Drop Lowest Grade Calculator
See your average after your teacher drops the lowest test, quiz or homework grade (or the lowest two) — the new average, how much it rises and which scores were dropped.
How it works
New average = (sum of all scores − sum of the k lowest) ÷ (number of scores − k) · change = new average − original average
Many teachers and professors drop the lowest quiz, test or homework grade to forgive one bad day. The calculator sorts your scores, removes the k lowest and averages the rest with equal weight. If the category is weighted inside a larger course grade, use the new category average in a weighted grade calculation. When scores have different point totals, convert each to a percentage first.
Worked example
Scores 85, 72, 90, 64 and 88 average 399 ÷ 5 = 79.80. Dropping the lowest (64) leaves 335 ÷ 4 = 83.75, a change of +3.95 points.
Sources: Guskey (2015), On Your Mark: Challenging the Conventions of Grading
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my grade if the lowest score is dropped?
Remove the lowest score, add the rest and divide by how many are left. 85, 72, 90, 64 and 88 without the 64 give (85 + 72 + 90 + 88) ÷ 4 = 83.75.
How much does dropping the lowest grade help?
It helps most when the lowest score is far below the others and there are few scores. Dropping a 64 among scores in the 80s raises a five-score average by almost 4 points; with 20 scores the effect would be about 1 point.
What if my scores have different point values?
Turn each into a percentage (points earned ÷ points possible × 100) before entering them, or ask your teacher whether the drop is by percentage or by points, which can give a different result.
Can I drop more than one score?
Yes. Set the number of dropped scores to 2 or more; the calculator removes that many of the lowest values.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.