Percentage = (correct / total) × 100Divide questions answered correctly by total questions, multiply by 100. Letter grade depends on the grading scale: standard maps 90+ to A, 80-89 to B, 70-79 to C, 60-69 to D, below 60 to F. Strict and lenient scales shift the cutoffs higher or lower.
Enter correct answers and total questions. Get percentage and letter grade.
Enter how many questions you got right out of the total to see your percentage and letter grade. Choose a grading scale that matches your school: standard (90/80/70/60), strict (93/85/77/70), or lenient (85/75/65/55). Useful for self-grading practice exams.
Most tests come back with a raw score: 42 out of 50, 87 out of 100, 28 out of 30. Translating that to a letter grade depends on the grading scale your teacher uses. This calculator handles three common scales and shows exactly how many more correct answers you would need to reach the next letter grade.
You came here because
Common situations
- Self-graded practice tests: Convert your score on a practice quiz into a letter grade to gauge readiness.
- Estimating final results: After a test, estimate your grade before the teacher returns it.
- Comparing across grading scales: See how the same raw score maps to different letter grades on different scales.
- Setting practice goals: See exactly how many more correct answers move you to the next grade.
Under the hood
How the calculation works
- 1Enter the number of questions you got right.
- 2Enter the total number of questions on the test.
- 3Pick a grading scale: standard, strict, or lenient.
- 4The calculator divides correct by total for your percentage.
- 5It maps that percentage to a letter grade.
- 6It also shows how many more correct answers earn the next letter.
Show me
A real example
Example: 42 correct out of 50, standard scale
- 1Percentage = (42 / 50) × 100 = 84%
- 284% is below 90, above 80
- 3Standard scale: 80-89 = B
Watch out for
What can go wrong
- Assuming the standard scale applies: Many schools and colleges use a strict (93+ for A) scale. Always confirm the actual scale your class uses before deciding what grade you got.
- Confusing raw and scaled scores: On the SAT, ACT, and other standardized tests, the raw score is just a starting point. The reported score is scaled. This calculator gives a simple percentage, not a scaled test result.
- Ignoring partial credit: Most tests award partial credit on some questions. The "questions correct" input here treats each question as fully right or wrong. For tests with partial credit, enter your point total and the maximum possible.
- Rounding before applying the scale: 89.5% rounds to 90%, but the actual percentage is below the A cutoff on the standard scale. Schools differ on whether they round up. Check the policy.
Glossary
Related concepts
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Raw score | The number of correct answers, without adjustment. Differs from scaled scores used on standardized tests. |
| Percentage grade | Raw score divided by total questions, expressed as a percentage. The most common school grading unit. |
| Grading scale | The mapping from percentage to letter grade. Schools and individual teachers can use different scales. |
Make it better
Pro tips
- Track your trajectory: Calculate your score on each test through the semester. A consistent pattern at the borderline of two letter grades signals where to focus extra study.
- Use the "points to next grade" output: Knowing you are three questions from a higher grade focuses revision better than just knowing your current score.
- Compare with the class average: A 75% is fine if the class average is 70%, less fine if the class average is 88%. Context helps you read the result.
- Combine with the final-exam calculator: Use test-score for individual tests, then plug results into the final-exam calculator to see what you need on the cumulative test.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Quick reference
Percentage to Letter Grade
Three common grading scales
| Letter | Standard | Strict | Lenient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atypical | 90-100 | 93-100 | 85-100 |
| B | 80-89 | 85-92 | 75-84 |
| C | 70-79 | 77-84 | 65-74 |
| D | 60-69 | 70-76 | 55-64 |
| F | 0-59 | 0-69 | 0-54 |
For related calculations, try the Grade Calculator, GPA Calculator, or Final Exam Grade. Browse all Calculator Online calculators for the full catalog.
Methodology
This calculator uses the standard test score calculator formula. Results match those from established financial, scientific, and health references.
Reviewed by
Calculator Online Editorial Team. All formulas verified against authoritative sources before publication.
Last updated
2026-05-24