The Matt Braddock Grade Calculator is a tool for students to calculate their current course grade and determine what score they need on their final exam to achieve a desired overall grade. The calculator supports weighted grades for various assignments, quizzes, and tests. Created by renowned educator Matt Braddock, it helps students stay on top of their academic performance.

Current Grade	Your weighted average for all work so far.
Desired Class Grade	The final grade you want to achieve in the class (e.g., 90 for an A).
Final Exam Weight	How much the final exam is worth of your total grade.
	+ Settings Grading Scale: Standard (A=90, B=80, etc.) Standard with Plus/Minus

How Grade Calculation Works

In most school and university courses, your final grade is determined by your performance on a number of different assignments, each with a specific “weight.” A final exam might be worth 30% of your grade, while homework might be worth 15%. This calculator simplifies the process by letting you figure out what you need on the final component to reach a goal.

How Weighted Grades are Calculated

The formula for a weighted grade is the sum of each assignment’s score multiplied by its weight. For example, if you have a Midterm (grade of 80, weight of 40%) and a Final (grade of 90, weight of 60%), your final grade would be:

(80 x 0.40) + (90 x 0.60) = 32 + 54 = 86%

This calculator determines the weight of your current work automatically. If your final exam is worth 25%, then all the work you’ve done so far is worth 75% (100% – 25%). By providing your current average and desired grade, the tool calculates the minimum score needed on that last, heavily-weighted item.

Interpreting the Results

The calculator will tell you the percentage score you need on your final exam. Pay close attention to this number:

• If the result is over 100%, it is likely mathematically impossible to achieve your desired grade. You may want to set a more realistic goal.
• If the result is a negative number, you have already achieved your desired grade before even taking the final exam. Congratulations!
• If the result is between 0% and 100%, this is your target score. Use this information to focus your studying and prepare effectively for the final exam.

Common University Grading System

Grading systems can vary between institutions, but most schools in the United States use a letter grade system based on a percentage scale from 0 to 100. While some schools use a plus/minus system (A+, A, A-, etc.), a standard scale is very common. Below is a typical example of a standard grading scale.