A test comes back marked 43/50. Is that good? The percentage is easy to work out; the letter grade depends on a scale you may or may not share with the person who set the test.
The calculation
Percentage = points earned ÷ points possible × 100. So 43 out of 50 is 86%, and 27 out of 40 is 67.5%.
The letter-grade scale
The calculator uses this common US-style scale:
| Percentage | Letter | Percentage | Letter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 97–100 | A+ | 73–76 | C |
| 93–96 | A | 70–72 | C− |
| 90–92 | A− | 67–69 | D+ |
| 87–89 | B+ | 63–66 | D |
| 83–86 | B | 60–62 | D− |
| 80–82 | B− | below 60 | F |
| 77–79 | C+ |
On that scale 86% is a B and 67.5% is a D+.
Using the calculator
- Enter the points earned and the points possible in the Test Score Calculator.
- Read the percentage and the letter.
Points possible must be greater than zero. If your test has extra credit, you can enter a score above the maximum and get a percentage over 100.
When your school differs
Many schools and countries use different cut-offs: a 10-point scale with no plus or minus, a 7-point scale, or marks out of 20 or 100 with other names. Your teacher’s published scale always wins over the one here. Percentages are universal, though, so even when the letter differs the first number is still right.
To see how a test fits into a whole course, use the final exam guide.
Frequently asked questions
Should I round the percentage?
Follow your teacher’s rule. The calculator applies the scale to the exact figure, so 89.6% stays in the B+ band rather than being rounded up to an A−.