Grade Percentage Calculator
Enter the points you earned and the total points to get your exact percentage and letter grade, add up several assignments, or build a grading grid for any test length. Everything is calculated in your browser.
| Assignment | Earned | Total | Percent | Grade | Remove |
|---|
Grading scale: Standard US (+/−)
Minimum percent for each grade. Edit any value; the scale is saved on this device.
How to use the Grade Percentage Calculator
- Enter points earned and the total points possible, for example 43 out of 50.
- Press Calculate grade to see the percentage, letter grade and how many points were missed.
- Add up several assignments on the Assignments tab and choose total points or the average of percentages.
- Make a grading grid on the Grading grid tab: type the number of questions to see the score for every number wrong.
- Adjust the grading scale if your school uses different cut-offs; your scale is remembered on this device.
Grade percentage formula
A test or assignment grade is the share of available points you earned:
Grade % = (points earned ÷ total points) × 100
Examples: 17 out of 20 = 0.85 × 100 = 85%. 43 out of 50 = 86%. 112 out of 130 = 86.15%. If every question is worth the same, each wrong answer costs 100 ÷ number of questions percent, so one mistake on a 25-question quiz costs 4% and on a 40-question test 2.5%.
Standard US letter grade scale
Most US high schools and colleges use a 10-point scale split into plus and minus grades. Cut-offs vary between schools, so always check your syllabus; you can edit the scale in the calculator above.
| Letter | Percent range | Letter | Percent range |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 97–100 | C+ | 77–79.99 |
| A | 93–96.99 | C | 73–76.99 |
| A− | 90–92.99 | C− | 70–72.99 |
| B+ | 87–89.99 | D+ | 67–69.99 |
| B | 83–86.99 | D | 63–66.99 |
| B− | 80–82.99 | D− | 60–62.99 |
| F | below 60 | ||
Many schools do not award an A+ (an A then runs from 93 to 100), and some use a 7-point scale (A = 93–100, B = 85–92, C = 77–84, D = 70–76).
How many questions can you miss?
To keep a grade, the points you miss must stay at or below (100 − cut-off)% of the total. For a 90% A−, that is 10% of the points:
| Questions | Max wrong for 90% | Max wrong for 80% | Max wrong for 70% | Max wrong for 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 20 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| 25 | 2 | 5 | 7 | 10 |
| 30 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 12 |
| 40 | 4 | 8 | 12 | 16 |
| 50 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 20 |
Teachers can use the Grading grid tab like a paper EZ-grader: type the number of questions and read off the percentage for each number wrong. To combine grades from categories with different weights, use the weighted average calculator; to turn letter grades into a grade point average, try the GPA calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my grade percentage?
Divide the points you earned by the total points possible and multiply by 100. For example, 43 out of 50 is 43 ÷ 50 = 0.86, which is 86%. On the standard US scale that is a B.
What letter grade is 85%?
On the common US plus/minus scale 85% is a B (83–86.99%). On a plain A–F scale without plus and minus grades it is also a B (80–89.99%).
How many questions can I miss and still get an A?
With a 90% cut-off you can miss 10% of the points. On a 20-question test that is 2 questions, on a 25-question test 2 questions (2.5 rounds down), and on a 50-question test 5 questions. The Grading grid tab shows this for any test length.
Should I add points or average percentages across assignments?
If your teacher adds up all the points (a total points system), bigger assignments count more. If each assignment counts the same, average the percentages instead. The two methods give different results when assignments have different totals, so check your syllabus.
Does the calculator round my grade?
The letter grade uses the exact percentage, so 89.99% is a B+ and not an A−. Many teachers round to the nearest whole percent before assigning a letter; you can choose 0 decimals to see the rounded value, but the letter shown always follows the unrounded score.
Can I score more than 100%?
Yes. If you earn extra credit and your points exceed the total, the calculator shows a percentage above 100% and notes the extra credit.
Is my data stored or sent anywhere?
No. All calculations run locally in your browser. Only your custom grading scale is saved in your browser's local storage so it is there next time.