What this calculator does
This tool tells you the average score you must achieve on the work you have not yet completed in order to reach a target final grade. It is useful for students planning how hard to push on a final exam, project, or remaining assignments once part of a course is already graded.
How to use it
Enter three values: your current grade earned so far (as a percentage), the portion of the overall grade that has already been completed (as a percentage of the whole course), and your pass mark or target final grade. The calculator converts your current grade into the points it secures toward the final mark, then works out what you need on the remaining weight.
The formula explained
First, the points already secured equal earned \(\times\) completed \(/\) 100. The remaining weight is 100 \(-\) completed. The score needed on that remaining work is (target \(-\) pointsEarned) \(/\) remaining \(\times\) 100. If the remaining weight is zero, the result simply shows whether you have already met the target.
$$\text{Needed} = \frac{T - E \cdot \frac{C}{100}}{100 - C} \times 100$$ $$\text{where}\quad \left\{ \begin{aligned} E &= \text{Current Grade (\%)} \\ C &= \text{Weight Completed (\%)} \\ T &= \text{Target Grade (\%)} \end{aligned} \right.$$
Worked example
Suppose you have earned 72% over 80% of the course and your target is 60%. Points secured = \(72 \times 80 / 100 = 57.6\). Remaining weight = 20. Score needed = \((60 - 57.6) / 20 \times 100 = 12\%\). So a modest 12% average on the last 20% of work would still get you to 60%.
FAQ
Can the needed score exceed 100%? Yes. If the number is above 100%, the target is mathematically out of reach with the remaining work alone.
Can it be negative? Yes. A negative or zero value means you have already locked in your target even if you score nothing more.
What does "weight completed" mean? It is how much of your final grade has been decided so far — for example, if exams worth 80% of the course are graded, enter 80.
