Loading Calculator...
Please wait a moment
Please wait a moment
Calculate your final semester grade by combining quarter grades and final exam scores. Customize the weight of each component to match your school's grading policy.
Enter all grades to calculate
Most schools use a weighted system where different components of your grade count for different percentages. The most common system is 40% for each quarter and 20% for the final exam, but this varies by school and teacher.
Semester Grade = (Q1 × W1) + (Q2 × W2) + (Final × WF)
Where:
40% Q1 + 40% Q2 + 20% Final
Most common in U.S. high schools
33.33% each component
All components valued equally
30% Q1 + 30% Q2 + 40% Final
Final exam heavily weighted
45% Q1 + 45% Q2 + 10% Final
Quarters emphasized over final
Always verify the exact weighting system used by your school or teacher. Some teachers may use different weights, include additional components like homework or projects, or have special grading policies.
The most common system is 40% for Quarter 1, 40% for Quarter 2, and 20% for the final exam. This means your quarterly grades are more important than your final exam, but the final can still significantly impact your grade.
Yes, but it depends on the weight of the final exam and your current grades. If the final is worth 20%, a perfect score could raise your overall grade by up to 20 points (if you currently have 0%). Use the calculator to see specific scenarios.
This depends on your quarter grades and the weight of your final. Work backwards: if you need a 93% semester grade for an A, and you have your quarter grades, you can calculate: Required Final = (93 - Q1×0.4 - Q2×0.4) ÷ 0.2
Generally yes. Schools may use different terms (quarters, marking periods, grading periods, or nine-weeks), but they typically refer to the same thing - the divisions of a semester. Most semesters have two quarters or marking periods.
No, grading weights vary significantly between schools and even between teachers. Some schools weight quarters equally with finals (33.33% each), while others may give more or less weight to the final exam. Always check your syllabus.
First, calculate your semester grade using weighted averages. Then convert that percentage to a letter grade, and finally convert the letter grade to GPA points (A=4.0, B=3.0, etc.). Your semester GPA is the average of all your course GPAs.
Some schools use trimester systems or three grading periods per semester. In this case, adjust the weights accordingly. For example, you might use 30% for each of three quarters and 10% for the final.
Yes, if you perform poorly on the final exam. Even though the final typically has less weight, it can still pull your grade down. For example, with 85% and 85% quarters but a 40% final (20% weight), your semester grade would be 77%.
Semester grading systems are designed to give students multiple opportunities to demonstrate their learning throughout the term. By combining quarterly grades with a cumulative final exam, schools can assess both ongoing performance and comprehensive understanding of the material.
The weighted average approach ensures that consistent effort throughout the semester is rewarded while still allowing the final exam to demonstrate mastery of the entire course. This balanced approach helps prevent a single bad test from destroying a student's grade while still maintaining academic rigor.