Grade calculator: points to percent and letter grade
Divide the points you earned by the points possible and multiply by 100. 42 out of 50 is 84%, a B on a common 10-point scale. Your school's syllabus decides the exact letter cutoffs.
Inputs used by this calculator
Grade Calculator uses the fields below. The starting values reproduce the page example; replace them with values from the same units and time period before using the result.
| Input | Starting example | Accepted value | How it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Points earned | 42 | 0 or greater | Supplies the points earned quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
| Points possible | 50 | 0 or greater | Supplies the points possible quantity used by the published equation or result breakdown. |
How a grade percentage is calculated
A test or assignment grade is the share of available points you earned, written as a percent. With 42 of 50 points, 42 ÷ 50 = 0.84, or 84%. The same works for a whole course when every assignment counts in points.
grade % = points earned ÷ points possible × 100Letter grades and grading scales
Many U.S. schools use a 10-point scale: 90–100 is an A, 80–89 a B, 70–79 a C, 60–69 a D and below 60 an F. Scales vary: some schools add plus and minus grades, and College Board's general guide shows a D in the upper 60s with an F below 65. Your syllabus is the rule that counts.
Points missed and extra credit
The result also shows the points you missed, which is often easier to check against a graded paper. Extra credit can push a score above 100%. If extra credit is recorded separately, add it to the points earned but not to the points possible.
Weighted categories
Many courses weight categories, such as homework 20%, quizzes 30% and exams 50%. In that case, calculate the percent for each category first, multiply each by its weight and add the results. A simple points total is only correct when the syllabus grades by total points.
From grades to GPA
On a 4.0 scale an A is usually worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F 0, and colleges often recalculate high school GPAs their own way. The GPA Calculator combines letter grades and credit hours into a semester or cumulative GPA.
Rounding
The percent is shown with up to two decimals. Whether an 89.5% becomes an A depends on the teacher's rounding policy, which the calculator does not assume.
Common 10-point scale
| Letter | Percent | Grade points |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90–100 | 4.0 |
| B | 80–89 | 3.0 |
| C | 70–79 | 2.0 |
| D | 60–69 | 1.0 |
| F | Below 60 | 0.0 |
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate my grade percentage?
Divide points earned by points possible and multiply by 100.
What is 42 out of 50 as a grade?
84%, which is a B on a common 10-point scale.
What percent is a B?
On a 10-point scale, 80–89%. Your school may use different cutoffs.
Is 89.5% an A?
Only if your teacher rounds up. The calculator does not apply rounding rules.
How do weighted categories work?
Find each category's percent, multiply by its weight and add the results.
Can a grade be over 100%?
Yes, with extra credit beyond the points possible.
How do I turn grades into a GPA?
Use the GPA Calculator with letter grades and credit hours.
What to keep in mind
Letter-grade cutoffs and weighted courses vary by school and are not inferred.
Results are rounded for display in US format, with money in dollars and cents; CSV exports keep full calculation precision. This is a calculation summary, not an official certificate.