how to calculate a final course grade with only three quarters so far

by Dexter McKenzie PhD 3 min read

Computing your final grade consists of finding your average in each category, then multiplying it by the percentage of the class it's worth and adding all the adjusted categories together. Find ​ - Finding your average in each category Multiply ​ - Multiply by the percentage worth in your the class.

Full Answer

How do you calculate the grade you need on the final?

If you know your current grade and the weight of the final exam, you can calculate the grade you need on the final to reach your target course grade. This calculator uses the formula: w = Weight of the final exam, divided by 100 (put weight in decimal form vs. percentage form)

How is the quarter grade determined?

The quarter grade is determined by using the procedure outlined in the teacher’s grading design. All grades reflect the teacher’s professional judgment of student achievement. Teachers are responsible for justifying their grades whenever the need exists.

How much do final exams count as a Grade?

The grade for the final examination or activity may count a maximum of one-fifth (20%) of the final course grade if the exam addresses the entire course syllabus. Semester final exams may count a maximum of one-fifth of the course grade.

What are the final grades awarded to students?

Final grades awarded to students will be A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, or F. Students may be awarded a higher grade based on trends in and mastery of learning. If numerical averaging methodology is used with a 100 point scale, grades are to be rounded to the next whole number when equal to 0.5 or greater.

How do I calculate my final course grade?

How to calculate your final grade in a points-based systemDetermine the point values. The point values are the maximum points possible for each course task. ... Record your points earned and the points possible. ... Add your points and the points possible. ... Divide your total points by the total points possible.

How are quarter grades calculated?

Each quarter grade equals 37.5 percent of the final semester grade. The final exam grade equals 25 percent.

What is a quarter grade?

The grades that are posted midway through the fall semester are the first set of “quarter grades.” This round of quarter grades often comes out in early November, although this will vary from school to school. The grades that come out at the end of the semester are more important.

Do grades reset every quarter?

Grades do reset after each summary grading period. In a school with four quarters and semester summary grades, Sem #1 would be the running total of Q1 and Q2. Sem #2 would be the running total of Q3 and Q4.

Why is it important to find your final grade?

Though your teachers are the ones who give you your final grades, it's important to know how to calculate them yourself so you know for sure what you have.

Points-based vs. weighted grading systems

Before you learn how to calculate your final grade for a course, it's important to understand the two common systems by which you can calculate your final grade. These are:

How to calculate your final grade in a points-based system

Follow these steps to calculate your final grade in a points-based system, and refer to the example:

How to calculate your weighted grade

Calculating your grade in a weighted grading system is slightly different but uses the same mathematical processes. Follow these steps to calculate your weighted grade, and refer to the example:

How to calculate your final grade using a spreadsheet

You can also use a spreadsheet application to calculate your unweighted and weighted grades automatically. To set up a grades spreadsheet, follow these steps:

Final Class Grade Calculation

Sometimes you'll get your final exam grade but the instructor hasn't yet posted final class grades. You can use this calculator to find your final class grade once you know your final exam score. Use the formula:

Example Final Exam Grade Calculation

My grade in Statistics class is 85%. I want to get at least an A- or 90% in the class for the term. What score do I need on the final exam if it is worth 40% of my grade?

Example Final Course Grade Calculation

Going into finals my grade in Economics was 91%. My final exam score was 88.6% and it was worth 15% of my grade for the course. What is my final grade in the course?

How to find the average of each category?

Find the average of each category by adding all the grades in one category together, then dividing them by the number of grades there are. For example, if you got a 95, 100, 90, and 85 on your homework, your homework grade would be 91.25 (95+100+90+85 = 365) (365/4 = 91.25). Repeat this for each category.

How to calculate average of a category?

Multiply your average in a category by the percentage the category is worth. Using the above example, if homework counts for 20 percent of your grade, then 91.25 x .20 = 18.25. Repeat this for each category.

What was the first college to use letter grades?

In 1887, Mount Holyoke College became the first college to use letter grades similar to those commonly used today. The college used a grading scale with the letters A, B, C, D, and E, where E represented a failing grade.

What grade system did Harvard use?

Meanwhile at Harvard, students were graded based on a numerical system from 1-200 (except for math and philosophy where 1-100 was used). Later, shortly after 1883, Harvard used a system of "Classes" where students were either Class I, II, III, IV, or V, with V representing a failing grade.

Why are letter grades important?

Letter grades provide an easy means to generalize a student's performance. They can be more effective than qualitative evaluations in situations where "right" or "wrong" answers can be easily quantified, such as an algebra exam, but alone may not provide a student with enough feedback in regards to an assessment like a written paper (which is much more subjective).

Is Sanborn High School grading scalable?

As such, although there are other high schools such as Sanborn High School that approach grading in a more qualitative way, it remains to be seen whether such grading methods can be scalable. Until then, more generalized forms of grading like the letter grading system are unlikely to be entirely replaced.

How Course Grades are Calculated with a Points-Based Grading System

If you have not set up weighted categories in your Gradebook, you are using a point-based grading system. With this setup, the Gradebook calculates a student’s overall course grade based on the number of points earned out of the number of points possible.

How Course Grades are Calculated with a Weighted-Categories System

If you have set up weighted categories in your Gradebook, you are using a weighted-category system. With this setup, the Gradebook calculates the grade for each category (e.g. Homework, Tests, Participation) based on the points available in the category. The grade for each category is then multiplied by its weight (e.g.

Enter Zeros in Empty Gradebook Cells all at Once

If it’s the end of the semester and you want to quickly enter zeros in all of the empty gradebook cells, you can follow these directions:

Further Explanation & An Example

Scenario: In the example below Sara Jones has a 100% in the class gradebook even though she has only completed one of the two assignments? That can’t be right, can it? How did the Course Grade column come up with this number?

How is a quarter grade determined?

The quarter grade is determined by using the procedure outlined in the teacher’s grading design. All grades reflect the teacher’s professional judgment of student achievement. Teachers are responsible for justifying their grades whenever the need exists.

What is a 4.0 grade?

If a 4.0 point scale is being used, grades are to be rounded to the next tenth when equal to 0.05 or greater. For traditional gradebooks, converting quarter and final exam grades to quality points and averaging when calculating a student’s final course grade for all students is allowed at the teacher’s discretion and is required to be considered ...

How long do you keep final exam papers?

Final exams and midterms are not eligible for retakes. Principals shall keep all final examination papers for one year.

What is makeup final exam?

A makeup final examination or activity is permitted only in the case of a student whose absence is excused. A student whose absence from the final examination or activity is unexcused will receive an F ...

What is the SOL test in Virginia?

The Regulations Establishing Standards for Accrediting Public Schools in Virginia (8 VAC 20-131) allows high schools to consider the student’s end-of-course Standards of Learning (SOL) test score in determining the student’s final course grade.

Can you take a SOL test if you failed?

However, no student who has failed an end-of-course SOL test but passed the related course shall be prevented from taking any other course in a content area and from taking the applicable end-of-course SOL test. This applies to high school courses taught in middle school.

Do teachers have to be equitable in grading?

Teachers must ensure grading practices that are equitable and do not disadvantage students who are prohibited from taking SOL assessment or choose not to take the assessment. Any practice of adjusting final exam grades based on SOL test results should be implemented in such a way to avoid inequities for students.

Final Exam Grade Calculation

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This calculator uses the formula: Where: 1. F = Final exam grade 2. G = Grade you want for the class 3. w = Weight of the final exam, divided by 100 (put weight in decimal form vs. percentage form) 4. C = Your current grade
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Final Class Grade Calculation

  • Sometimes you'll get your final exam grade but the instructor hasn't yet posted final class grades. You can use this calculator to find your final class grade once you know your final exam score. Use the formula: Where: 1. G = Grade you'll receive for the class 2. F = Final exam grade 3. w = Weight of the final exam, divided by 100 (put weight in decimal form vs. percentage form) 4. C = …
See more on calculatorsoup.com

Example Final Exam Grade Calculation

  • My grade in Statistics class is 85%. I want to get at least an A- or 90% in the class for the term. What score do I need on the final exam if it is worth 40% of my grade? Using the Final Exam Grade formula above, I want a 90 in the class and I currently have an 85. The final is worth 40% of the term grade. First, convert the weight of the final exam from percent to decimal: 40 ÷ 100 = 0.40 …
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Example Final Course Grade Calculation

  • Going into finals my grade in Economics was 91%. My final exam score was 88.6% and it was worth 15% of my grade for the course. What is my final grade in the course? Using the Final Class Grade formula above, F = 88.6, w = 15, and C = 91. First, convert the weight of the final exam from percent to decimal: 15 ÷ 100 = 0.15 So I went into the final with a class grade of 91. I got 88.6 o…
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