Test Grade Calculator

Introduction

Our Test Grade Calculator makes it easy to find out your score on any test, quiz, or exam. Just enter the total number of questions and how many you got wrong (or right), and the calculator instantly shows your percentage, letter grade, and fraction score. It works for any test size, from a quick 10-question quiz to a 200-point final exam. You can even use decimals if your teacher gives partial credit.

This tool also lets you work backward. Want to know how many questions you need to get right to earn a B? Just pick a letter grade or type in a target percentage, and the calculator figures out the rest. You can switch between a simple A through F grading scale, a plus/minus scale, or create your own custom scale to match exactly what your school uses. A full grade breakdown table and chart show every possible score so you can see at a glance what each number of wrong answers means for your final grade.

How to Use Our Test Grade Calculator

Enter your test details below to instantly find out your percentage score, letter grade, and fraction grade. The calculator also shows a full grade reference table for every possible score on your test.

Total Questions / Points — Type in the total number of questions or points on your test. This can be any number from 1 to 999. If you leave it blank, the calculator defaults to 10.

Number Wrong — Enter how many questions you got wrong. This field supports half-points, so you can type a value like 2.5 if your test uses partial credit. The number of correct answers will update automatically.

Number Correct — This field auto-fills based on the number wrong, but you can also type in your correct answers directly. When you change this value, the number wrong will adjust to match.

Target Percentage — If you want to work backward from a specific percentage, enter it here. The calculator will figure out how many questions you need to get right (and how many you can get wrong) to reach that score. You can also use our Percentage Calculator if you need help with general percentage math.

Grading Scale — Choose between a Simple scale that uses letter grades A through F, or a Plus/Minus scale that includes grades like A+, B-, and C+. The Plus/Minus scale is selected by default.

Show Decimals in Percentage — Turn this switch on if you want to see exact decimal values in your percentage score. When it is off, percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number.

Test Grade Calculator

A test grade calculator helps you figure out your score on a test, quiz, or exam. You enter the total number of questions and how many you got wrong, and it tells you your percentage, letter grade, and fraction score. It's one of the fastest ways to find out how you did without doing the math by hand.

How Test Grades Are Calculated

The math behind a test grade is simple. Take the number of correct answers, divide it by the total number of questions, and multiply by 100. That gives you a percentage. For example, if you got 17 out of 20 questions right, the equation looks like this: (17 ÷ 20) × 100 = 85%. This percentage is then matched to a letter grade based on a grading scale. If you need to work with fractions directly, our Fraction Calculator can help simplify the math.

Understanding Grading Scales

Most schools in the United States use a standard grading scale to turn percentages into letter grades. The two most common scales are:

• Simple scale (A–F): A = 90–100%, B = 80–89%, C = 70–79%, D = 60–69%, F = below 60%
• Plus/minus scale (A+ to F): This breaks each letter grade into three levels. For example, a B+ is 87–89%, a B is 83–86%, and a B- is 80–82%.

Keep in mind that not every school uses the same cutoffs. Some teachers set 93% as the minimum for an A, while others use 90%. Always check your class syllabus if you want to know the exact scale your teacher uses.

What Each Letter Grade Means

Letter grades give a quick snapshot of how well a student understood the material. An A means excellent work and strong mastery of the content. A B shows above-average understanding. A C is considered average and means the student met the basic requirements. A D is below average and often means the student is barely passing. An F means failing — the student did not show enough understanding of the material. To see how individual test grades roll up into a cumulative score, try our Grade Calculator.

Why Half-Points and Partial Credit Matter

Some tests award partial credit, which means you can get half a point or a quarter of a point for an answer that is partly right. This is common on math tests, essay questions, and science exams. When partial credit is involved, your number of wrong answers might not be a whole number. For instance, you might miss 2.5 points out of 20, giving you a score of 87.5%. Our Decimal to Fraction Calculator can help you convert scores like 87.5% into fraction form if needed.

Using a Target Percentage

Sometimes you want to work backward. Instead of asking "what did I score?" you want to ask "how many questions can I miss and still get a B?" A reverse calculation lets you enter a target percentage and see how many wrong answers you can afford. This is helpful when studying for an upcoming test because it sets a clear goal. You can also explore the Percent Change Calculator to see how much your score improved between tests.

Tips for Improving Your Test Scores

• Review mistakes: After each test, look at the questions you got wrong. Understanding your errors is one of the best ways to learn.
• Practice with similar problems: Repeated practice builds confidence and helps you remember key facts.
• Don't cram: Studying a little bit each day is more effective than studying everything the night before.
• Ask for help early: If you notice your grades slipping, talk to your teacher or a tutor before the next test.

How Test Grades Affect Your Overall Grade

In most classes, tests make up a large portion of your final grade — often between 40% and 60%. That means each test score has a big impact. Knowing your test grade right away helps you understand where you stand in the class and what you need to score on future tests to reach your goal. Use our GPA Calculator to see how your test grades translate into your overall grade point average, or check out the Weighted GPA Calculator if your school uses honors or AP weighting. For standardized exams, we also offer specialized tools like the MCAT Score Calculator and the LSAT Score Calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good test grade?

A good test grade depends on your school, but most people consider 80% or above (a B or higher) to be a good score. An A (90% or above) is excellent. A C (70%–79%) is average. Anything below 60% is usually a failing grade.

How do I find my test grade if I only know how many I got right?

Enter your total number of questions in the Total Questions field. Then type the number you got right in the Number Correct field. The calculator will fill in the number wrong, your percentage, and your letter grade automatically.

Can I use this calculator for tests with different point values per question?

Yes. Instead of entering the number of questions, enter the total number of points possible. Then enter how many points you lost (or earned) instead of how many questions you missed. The percentage and letter grade will still be accurate.

What does the Plus/Minus grading scale mean?

The Plus/Minus scale splits each letter grade into three levels. For example, instead of just a B for 80%–89%, you get a B− (80%–82%), B (83%–86%), and B+ (87%–89%). This gives a more detailed picture of your performance.

How do I figure out how many questions I can miss and still get an A?

Select A from the Letter Grade dropdown. The calculator will show you the minimum percentage needed and how many questions you can get wrong. You can also check the grade breakdown table to see every possible score.

Does this calculator work for quizzes with only a few questions?

Yes. Just enter the number of questions on your quiz in the Total Questions field. The calculator works for any test size, from a 5-question quiz to a 200-question exam.

How do I set up a custom grading scale?

Click the Custom button in the Grading Scale section. You can then change the label and minimum percentage for each grade tier. Click Add Tier to add more levels, or remove tiers you don't need. The results will update right away.

What does the grade breakdown table show?

The table lists every possible score on your test, from getting zero wrong to getting every question wrong. For each row, it shows the number wrong, number correct, fraction, percentage, and letter grade. Your current score is highlighted in green.

Can I enter half points for partial credit?

Yes. The calculator accepts decimals. For example, if you lost half a point on one question and a full point on another, you can enter 1.5 in the Number Wrong field.

What happens if I leave the Total Questions field blank?

If you leave it blank or enter zero, the calculator defaults to 10 questions. A message will appear letting you know that the default value is being used.

How is the percentage rounded?

If your percentage is a whole number, it shows without decimal places. Otherwise, it is displayed to two decimal places. For example, 84% stays as 84%, but 83.333% shows as 83.33%.

Can I use this to find out what score I need on my next test?

You can use the Percentage or Letter Grade field to set a target. Enter the percentage you want to reach, and the calculator will tell you how many questions you need to get right on a test of that size.

What does the score distribution chart show?

The chart plots your percentage score on the vertical axis against the number of wrong answers on the horizontal axis. Dashed lines mark where each letter grade starts, so you can quickly see how your score changes with each additional wrong answer.

Is a 70% a passing grade?

In most U.S. schools, 60% or above is considered passing, which means 70% is a passing grade (usually a C). However, some programs or schools set the passing mark higher. Check with your teacher or school for their specific policy.