Grading a test quickly means answering two questions at once: what percentage did the student score, and what letter grade does that translate to?
How it works
Dividing correct answers by total questions and multiplying by 100 gives the percentage; comparing that against the standard 90/80/70/60 cutoffs gives the letter grade.
What this does not include
This does not include weighted grading (where some questions count for more points than others) or a curve — this is a straightforward equal-weight percentage calculation using the most common US grading scale, which some schools and instructors may set differently.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the number of correct answers and the total number of questions.
A worked example
45 correct out of 50 questions: percentage = 45 ÷ 50 × 100 = 90%.
33 correct out of 50: percentage = 66%.
What the variables mean
| Variable | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Correct | Number of correctly answered questions |
| Total | Total number of questions on the test |
Edge cases worth knowing
Correct answers can’t exceed the total question count — that combination is logically impossible, so the calculator declines to show a result for it.
A total of zero makes the percentage undefined — there’s no test to score, so the calculator returns no result.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 90/80/70/60 grading scale universal?
No — it’s the most common convention in US schools, but individual instructors and institutions sometimes use different cutoffs, plus/minus grades, or entirely different scales.
What if some questions are worth more points than others?
This calculator assumes equal weighting — for a weighted test, you’d need to divide total points earned by total points possible instead of question counts.
Can this calculator handle extra credit pushing a score over 100%?
No — it expects correct answers to be no more than the total questions; extra credit scenarios would need a different calculation approach.
