How to Calculate Your Grade on a Test

Figuring out your test grade is simple: divide the number of points you earned by the total points possible, then multiply by 100 to get a percentage. From there you can match it to a letter grade. Our free test grade calculator does it instantly — including the EZ grader style "how many did I miss" approach.

The basic formula

Percentage = (points earned / total points) x 100. If a test is graded by number of questions, you can also do (questions correct / total questions) x 100. Both give the same percentage when each question is worth the same amount.

A worked example

Say a test has 40 questions and you got 34 right. That's 34 / 40 = 0.85, and 0.85 x 100 = 85%. If instead the test was worth 50 points and you earned 43, that's 43 / 50 = 0.86, or 86%. Same idea either way — earned over possible, times 100.

Turning a percentage into a letter

A very common letter-grade scale looks like the list below, but I'll flag the caveat clearly: cutoffs vary by school and even by teacher, and some use plus/minus bands. Always check your class's actual scale.

• A — about 90-100%
• B — about 80-89%
• C — about 70-79%
• D — about 60-69%
• F — below about 60%

When questions aren't equal

If some questions are worth more than others, count points rather than question numbers. Add up the points you earned across all questions, divide by the total points the test was worth, and multiply by 100. Partial credit counts toward your earned points, so include it.

Grade it fast

Use the test grade calculator to score any test in seconds, and the grade average calculator to combine several tests together. If a particular subject keeps costing you points, COSMIQ's free voice tutor is free for every learner.

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