Enter each category's grade as a percentage and how much of the course it is worth.
Formula
How this calculator works
Where the Grade Calculator works assignment by assignment, this one works at the category level — the way a syllabus is usually written. Enter each category with its overall grade and its weight, and it shows what each one contributes to your final mark.
weighted grade = Σ (grade × weight) ÷ Σ (weight) one category contributes = grade × weight ÷ 100
Worked example
| Category | Grade | Weight | Contributes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Homework | 88% | 20% | 17.6 |
| Midterm | 74% | 30% | 22.2 |
| Final | 80% | 50% | 40.0 |
| Overall | 79.8% | 100% | 79.8 |
Notice that the highest grade — 88% on homework — contributes the least, at 17.6 points. The final, with a lower grade, contributes more than twice as much because it carries two and a half times the weight.
What the contribution column is for
It is the most useful part of this calculator and the part people ignore. It converts abstract weights into concrete points, so you can see at a glance where your grade is actually coming from — and where it is leaking.
A category contributing 17.6 out of a possible 20 is doing fine. A category contributing 22.2 out of a possible 30 is where you lost nearly eight points, and it is worth more attention than the one you are already doing well in.
Weights below 100 are normal
Mid-semester, ungraded categories are simply absent. The calculator divides by the weight used and says so.
Weights above 100 mean an error
Almost always a misread syllabus. The calculator flags it rather than quietly producing a wrong number.
Leave ungraded categories out
Entering them with a zero grade will drag your figure down for no reason.
Check the syllabus for sub-weights
Some courses weight inside a category too — three exams at 10% each rather than one exam category at 30%.
Frequently asked questions
How is a weighted grade calculated?
Multiply each category grade by its weight, add the results together, then divide by the total weight. The calculator also shows what each category contributes in points, which is usually more useful than the weights alone.
What if a category has no grade yet?
Leave it out. The calculator then reports your grade across the categories that are graded, which is the honest figure. Entering it with a zero would drag your grade down for no reason.
Why does one bad category hurt so much?
Because weight decides impact. A category worth 50% moves your grade five times as much as one worth 10%, regardless of how many assignments each contains.
Should weights add up to 100?
By the end of the course, yes. Mid-semester they usually will not, and that is expected. The calculator flags anything above 100, which almost always means a misread syllabus.
What is the contribution column for?
It converts abstract weights into concrete points, so you can see where your grade is actually coming from and where it is leaking. A category contributing 22 out of a possible 30 is where you lost eight points.
What if my syllabus weights inside a category?
Some courses list three exams at 10% each rather than one exam category at 30%. Enter them as separate rows — the arithmetic works the same way.
Does this handle points-based classes?
Not directly. Use the Grade Calculator for those, which totals points earned against points possible.
Can I use it for a final grade prediction?
You can enter an expected grade for an ungraded category to see the effect. For the specific question of what you need on a final, the Final Grade Calculator solves it directly.
Related calculators
More grade calculators
Work out your current grade, a weighted average, a percentage, the score you need on a final, or your GPA.