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Test Grade Calculator: Calculate Test Scores and Exam Grades

Enter points earned and total possible to get your test grade, exam score, and letter grade instantly. Works for multi-section tests, quizzes, and exams with partial credit.

Letter grade scale reference
ScoreLetter
97-100%A+
93-96%A
90-92%A-
87-89%B+
83-86%B
80-82%B-
77-79%C+
73-76%C
70-72%C-
67-69%D+
63-66%D
60-62%D-
0-59%F

How to Calculate Test Grades and Exam Scores

The formula for a test grade converts raw points into a percentage. Divide the points you earned by the total points possible, then multiply by 100.

Test Score Formula
Test Score = Points Earned Points Possible × 100
Where:
  • Points Earned = your raw score on the test (decimals accepted for partial credit)
  • Points Possible = the maximum points the test is worth
  • For multi-section tests, sum both values across all sections before dividing
Example: You score 47 on a 55-point chemistry midterm: 47 / 55 × 100 = 85.5%. That maps to a B on the standard plus/minus scale.

For single-section tests, enter both values in Quick Score mode and the result appears instantly. For compound exams with separately scored parts (multiple choice, short answer, and essay), switch to Multi-Section mode and enter each part as its own row.

What Letter Grade Is Your Test Score?

This calculator uses the standard plus/minus scale, the most widely used grading scale in US schools. Some schools use a flat 10-point scale instead: A = 90-100, B = 80-89, C = 70-79, D = 60-69, with no plus or minus distinctions. If your teacher grades that way, the easy grader is designed for the flat scale. When in doubt, check your course syllabus or ask your teacher which scale applies.

ScoreLetter
97-100%A+
93-96%A
90-92%A-
87-89%B+
83-86%B
80-82%B-
77-79%C+
73-76%C
70-72%C-
67-69%D+
63-66%D
60-62%D-
0-59%F

Scale based on AACRAO academic record standards, the widely recognized reference for US grading practices. Most schools follow this bracket structure; some shift cutoffs by 1-2 percentage points.

Grading scales vary by school. Confirm the exact score cutoffs with your teacher or course syllabus before relying on this scale for high-stakes decisions.

Multi-Section Test Scores with Partial Credit

Many exams split the score across sections with different point totals. A 100-point biology final might carry 50 points of multiple choice, 30 points of short answer, and 20 points of essay. Each section carries different weight, so a simple wrong-count approach overstates or understates the result.

In Multi-Section mode, enter each section as its own row. The calculator sums earned and possible points across all rows, then applies the formula once on the totals. A 50-point essay section automatically counts twice as much as a 25-point short-answer section, with no separate weighting step needed.

Worked example: a student scores 38 of 50 on multiple choice (76%), 22 of 30 on short answer (73.3%), and 24 of 30 on the essay (80%). Total: 84 earned out of 110 possible. 84 / 110 × 100 = 76.4%, a C+. The section chart shows short answer pulled the aggregate score down most.

For tests with partial credit (an essay marked 8.5/10 or a short answer scored 3.25/5), enter the decimal values directly. The calculator handles fractional points without any adjustment.

Test Grade vs. Course Grade

A test grade is the score on one assessment. Your course grade is the weighted average of every test, quiz, homework assignment, and project across the semester. A 76% on a single midterm does not mean you will finish the course with a 76%; it depends on that midterm's weight in the final grade and your performance on every other assignment.

The stakes matter most on high-weight exams. A midterm worth 30% of your course grade can shift your final letter grade by a full step: scoring 76% instead of 86% on that one exam is the difference between a C+ and a B course grade when the rest of your work is average. Checking your test grade immediately after the exam gives you time to adjust study intensity before finals.

To calculate your overall course grade from multiple assignments and their weights, use the grade calculator. To find the exact exam score you need on a final to hit a target course grade, use the final grade calculator. The College Board's guide to grades and GPA covers how course grades are structured at the high school level.

Related Calculators

Grade Calculator

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Weighted Grade

Category weights for tests, homework, labs

Final Grade

What you need on the final to hit your target

Frequently asked questions

How to calculate test score?
Divide your points earned by the total points possible, then multiply by 100. For a 50-point test where you scored 42, the calculation is 42 / 50 x 100 = 84.0%. That result is a B on the standard plus/minus grading scale. The calculator above performs this instantly; just enter your numbers and the result appears as you type.
How do I calculate a test score?
To calculate a test score, follow four steps. First, find your raw score: the points your teacher marked on the test. Second, find the total points possible, usually on the test header or assignment sheet. Third, divide: if you earned 36 out of 40, that is 36 / 40 = 0.9. Fourth, multiply by 100: 0.9 x 100 = 90%. On the standard scale, 90% is an A-. For multi-section tests, sum earned and possible across all sections before dividing.
How to figure out a score on a test?
When your graded test comes back, look for the points marked on each question or section. Add up the points you earned, then find the maximum possible from the test header or rubric. Divide earned by possible and multiply by 100. If the instructor only marked a percentage, you already have the answer. For tests scored in separate sections, use the Multi-Section mode above to enter each part and see a per-section breakdown alongside the overall grade.
How to calculate score on a test?
For a test with multiple sections, calculate the score by summing earned and possible points separately across all sections, then applying the formula once on the totals. If you scored 38 of 50 on multiple choice, 18 of 25 on short answer, and 20 of 25 on the essay, your totals are 76 earned out of 100 possible. 76 / 100 x 100 = 76%, which is a C+. This approach automatically weights each section by its share of total points.
How to figure out test score?
After calculating the percentage, interpret the result using your school's grading scale. Most US schools use the plus/minus scale: 90% and above is an A range, 80-89% is B, 70-79% is C, 60-69% is D, and below 60% is failing. A score of 86%, for example, corresponds to a B on the plus/minus scale. For borderline scores, confirm the exact cutoffs with your teacher, since some schools use a flat 10-point scale without plus/minus grades.
How to grade a test?
To grade a test, mark the points earned on each question or section, then divide the total earned by total possible and multiply by 100. For tests with partial credit, essay rubrics, or different point values per section, enter each section as its own row in Multi-Section mode above. The calculator weights sections by point value automatically and maps the result to the plus/minus scale (A+, A, A-, B+, and so on). For grading whole-question tests where every item is simply right or wrong and you want the simpler flat A/B/C/D scale, the easy grader is built for that workflow.
What is 67.67 for a test grade?
67.67% is a D+ on the standard plus/minus scale, which covers the range of 67% to 69.99%. While it is technically a passing grade in most systems, it falls below the C- threshold of 70% that many schools set as a minimum passing mark. If your score is 67.67%, reviewing the sections where points were lost and confirming your school's exact cutoffs with your teacher is worth the time.