Weighted Grade Calculator
Last updated: October 13, 2026
In a weighted grade, each category counts for a set percentage of your final grade, no matter how many points it contains. A syllabus might say homework is 20%, quizzes are 20% and exams are 60%. Use the calculator below to calculate grades with weights, then read the steps to check it by hand.
The weighted grade formula
Weighted grade = (category 1 average × weight 1) + (category 2 average × weight 2) + …
Write each weight as a decimal (20% is 0.20). Your weights should add up to 100%. Find each category average first, using points earned ÷ points possible within that category.
Weighted grade example
- Homework: average 95%, weight 20%. 95 × 0.20 = 19
- Quizzes: average 85%, weight 20%. 85 × 0.20 = 17
- Exams: average 80%, weight 60%. 80 × 0.60 = 48
Add them up: 19 + 17 + 48 = 84. Your weighted grade is 84%.
How to find each category average
Inside a category, add the points you earned and divide by the points possible. Example: homework scores of 18/20, 9/10 and 45/50 are 72 points out of 80, so the category average is 90%. If every assignment in the category is worth the same, averaging the percentages gives the same answer. If they are not, use points.
If the syllabus drops the lowest score in a category, remove it before you total the points.
When some categories are not graded yet
Early in the term you may only have scores in some categories. Add up the weighted points for the categories that have scores, then divide by the total weight of those categories.
Example: only homework (95%) and quizzes (85%) are graded so far, and together they are worth 40%. Add 19 + 17 = 36, then divide by 0.40. Your grade so far is 90%. It will change once the exams are graded. The calculator above does this automatically when you leave a category blank.
Check your weights
If the weights on your syllabus do not add up to 100%, something is missing, such as participation or extra credit. Treat anything extra as its own category before you calculate. If they add up to more than 100%, the extra is probably bonus credit.
Weighted categories versus weighted points
Some classes say “weighted” when they mean the total points system, where a 200-point exam simply has more points than a 10-point quiz. That is not the same thing. With total points you add everything and divide, as in how to calculate your grade in a class. With weighted categories, you use the formula on this page. The syllabus usually tells you which one applies.
Plan the rest of the term
Once you have a weighted grade, you can work backwards. If the exams category is still open, use the formula to find the average you need on it for the grade you want. For a final exam that is its own category, the final grade calculator does the work. To test future scores, see the what-if method.
Use the college calculator
The college calculator is built for percentage-based gradebooks. Set each category’s percentage, paste your gradebook or add assignments, and see your class grade update.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate grades with weights?
Multiply each category’s average by its weight as a decimal, then add the results. Homework at 95% with a 20% weight contributes 19 points to the final grade.
What if my weights do not add up to 100%?
Check the syllabus for a missing category such as participation, or for extra credit. If you only have grades in some categories, divide your weighted total by the combined weight of those categories to see your grade so far.
Is a weighted average the same as a regular average?
No. A regular average treats every score equally. A weighted average lets some scores, or whole categories, count for more.
How do I calculate a weighted grade if a category is not graded yet?
Leave it out, add the weighted points for the categories you do have, and divide by their combined weight. The result is your grade so far.
Calculate it automatically
Paste your gradebook into Grade Calculator and the table fills in on its own. Change any score, or add an upcoming assignment, to see your class grade update.