Semester Grade Calculator
Combine your quarter grades and semester exam into the grade that goes on your transcript, or find what you need on the exam.
Your semester
Weights total 100%The semester grade formula
Example with the common 40/40/20 split: Q1 88, Q2 84, exam 79 gives 35.2 + 33.6 + 15.8 = 84.6%, a B. Without the exam the quarters average 86, so a weaker exam cost 1.4 points.
Common weightings
- 40 / 40 / 20: two quarters at 40% each, exam 20%. Widely used in US high schools.
- 45 / 45 / 10: the exam matters less; quarters dominate.
- 50 / 50: no exam, the semester grade is the quarter average.
Your handbook has the real split. For a college course with category weights, use the weighted grade calculator; for a single exam weight, the final grade calculator. Semester grades feed straight into your high school GPA.
Questions students ask
How is a semester grade calculated?
Most high schools combine two quarter (or term) grades with a semester exam. A common split is 40% / 40% / 20%: semester = Q1 × 0.4 + Q2 × 0.4 + exam × 0.2. Some districts use 45/45/10 or average the quarters with no exam. Your student handbook lists the exact split.
What do I need on my semester exam?
Use: needed = (target − quarter part) ÷ exam weight. With Q1 = 88, Q2 = 84 and a 40/40/20 split, the quarters contribute 68.8 points, so a 90 semester grade needs (90 − 68.8) ÷ 0.2 = 106 on the exam, and an 85 needs 81.
Is a semester grade the average of two quarters?
Only if there is no semester exam, or if your school averages the quarters equally. With an exam, each quarter usually counts 40–45%, so the exam can move the semester grade by several points.
Are semester grades the ones on my transcript?
At most US high schools, yes: the semester (or final year) grade is what goes on the transcript and into your GPA. Quarter grades are progress reports.
What if my school uses trimesters?
Choose the "3 terms" layout and enter each trimester grade and its weight. If there is no exam, set its weight to 0.