Grade Predictor — Forecast Your Final Grade
Enter your grades on completed assignments and exams. The predictor shows your current standing and forecasts your final course grade.
Grade Components
How grade prediction works
This calculator takes your completed assessments (assignments, quizzes, midterms) with their weights and scores, then estimates your final course grade assuming a specific performance on remaining components. It's the same weighted-average logic as the Grade Calculator — but applied forward, not just to your current record.
The key insight: your grade is a weighted average of all components. If 60% of the course is already graded and you've earned 78% of those points, you're sitting at a 46.8 weighted score before the remaining 40% is graded. To reach an 80% final grade, you need (80 − 46.8) ÷ 0.40 = 83% on remaining work.
Strategic uses of grade prediction
- Is an A still possible? Enter your current scores and estimate your final exam performance. If you need a 97% on the final to get an A, that information helps you decide where to focus effort this week versus other courses.
- What's my floor? Enter a conservative estimate for remaining work to see the worst realistic outcome. Many students are closer to a safe grade than they fear.
- How much does the final actually matter? If the final is 50% of the grade and you're at 88% on prior work, you're already at 44 points — a 60% on the final still gives you a 74% course grade. Knowing the math prevents unnecessary panic.
For the precise score you need on a single final exam to reach a target grade, use the Final Exam Score Calculator — it solves for the unknown directly rather than predicting from an estimate.
How accurate is the grade prediction?
It's mathematically exact given the inputs. The uncertainty is in your estimate of future performance — not in the formula. Enter conservative, realistic, and optimistic scenarios to see the range of possible outcomes. The prediction is as good as your honest self-assessment of remaining work.
What if my professor curves grades?
Curves are applied after all grades are entered, so they're impossible to predict in advance. Run your prediction on raw scores first. If you know the class typically gets curved up by 5–7 points, you can mentally add that buffer — but don't rely on it when making study decisions.
Can I use this if some components haven't been graded yet?
Yes — leave ungraded components as "0 earned" and adjust the weight accordingly, or enter your estimated score for future assignments. The tool works best when you enter a realistic estimate for upcoming work (not 100%, not 0%) to get a plausible projection.
How do I handle extra credit in the prediction?
Enter extra credit as a component with its point value. If it adds points without increasing total possible points, treat the max as 0 and the earned points as positive — or just add the extra credit points directly to your current raw score before entering it.