How to Figure Out Your Test Score

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Learn how to calculate your grade with these easy steps!
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If your test score wasn't converted to a percentage or letter grade by your teacher, don't worry! You can easily calculate your test grade using a few simple steps. So, pull out your calculator—you’ll have your percentage and letter grade in no time.

How do you calculate your test grade?

  1. Count how many points or answers you got right on the test.
  2. Find out how many points were possible or how many answers were on the test.
  3. Divide the number of answers you got right by the number of answers on the test.
  4. Multiply that number by 100 to get your score.
Section 1 of 2:

Calculating Your Grade with a Simple Equation

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  1. Figure out how many questions you answered correctly and write this number down. Then, draw a line under this number so that it is the top number of a fraction. For example, if you had 21 correct answers, write down 21 / . Do not write anything under the fraction yet. [1]
    • For long tests, it might be easier to subtract the number of questions you got wrong from the total number of questions on the test. For example, if you got 5 questions wrong on a 26-question test, subtract 5 from 26 (26 - 5 = 21). Then, use 21 as the top number in your fraction.
    • If some questions are worth more points than others, use the total number of points you earned as your top number instead. For example, if you earned 53 points out of 70 points possible, then write 53 as your top number.
  2. Finish the fraction with the total number of questions or points on the test. In our example, the test had 26 questions, so your fraction would be 21 / 26 . [2]
    • Check your fraction to make sure that it is set up correctly. Remember that the number of questions you got right or the number of points you earned should be on top of the fraction. The total number of questions on the test or the total number of points possible should be at the bottom of the fraction.
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  3. You can use a basic calculator to find your percentage grade on the test. Just divide the top number by the bottom number. For example, take /26 and plug it into the calculator as 21 ÷ 26. You should get the answer 0.8077 . [3]
    • Don’t worry about the numbers past the first four digits of the answer. For example, if the answer was 0.8077777, you can ignore the last three sevens. They will not affect your percentage.
  4. You can multiply with your calculator or just move the decimal point two digits to the right. The answer will be your grade as a percentage (your score out of 100). In our example, 0.8077 x 100 = 80.77 . This means your test grade is 80.77% . [4]
    • Depending on your teacher’s grading scale, 80.77% would be a B or a B-.
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Section 2 of 2:

Converting a Percentage to a Letter Grade

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  1. Grade ranges can vary among professors and teachers. If you were provided a syllabus or school handbook at the beginning of the year, it may list the grade range. If you cannot find a range on any of your materials, ask your professor or teacher about their grading scale.
  2. Although there are variations, this is the most common grading range for schools and universities in the USA. A “B” or higher is typically considered a “good” grade. A “D” is usually the lowest passing grade, but it may not fulfill requirements for further courses or college applications. [5]
    • An "A" is 90% to 100% . A grade of 100% is an “A+.” A grade of 94-99% would be considered an “A.” A grade of 90-93% would be considered an “A-.”
    • A "B" is 80% to 89% . A grade of 87% or higher would be considered a “B+.” A grade of 83-86% would be considered a “B.” A grade of 80%-82% would be considered a “B-.”
    • A "C" is 70% to 79% . A grade of 77% or higher would be considered a “C+.” A grade of 73-76% would be considered a “C.” A grade of 70-72% would be considered a “C-.”
    • A "D" is 60% to 69% . A grade of 67% or higher would be considered a “D+.” A grade of 63-66% would be considered a “D.” A grade of 60-62% would be considered a “D-.”
    • An "F" is 59% and below . An “F” is a failing grade, so professors and teachers do not usually assign + or – values to “F” grades. [6]
  3. The United Kingdom uses several grading scales in primary and secondary school, for tests such as the GCSE and A-levels. These have their own classification terms, but the percentages roughly correspond to the information below. This system is also used for undergraduate work in the UK and in India. [7]
    • 70% to 100% is the highest grade, a mark of Distinction.
    • 60% to 69% earns a Merit.
    • 50% to 59% is Pass.
    • Some schools Fail at 49% or below , while others fail at 39% or below .
  4. At a university level, the Canadian grading scale is similar to the US system’s, but there are some differences in percentage range: [8]
    • An "A" is 80% to 100%
    • A "B" is 70% to 79%
    • A "C" is 60% to 69%
    • A "D" is 50% to 59%
    • An "F" is 49% and below
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  • Question
    What would my grade be if there are 20 questions and I got 3 wrong?
    Community Answer
    Subtract 3 from 20 and divide by 20. You'll get an 85% for your grade. Check above to see what that means in your area; it's definitely a B in the US, but it's also a Distinction in the U.K. and India.
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    Not Helpful 42 Helpful 115
  • Question
    How many wrong answers can I get on a 46 question test and still pass?
    Community Answer
    Let's assume you need around a 70% to pass. You would then need to know what 70% of 46 is. Calculate this by converting 70% to the following decimal: 0.7. Then multiply that by 46. The answer is 32.2, which we will round up to 33 to account for the decimal. That is how many questions you need to get right to pass. Subtract 33 from 46 to find how many you can get wrong and still pass. The answer is 13.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 51 Helpful 115
  • Question
    If I got 9 wrong out of 50 questions, what would be my score?
    Community Answer
    82%, becouse 41 dividing by 50 and multiplying it with 100 will give you 82. This is a B- at most school in the United States.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      Tips

      • Some calculators have a function to help work out percentages.
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      • Try using an online grade calculator if you’re having trouble working out the percentage yourself. Simply search “grade calculator” online.
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      Tips from our Readers

      The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
      • Private and charter schools may have their own grading scales, and some don't even use numbers in their grading system! Talk to a teacher or administration to help you understand how your grades work.
      • Some countries use different grading scales. For example, Argentina has a scale like this: A: 95+ B: 75-94 C: 55-74 (in some schools it is 65-74) D: 40-55 (some schools use it 40-64) Failed: Below 39
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      Warnings

      • It's easy to make simple addition mistakes when adding test questions. Be sure to double-check your work.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ncl.ac.uk/webtemplate/ask-assets/external/maths-resources/percentages.html
      2. ↑ https://www.ncl.ac.uk/webtemplate/ask-assets/external/maths-resources/percentages.html
      3. ↑ https://www.mathsisfun.com/converting-fractions-percents.html
      4. ↑ https://sciencing.com/convert-mean-score-percentage-5993737.html
      5. ↑ https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/hsts/howgpa.aspx
      6. ↑ https://registrar.unc.edu/academic-services/grades/explanation-of-grading-system/
      7. ↑ https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/university/courses/degree-classifications
      8. ↑ https://studying-in-canada.org/canada-grading-system/

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To calculate a test grade, start by counting the number of questions that were answered correctly on the test. Then, divide that number by the total number of questions that were on the test. Finally, multiply the number you get by 100 to find out the test grade as a percentage. To learn how to convert a percentage to a letter grade, keep on reading!

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