What grade do I need on my final to get 70%?
Trying to land a 70% overall (roughly a C-)? Enter your current grade and your final exam's weight to see the exact score you need.
The formula
needed = (target − current × (1 − weight)) ÷ weight, with weight written as a decimal.
Worked example for a 70% target
Suppose you are sitting at 68% and the final is worth 50% of the grade. To finish on 70%: needed = (70 − 68 × 0.50) ÷ 0.50 = 72% on the final.
If the number is above 100%
A result over 100% means 70% is no longer reachable from the final alone — lower the target, ask about extra credit, or speak with your instructor.
Securing a C- (70%): protecting the credit itself
Seventy percent matters more than it looks, because a C- is the minimum grade many programmes accept. Prerequisite chains (calculus before physics, anatomy before nursing courses), transfer-credit rules and some majors' good-standing requirements often say C- or better — finish at 69% and the course may not count even though you technically passed. Check your department's rule before deciding how hard to push.
Notice how the final's weight changes the ask: sitting at 66%, you need 79% on a 30%-weight final, but only 74% if the final is worth half the grade. Build a two-week plan around the exam's format — if it is cumulative, prioritise the units you were strongest in and consolidate them into safe points, then spend remaining time on the one weak unit with the most questions. Reliable, boring competence across the whole paper is what carries a grade over the 70 line.
Frequently asked questions
How is the score I need on the final calculated?
It uses needed = (target − current × (1 − weight)) ÷ weight. Enter your current grade and the final's weight and this page works it out instantly.
What if I need more than 100% on the final?
Then 70% can't be reached on the final alone. Lower your target or look for extra credit.
Does the final exam weight matter a lot?
Yes — the smaller the final's weight, the harder it is to move your overall grade with it.
Related calculators
Final Grade Calculator · Weighted Grade Calculator · Grade Converter · All grade tools