What next?
A single grade rarely answers the real question, which is what you need next.
What your result means
The percentage is simply marks earned divided by marks available. Everything below it is a translation of that one number into different conventions: the American letter grade and 4.0 point, and the UK degree classification. Which one applies depends entirely on your institution — the percentage is the only figure that is universal.
Why this one is different
One entry produces four separate readings — a percentage, a letter, a 4.0 grade point and a UK classification — so a mark can be read in whichever system happens to be asking. Two further rows account for the marks themselves: how many were needed to pass, and how many were dropped.
The same percentage means different things in different systems
Seventy percent is a comfortable C in most American high schools and a First — the highest classification — in a British university. Neither system is wrong; they simply calibrate differently, with UK marking rarely awarding above the high eighties even for outstanding work.
When comparing grades across systems, always convert through the percentage and then read the local scale. Converting letter to letter directly is how transcripts get misread.
How it works
Divide points earned by points possible and multiply by one hundred. The letter grade applies the common American cutoffs at 93, 90, 87 and so on; the grade point maps those letters onto the standard 4.0 scale; the classification applies the usual UK boundaries at 70, 60, 50 and 40.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the points you earned on the assessment.
- Enter the total points possible.
- Adjust the pass mark to match your course.
- Read the percentage and whichever scale your institution uses.
Formula
Letter cutoffs: A 93, A− 90, B+ 87, B 83, B− 80, C+ 77, C 73, C− 70, D+ 67, D 63, D− 60, F below 60. UK: 1st 70, 2:1 60, 2:2 50, 3rd 40.
Example calculation
Scoring 78 out of 90:
Percentage = 86.7%
Letter grade = B
UK classification = First (1st)
Percentage to letter grade is a local convention
There is no universal mapping from a percentage to a letter. A UK first-class mark starts at 70%, while a US A typically starts at 90% and an A− at 90% or 93% depending on the institution; Indian and Australian scales differ again. That is why the same 78% can be an excellent result in one system and a solid B+ in another, and why any grade table has to be read against the handbook it came from rather than assumed.
Curved and criterion-referenced marking
Criterion-referenced marking scores work against a fixed standard: if everyone meets it, everyone passes. Norm-referenced or curved marking distributes grades by rank, so your grade depends on the cohort as well as your work. Most modern university assessment is criterion-referenced with moderation, but individual modules and professional exams still curve. The distinction matters when planning: under a criterion scheme the marks you need are knowable in advance, which is exactly what this calculator gives you; under a curve they are not.
Frequently asked questions
Which letter-grade scale does this use?＋
The standard American scale with plus and minus grades at the usual cutoffs. Many institutions shift these boundaries by a point or two, and some do not use minus grades at all, so check your handbook.
How do I combine several assessments?＋
Only add raw marks together if each assessment carries equal weight. If they are weighted differently — coursework 40%, exam 60% — use the weighted grade calculator instead.
What if my course marks out of a different maximum?＋
It makes no difference. Enter the raw numbers as they are; the percentage normalises them automatically whether the paper is out of 20, 90 or 150.
Does the calculator round grades up?＋
It reports the exact percentage and applies your scale's thresholds without rounding up. Institutions vary on borderline policy, so check whether yours rounds 69.5 to a 70.
How do I handle an unmarked or missing assessment?＋
Leave it out and the remaining components are scaled to what has been marked. That gives your current standing, not your final grade.
Can I use this for a whole course rather than one module?＋
Yes, if you enter each module as a component and its credit value as the weight. For grade points rather than percentages, the CGPA calculator is a better fit.
Why does my institution's grade differ slightly?＋
Common causes are borderline rounding rules, capped resit marks and components that are pass/fail rather than scored. The arithmetic here is standard; local policy is not.
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Assumptions & limitations
Every figure here comes from a simplified model. Keep these limits in mind when reading your result:
- Letter-grade and classification boundaries are the common conventions, not universal rules.
- Assumes all points in the assessment carry equal weight.
- Does not apply scaling, curving or moderation that your institution may use.