Grade Calculator
Weighted Average = (Grade₁ × Weight₁ + Grade₂ × Weight₂ + Grade₃ × Weight₃ + ...) / Total Weight
Example:
If you have:
- Grade 1: 90% (Weight: 30%)
- Grade 2: 85% (Weight: 40%)
- Grade 3: 80% (Weight: 30%)
Calculation:
(90×30 + 85×40 + 80×30) / 100 = (2700 + 3400 + 2400) / 100 = 8500 / 100 = 85%
Settings
Required Final Grade = (Target Grade - (Current Grade × (100% - Final Weight%))) ÷ Final Weight%
Example:
If your current grade is 85%, you want an 80% overall, and the final is worth 40%:
(80 - (85 × 60%)) ÷ 40% = (80 - 51) ÷ 0.4 = 72.5%
Understanding the Letter Grade to GPA and Percentage Scale
The grade calculators above follow a standard letter-to-GPA and percentage conversion, helping you quickly evaluate academic performance. Here is the commonly used scale:
| Letter Grade | GPA | Percentage Range |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.3 | 97–100% |
| A | 4.0 | 93–96% |
| A– | 3.7 | 90–92% |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87–89% |
| B | 3.0 | 83–86% |
| B– | 2.7 | 80–82% |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77–79% |
| C | 2.0 | 73–76% |
| C– | 1.7 | 70–72% |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67–69% |
| D | 1.0 | 63–66% |
| D– | 0.7 | 60–62% |
| F | 0.0 | Below 60% |
A Brief History of Grading Systems
Grading systems weren’t always standardized. In the 1700s, Yale used Latin categories like optimi for top students. Harvard took a numeric approach, grading on a 1–200 scale, while William and Mary simply ranked students as No. 1 or No. 2. These systems were highly subjective and inconsistent, which sparked the need for a more uniform approach.
In 1887, Mount Holyoke College introduced the first recognizable letter grading system, using grades A through E, where E represented failure. At the time, anything below 75% was considered failing. Later, the letter F replaced E to indicate a failing grade, and this model gradually became the standard across schools and universities.
Pros and Cons of the Letter Grading System
Letter grades offer a convenient snapshot of student performance, especially in objective subjects like math or science. However, they may not provide detailed feedback for more subjective work like essays or art projects.
Some schools, like Saint Ann’s School in New York City, have moved away from traditional grading. Instead of letter grades, teachers write individual reports on student performance. This approach emphasizes learning and development over numerical scores but can be difficult to scale in larger institutions.
A few other schools, such as Sanborn High School, use more qualitative feedback systems. However, most schools still rely on the familiar letter grade structure due to practicality and ease of implementation.
The Future of Academic Grading
While alternative grading methods may better support student growth, the traditional letter system remains dominant due to its simplicity and standardization. Some educators are exploring blended approaches—combining letter grades with personalized feedback—to offer both measurable benchmarks and meaningful evaluations.