What this calculator does
With one assessment left, the mark you need is fixed by three things: what you have already earned, how much the final counts for, and where you want to finish. Rearranging the weighted average for the unknown gives it directly.
The weight of the final is the critical input. A heavily weighted exam can rescue a poor semester but can also undo a strong one; a lightly weighted one constrains how far the final grade can move in either direction. The best-case and worst-case rows make that range explicit.
The formula
The final overall mark is your current mark weighted by everything except the final, plus the final’s mark weighted by its own share. Setting that equal to your target and solving for the unknown gives the required mark.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Current mark | Your weighted average across everything completed so far. |
| Weight | The final assessment’s share of the overall grade. |
| Target | The overall mark you are aiming for. |
| Required | What the final must score to reach the target. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Current mark (%) | Your current overall mark, as a percentage, across all completed work. |
| Weight of the final (%) | The final assessment’s weight as a percentage of the total grade. |
| Target overall mark (%) | The overall mark you want to finish with. |
When to use it
Setting a realistic exam target
If the required mark exceeds 100, the target is unreachable regardless of how well you do. Better to know that before the exam than after it.
Checking what you have already secured
If the required mark is at or below zero, the target is already locked in. The best-case and worst-case rows show the full range still available.
Prioritising between subjects
Run each subject separately. The one where a good exam moves the grade furthest is usually where extra study time pays best.
Understanding how much the exam matters
A final worth 20 per cent can only move your overall mark by a limited amount. One worth 60 per cent changes almost everything.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
What you need at different exam weights
A current mark of 72 per cent with a target of 80, across different exam weightings.
| Exam weight | You need | Achievable? | Mark if you score 100% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10% | 152.0% | Not with this final alone | 74.8% |
| 20% | 112.0% | Not with this final alone | 77.6% |
| 30% | 98.7% | Yes | 80.4% |
| 40% | 92.0% | Yes | 83.2% |
| 50% | 88.0% | Yes | 86.0% |
| 60% | 85.3% | Yes | 88.8% |
Different targets at a 40 per cent exam weight
The same position with different overall targets.
| Target grade | You need | Achievable? | Mark if you score 50% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 65% | 54.5% | Yes | 63.2% |
| 70% | 67.0% | Yes | 63.2% |
| 75% | 79.5% | Yes | 63.2% |
| 80% | 92.0% | Yes | 63.2% |
| 85% | 104.5% | Not with this final alone | 63.2% |
| 90% | 117.0% | Not with this final alone | 63.2% |
Questions
What if the required mark is over 100?
The target cannot be reached through the final alone. Check whether any other assessment remains, whether scaling or a supplementary exam applies, or adjust the target to something achievable.
What if the required mark is negative?
The target is already secured: even scoring zero on the final would leave you above it. The best-case row shows how much higher you could still finish.
How do I find my current mark?
It is the weighted average of everything completed, using each item’s weight. The weighted average calculator does this if you have several assessments with different weights.
Does this account for rounding or scaling?
No. Many institutions round final grades or apply scaling to a cohort. Treat the result as the raw requirement and check your institution’s rules for anything on a boundary.
What if there are two assessments left?
Combine them into a single weight and treat the result as the average you need across both. To split it, decide how you expect to perform on one and solve for the other.
For the average across a whole degree, see the GPA calculator. For the general calculation, use the weighted average calculator.