Grade Percentage Calculator
Enter points earned and points available to see your percentage and marks dropped. You can also show an example US letter grade or calculate the marks needed for a target.
Score to percentage
Marks dropped
7
Grade
86%
43 ÷ 50 × 100
Marks needed for a target grade
Rounded up to the next whole mark.
Marks needed
40
50 × 80 ÷ 100 → 40
Score to percentage reference
| Points earned | Points possible | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| 68 | 90 | 75.56% |
| 75 | 125 | 60% |
| 43 | 50 | 86% |
| 18 | 20 | 90% |
These percentages are arithmetic results, not a universal letter-grade scale. Check your school’s grading policy.
The formula
Grade = Points earned ÷ Points possible × 100
Worked example — 43 out of 50
43 ÷ 50 = 0.86
0.86 × 100 = 86
So the grade is 86%, a B on the common US scale.
Working backwards to the marks you need
Marks needed = Total × Target ÷ 100
To hit 90% on a 50-point test you need 45 points. To hit 90% on a 60-point test you need 54. The percentage is the same; the marks are not.
The common letter bands
Widely used in US schools, but not universal. Some use a straight 10-point scale — 90 to 100 is an A, 80 to 89 a B — with no pluses or minuses at all.
- A+ 97, A 93, A− 90
- B+ 87, B 83, B− 80
- C+ 77, C 73, C− 70
- D+ 67, D 63, D− 60
- F below 60
Averaging grades correctly
You can only add percentages up and divide by the count when every assessment carries the same weight. If the final is worth 40% and each of four quizzes is worth 15%, you must weight them.
Multiply each percentage by its weight, add those together, then divide by the total weight. The average percentage calculator on this site does it for you.
Common questions
- How do I turn a score into a percentage?
- Divide the points you earned by the points available, then multiply by 100. For 43 out of 50: 43 ÷ 50 × 100 = 86%.
- What letter grade is 86%?
- On the common US scale, 86% is a B. Schools differ, so check your own syllabus — some use a straight 10-point scale with no pluses or minuses.
- How many marks do I need for a particular grade?
- Multiply the total points by the percentage you need, divided by 100. For 90% of a 50-point test: 50 × 0.9 = 45 points.
- Can I average my test percentages together?
- Only when every test is worth the same. If they carry different weights, weight each percentage by its share of the final grade.