Quick answer
A grade as a percentage is points earned divided by points possible, times 100. Enter the points you earned and the total possible and the calculator returns the percentage and the letter grade on the common US scale.
Your school may use different cut-offs or weighting, so treat the letter as a guide. For a single assignment or test, the percentage is simply score ÷ total.
Most searches for a grade calculator are about a whole course. For a course made of weighted parts (homework, tests, a final), use the Weighted Grade Calculator; to find the score you need on a final exam to reach a target grade, use the Final Grade Calculator.
Related tools: Grade Curve Calculator: Apply a flat or proportional curve to a set of scores. Final Grade Calculator: The score needed on a final exam to reach a target course grade. Weighted Grade Calculator: Course grade from scores and their weights.
How to use the Grade Calculator
- Enter points earned (0 or more).
- Enter points possible (above 0).
- Press Calculate to see the result, and use Reset to start again.
| Input | What to enter | Allowed values |
|---|---|---|
| Points earned | A number | ≥ 0 |
| Points possible | A number | > 0 |
Formula and method
Formula
grade % = earned ÷ possible × 100
Rounded to 2 decimal places for GPA, 2 for percentages.
Letter bands: A 90+, B 80–89.99, C 70–79.99, D 60–69.99, F below 60 (common US convention).
Worked examples
These examples are verified: each one is an automated test case that the live calculator must reproduce exactly.
Example 1
Inputs: Points earned = 45; Points possible = 50.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Grade | 90% |
| Letter grade | A |
Example 2
Inputs: Points earned = 59.5; Points possible = 100.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Grade | 59.5% |
| Letter grade | F |
Example 3
Inputs: Points earned = 105; Points possible = 100.
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Grade | 105% |
| Letter grade | A |
The first line is the headline result (grade). Below it the grade Calculator lists letter grade, which describe the same case from other angles. Rounded to 2 decimal places for GPA, 2 for percentages.
Letter grade bands used
| Percentage | Letter |
|---|---|
| 90 and above | A |
| 80 to 89.99 | B |
| 70 to 79.99 | C |
| 60 to 69.99 | D |
| Below 60 | F |
Letter grades and what you still need
45 of 50 points is 90%. Which letter that earns depends on your school's scale; many courses use 90% as the A cut-off, but check your syllabus.
To plan ahead, work out the points you still need. With 45 of 50 earned and a 50-point final, an 85% overall target on 100 points needs 40 of the final's 50 points, which is 80%.
Scores out of 50
Every figure in this table comes from running this calculator, so it matches what the form returns.
| Points earned | Grade | Letter grade |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 100% | A |
| 45 | 90% | A |
| 40 | 80% | B |
| 35 | 70% | C |
| 30 | 60% | D |
What happens with invalid input
These messages are produced by the calculator itself, so you know what to fix.
- Points possible: entering "0" shows "Points possible must be greater than 0." beside that field and no result.
- Points earned: entering "-1" shows "Points earned must be at least 0." beside that field and no result.
Choosing between the Grade Calculator and similar calculators
Each row shows what a related calculator on this site asks for and what it returns, so you can pick the one that matches your question.
| Calculator | You enter | It returns |
|---|---|---|
| [Grade Curve Calculator](/education/grade-curve/) | scores, score the top student should get and curve | Curved scores |
| [Final Grade Calculator](/education/final-grade-calculator/) | current grade, grade you want and final exam weight | Score needed on the final |
| [Weighted Grade Calculator](/education/weighted-grade-calculator/) | scores and weights | Weighted grade |
| [Class Rank Percentile Calculator](/education/class-rank-percentile-calculator/) | your rank and class size | Percentile |
| [Weighted GPA Calculator](/education/weighted-gpa-calculator/) | grade points per course, credits per course and extra points per course | Weighted GPA |
Assumptions and limitations
- Extra credit above 100% is allowed
If a required value is empty, not a number, or outside its allowed range, the form marks that field with a message and shows no result instead of a misleading number. The automated checks deliberately try invalid entries for points possible and points earned to confirm this.
Frequently asked questions
What score do I need on the final?
Multiply your target percentage by the total points possible, subtract the points you have, and divide by the final's points. For 85% of 100 with 45 earned and a 50-point final: (85 − 45) ÷ 50 = 80%.
Does this handle weighted categories?
No. It divides points earned by points possible. Use the weighted grade calculator when categories count for different percentages.
What does the Grade Calculator calculate?
Percentage grade from points earned and points possible. It returns Grade and Letter grade.
What formula does the Grade Calculator use?
grade % = earned ÷ possible × 100. Letter bands: A 90+, B 80–89.99, C 70–79.99, D 60–69.99, F below 60 (common US convention).
What do I need to enter in the grade Calculator?
You enter Points earned and Points possible.
How is the result rounded or limited?
Rounded to 2 decimal places for GPA, 2 for percentages. Extra credit above 100% is allowed.
What is an example of a grade result?
With points earned 45 and points possible 50, the grade is 90%.
Where does the method come from?
The method follows: Weighted-average arithmetic (weight × score, summed, ÷ total weight); grading policies vary by course, so use your syllabus weights.
Related calculators
- Grade Curve Calculator — Apply a flat or proportional curve to a set of scores.
- Final Grade Calculator — The score needed on a final exam to reach a target course grade.
- Weighted Grade Calculator — Course grade from scores and their weights.
- Class Rank Percentile Calculator — Percentile from class rank and class size.
- Weighted GPA Calculator — GPA with extra points for honors or advanced courses.
- Letter Grade to GPA Calculator — Grade points for a letter grade on the 4.0 scale.
Sources
- Weighted-average arithmetic (weight × score, summed, ÷ total weight); grading policies vary by course, so use your syllabus weights
Content last reviewed 2026-11-04. Formulas and worked examples are checked by automated tests against independently computed values.