Points-Based Grade Calculator
Add up every assignment’s points earned and points possible to get your points-based course grade and letter — enter five rows or paste the whole gradebook, add extra credit, drop the lowest scores, and see what you need on the points still to come.
How it works
grade = (Σ points earned + extra credit) ÷ Σ points possible × 100 · needed on remaining = target% × (points possible + remaining) − points earned
In a points-based course there are no category weights: every point is equal, so the grade is simply all points earned divided by all points possible. That means a big project quietly dominates because it carries more points, not because it is weighted higher — the “share of points” column and pie chart show how much each assignment really counts. Enter up to five assignments in the rows, or paste the whole gradebook, one assignment per line. Leave an assignment’s max at zero (or leave it out) to skip work not yet graded. Extra credit adds to points earned but not to points possible; you can also drop your lowest scores if the syllabus allows it. If more work is coming, enter the points still to be graded and a target: the calculator shows what you need on them, the best and worst final grade you can still end with, and the points needed for every letter.
Worked example
Assignments of 85/100, 42/50 and 18/20 give 145 earned out of 170 possible: 145 ÷ 170 × 100 = 85.3%, a B. You are 8 points short of an A (90% of 170 = 153). If a 100-point final is still to come, you need 0.9 × 270 − 145 = 98 points on it for a 90%, and your grade will end between 53.7% and 90.7%.
Frequently asked questions
How is points-based grading different from weighted grading?
Weighted grading fixes each category’s share of the grade in advance (say, exams = 50%). Points-based grading lets the point totals decide the shares — a 100-point exam simply counts five times as much as a 20-point quiz.
What happens to the grade as more points are added?
Each new assignment pulls the total toward its own percentage in proportion to its points. A late 200-point final can move a points-based grade much more than a weighted final capped at its category weight. Enter its points under “Points still to be graded” to see the range.
Can I include extra-credit points?
Yes — put them in “Extra-credit points”, or add a line such as “Bonus 5/0” to the pasted list. They are added to points earned without adding to points possible, so your percentage can rise above 100%.
What if my teacher drops the lowest quiz?
Set “Drop the lowest scores” to 1 (or more). The assignment with the lowest percentage is removed from both earned and possible points. Note that in a points system the best one to drop is not always the lowest percentage; compare a couple of options if the scores are close.
How many points do I need on the final?
Enter the final’s total points under “Points still to be graded” and your target grade. The calculator works out target% × (current possible + remaining) minus what you already have, and lists the points needed for every letter.
Related calculators
This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.