How to plan your final grade
Before a final exam you need one practical question answered: how much do I have to score? This guide explains the weighted-average formula, how to read the results, and when a target is out of reach. Its worked example sticks to the values used by Klar’s final grade planner.
The formula: a weighted average
Your final grade = (current grade × non-final weight) + (final score × final weight). In other words, your current contribution sets your base, and the final closes whatever gap remains towards the target.
Working out the score you need
Score needed on the final = (target − current contribution) ÷ final weight. Enter the final’s weight as a percentage: 30% means 30, not 0.3. This is one of the most common mistakes.
A worked example
Using the calculator’s values: current grade 80, final weight 30%, target 85. Contribution = 80 × (1 − 0.3) = 56, maximum achievable = 56 + 100 × 0.3 = 86, and the needed score = (85 − 56) ÷ 0.3 ≈ 96.67.
When the target is unreachable
If the needed score exceeds 100, your target is unreachable even with a perfect score, and the calculator clamps the result to 100. At the other end, if the needed score is 0 or below, your target is already secured by your current grade.
Common mistakes
Among the mistakes: entering the weight as a fraction (0.3) instead of a percentage (30), ignoring the weight and using the simple gap between target and current grade, and missing that a final worth more than 100 raw points still works by its relative weight.
Key takeaways
- The final grade is a weighted average of your current grade and the final exam.
- Score needed = (target − current contribution) ÷ final weight.
- Enter the weight as a percentage: 30% means 30, not 0.3.
- Above 100 means the target is unreachable; at or below 0 it is already secured.
Frequently asked questions
What if the score I need is over 100?
Your target is unreachable even with a perfect score, because your current contribution is not enough. The calculator clamps the result to 100.
My final is worth more than 100 raw points, what do I do?
Enter its true weight as a percentage of the total grade; the math uses the relative weight, not the raw point count.
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