About the Semester Grade Calculator
This semester grade calculator combines your first- and second-quarter (or term) grades with your final exam to give your overall semester grade. In a common high-school setup each quarter is worth 40% and the final exam 20%, but you can set the exam weight to whatever your syllabus says — the two quarters share the rest equally.
Use it before finals to see where you stand, to work out the exam score you need for an A or to keep a B, or after grades post to check the semester mark on your report card. The table lists the final exam score needed for each letter-grade cut-off, so you know exactly what to aim for.
Grades are entered as percentages and letter grades follow the common US plus/minus scale (90+ = A−/A, 80+ = B range, 70+ = C range, 60+ = D range). If your school weights the two quarters differently or includes a midterm, use the weighted grade calculator instead.
With the default inputs, the semester grade is 88.6 %. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the semester grade calculator
- 1Enter your first and second quarter (or term) grades as percentages.
- 2Enter your final exam score, or an estimate if you have not taken it yet.
- 3Set the final exam weight from your syllabus (20% is a common value).
- 4Enter a target semester grade to see the final exam score you need.
- 5Check the table for the exam score needed for each letter grade.
Formula and method
The semester grade is a weighted average. The final exam carries weight w and the two quarters split the remaining 1 − w equally, so with a 20% final each quarter is worth 40%. Multiply each grade by its weight and add them up.
To find the final exam score you need, subtract the points already locked in by the quarters (the quarter average Q̄ times 1 − w) from your target T and divide by the exam weight. A result above 100 means the target cannot be reached; a result at or below zero means it is already guaranteed.
- S
- Semester grade (%)
- Q1, Q2
- Quarter or term grades (%)
- Q̄
- Average of the two quarter grades
- F
- Final exam score (%)
- w
- Final exam weight as a fraction (20% = 0.2)
- T
- Target semester grade (%)
Worked examples
91 and 88 with an 85 final worth 20%
Each quarter is worth 40%: 91 × 0.4 + 88 × 0.4 = 71.6, plus 85 × 0.2 = 17, for a semester grade of 88.6% (B+). To reach 90% you would need (90 − 71.6) ÷ 0.2 = 92% on the final.
Final worth 25%, aiming for 80
Each quarter counts 37.5%, so the quarters contribute 80 × 0.75 = 60 points. A 70 on the final adds 17.5 for 77.5%. Keeping an 80 requires (80 − 60) ÷ 0.25 = 80% on the exam.
Can I still get an A?
The quarters average 85, locking in 68 points. Even a perfect 100 on the final only reaches 88%, and a 90% semester grade would require 110% — so an A is out of reach without extra credit.
Frequently asked questions
How is a semester grade calculated?+
A common setup weights each quarter at 40% and the final exam at 20%. Multiply each grade by its weight and add them: for example 90 × 0.4 + 80 × 0.4 + 85 × 0.2 = 85%.
How much is a final exam worth in a semester grade?+
It varies by school, district and course; weights between 10% and 25% are common in US high schools, and some college courses weight the final far more heavily. Your syllabus or student handbook lists the exact weight.
What do I need on my final to pass the semester?+
Set the target to your passing mark (often 60% or 70%). The calculator subtracts the points your quarters already contribute and divides by the exam weight to give the score you need.
Is a semester grade rounded?+
Many teachers round to the nearest whole percent, so an 89.5 may become a 90. Policies differ, so this calculator shows the unrounded result and uses it for the letter grade.
Can my final exam lower my semester grade?+
Yes. If your final exam score is below your quarter average, the weighted semester grade will be lower than your quarter average by w × (average − exam score).