I remove a category?
Yes, click the trash icon at the end of its row.
What happens if a category has a weight of 0?
It is left out of the total entirely, so a 0% weight category cannot raise or lower your grade.
Should I enter a weight as 20 or 0.2?
Enter 20. The tool adds up the weights you type and divides by that total, so a decimal like 0.2 counts for almost nothing next to a weight of 80, instead of the real 20% share you meant.
Do I need to enter every assignment separately?
No. Group assignments into the categories your syllabus uses, like one row for all homework with its average score, instead of one row per assignment.
Can I enter a raw score like 18 out of 20 directly?
No, convert it to a percentage first. 18 out of 20 is 90%, and the score field expects that percentage, not the raw point count.