How this calculator works
Enter the points you earned and the total points the test was worth to get a percentage score and a letter grade on the common US 10-point scale. The chart below the result shows exactly how many points this particular test needs for each letter grade, since a test's point total changes what a 'B' is worth in raw points even though the percentage cutoff stays the same.
The 90/80/70/60 percentage cutoffs used here come from the grading scale most commonly reported in United States public high schools. Many colleges, individual teachers, and some states use a different scale — a stricter one (93/83/73/63 with plus/minus grades), a looser one, or a curve based on the class's overall performance — so treat the letter grade as an estimate and check your course syllabus for the scale that actually applies to your grade.
The formula
Percentage = (points earned ÷ points possible) × 100Letter grade (common 10-point scale): A ≥ 90%, B ≥ 80%, C ≥ 70%, D ≥ 60%, F below 60%If points earned exceeds points possible (extra credit), the percentage is allowed to go over 100% rather than being capped, since that reflects an actual bonus-earning score.
Worked example: 47 out of 50 points
- Divide points earned by points possible: 47 ÷ 50 = 0.94.
- Convert to a percentage: 0.94 × 100 = 94%.
- Compare to the 10-point scale: 94% is at or above the 90% cutoff for an A.
- On a 50-point test, the letter-grade point cutoffs are 45 for an A (90% of 50), 40 for a B, 35 for a C, and 30 for a D — the chart shows all of these for whatever point total you enter.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 90/80/70/60 scale used everywhere?
No. It is the scale most commonly reported for US public high schools, but colleges and many individual teachers use stricter cutoffs, plus/minus grades (A-, B+, etc.), or curve grades based on class performance. Always check your specific school's or instructor's published scale when a grade affects your GPA.
Can my test score percentage go above 100%?
Yes, if you earned more points than the test was worth, typically from extra credit. This calculator does not cap the result at 100% in that case, since a genuine extra-credit score really does put you above a perfect score on the base test.
How is this different from the final grade calculator?
This calculator scores a single test or assignment from raw points. The final grade calculator instead works out what score you need on a remaining final exam to reach a target overall course grade, given your current grade and the exam's weight.
Why does the chart show points needed instead of just percentages?
Percentage cutoffs are the same for every test, but the number of raw points behind them depends on how many points the test is worth. Showing the point values for a 45-question test versus a 10-question test makes the practical meaning of each grade cutoff clear for the specific test you graded.
Can I use this for quizzes or homework, not just tests?
Yes — the calculation only needs points earned and points possible, so it works the same way for any graded assignment scored on a points basis.