This calculator uses a standard linear grading distribution.
Hi. This is my Test Grade Calculator. It's a simple tool I built for students (and teachers) who need to figure out grades quickly.
You know the situation: you finish a test, you know how many questions you got wrong, but you're not sure what grade that translates to. Or you're a teacher grading a stack of papers and need to convert scores to letter grades.
This tool does that conversion instantly. Put in how many questions were on the test and how many you got wrong, and it gives you your percentage, letter grade, and some helpful details.
It also shows a handy table so you can see what grade you'd get with different numbers of wrong answers.
What This Tool Actually Does
It converts test scores (right/wrong answers) into percentages and letter grades.
The basic calculation is straightforward: (Correct Answers ÷ Total Questions) × 100 = Your Percentage.
Then it converts that percentage into a letter grade using standard grading scales. You can choose between two common scales:
Standard Scale: Simple A, B, C, D, F. This is what most people are familiar with.
Plus/Minus Scale: More detailed: A+, A, A-, B+, B, B-, etc. Many colleges and universities use this.
The tool also shows a conversion table so you can see at a glance: "If I get 3 questions wrong, that's 94% and an A. If I get 7 wrong, that's 86% and a B."
How to Use the Grade Calculator
It's designed to be super simple. Three inputs, instant results.
Step 1: Number of Questions - How many questions were on the test. This is your total possible score.
Step 2: Number of Wrong Answers - How many questions you answered incorrectly. If you're not sure, you can enter how many you think you got wrong.
Step 3: Grade Scale - Choose which grading system you want to use. "Standard" for simple A-F, or "Plus/Minus" for more detailed grades.
The tool updates instantly as you type or change selections. No submit button needed.
On the right side, you see:
- Your final letter grade (big and clear)
- Your percentage score
- Correct answers out of total (like 45/50)
- How many percentage points you lost due to wrong answers
- Pass/Fail status
Below that, there's a table showing grades for different numbers of wrong answers, so you can see how close you are to the next grade boundary.
A Practical Example
You just took a 60-question multiple choice test. You think you got 8 questions wrong.
You enter: Questions = 60, Wrong = 8, Scale = Standard.
The tool shows:
- Final Grade: B (in big letters)
- Percentage: 86.67%
- Correct: 52/60
- Points Lost: -13.33%
- Status: Passed
The table shows that with 7 wrong you'd have 88.33% (still B), with 6 wrong you'd have 90% (A). So you were 2 questions away from an A.
Key Features
Here's what makes this grade calculator useful:
- Instant Conversion: From wrong answers to grade in milliseconds.
- Two Grading Scales: Choose the one that matches your institution.
- Visual Grade Table: See how different numbers of wrong answers affect your grade.
- Color-Coded Results: Green for passing grades, red for failing - instant visual feedback.
- Detailed Breakdown: Not just the grade, but percentage, fraction, points lost.
- Pass/Fail Indicator: Clear indication of whether you passed (usually 60%+).
- Clean Design: No clutter. Just what you need to calculate your grade.
- Mobile Friendly: Works perfectly on phones and tablets.
Why Use This Instead of Manual Calculation?
You could do the math yourself, but this is faster and reduces errors.
The grade conversion is where people often get confused. Is 87% an A- or a B+? It depends on the scale. This tool handles that correctly.
The table feature is really helpful. Instead of calculating "what if" scenarios one by one, you see them all at once. This helps with understanding how much each wrong answer costs you in terms of your final grade.
For teachers, it's a time-saver. Instead of converting each student's score individually, you can quickly see what grade corresponds to what number of wrong answers.
The color coding (green/red based on pass/fail) gives immediate emotional feedback. Seeing that green "Passed" is reassuring.
Who Should Use This Tool
Basically anyone involved in testing:
- Students: To calculate grades on tests, quizzes, exams immediately after taking them.
- Teachers & Professors: For quickly converting raw scores to grades during grading.
- Tutors: To help students understand their test performance and set goals.
- Parents: To help interpret their children's test scores and understand what the grades mean.
- Online Course Participants: For courses with automated quizzes where you see "8/10 correct" but want to know the grade.
- Test Prep Students: For practice tests - to track progress and set targets.
- HR & Trainers: For certification tests or employee assessments.
Common Use Cases
I see people using it for:
Immediate Post-Test Analysis: Right after a test, when you're trying to estimate your grade.
Grade Goal Setting: "I need an A on this test. If there are 40 questions, how many can I get wrong?"
Test Review: Going over a graded test and understanding how each wrong answer affected the final grade.
Study Planning: "On my last practice test, I got 12 wrong. To get an A, I need to reduce that to 6 wrong. That's my study target."
Teacher Grading Efficiency: Quickly converting a stack of test scores to letter grades.
Parent-Teacher Conferences: Having clear numbers to discuss: "Your child got 15/20 correct, that's 75%, which is a C."
Self-Assessment: For online learners taking self-paced quizzes.
The Grading Scales Explained
The tool uses two common grading scales:
Standard Scale (A, B, C, D, F):
- 90-100%: A
- 80-89.99%: B
- 70-79.99%: C
- 60-69.99%: D
- Below 60%: F
Plus/Minus Scale (A+, A, A-, B+, etc.):
- 97-100%: A+
- 93-96.99%: A
- 90-92.99%: A-
- 87-89.99%: B+
- 83-86.99%: B
- 80-82.99%: B-
- 77-79.99%: C+
- 73-76.99%: C
- 70-72.99%: C-
- 67-69.99%: D+
- 63-66.99%: D
- 60-62.99%: D-
- Below 60%: F
These are standard scales used in many educational systems. Your specific institution might use slightly different cutoffs, but these give you a good general idea.
How the Calculations Work
The math is straightforward:
Correct Answers = Total Questions - Wrong Answers
Percentage = (Correct Answers ÷ Total Questions) × 100
Points Lost = (Wrong Answers ÷ Total Questions) × 100
The letter grade is determined by checking which percentage range you fall into on the selected scale.
The grade table is generated by calculating the percentage and grade for 0 to 20 wrong answers (or up to the total number of questions, whichever is smaller).
All calculations happen instantly in your browser. No data is sent to any server.
Tips for Getting Accurate Results
To use the tool effectively:
Know your test format: Some tests deduct points for wrong answers (negative marking). This tool assumes simple scoring: right = 1 point, wrong = 0 points.
Use the correct scale: Check which grading scale your teacher/institution uses. If unsure, the Standard scale is a good default.
Count carefully: Make sure you're counting total questions and wrong answers accurately. One mis-count can change your grade.
Use the table for planning: Before a test, use the table to set targets: "To get an A, I can get at most 5 wrong on this 50-question test."
Check pass/fail requirements: Some courses have different passing thresholds (like 70% instead of 60%). The tool uses 60% as the pass/fail cutoff, but you should verify your specific requirements.
For partial credit: If some questions are worth more points than others, this simple calculator might not be accurate. It assumes all questions are equal value.
Limitations to Be Aware Of
The tool has some natural limitations:
It assumes all questions are worth the same number of points. If your test has different point values per question, the calculations won't be accurate.
It doesn't handle negative marking (where wrong answers deduct points). It assumes wrong answers simply get zero points.
The grading scales are standard but not universal. Your specific teacher or institution might use different percentage cutoffs.
It doesn't account for partial credit. Either you got it right or wrong.
The pass/fail cutoff is set at 60%. Some systems use 50% or 70%.
It's designed for multiple choice or true/false type tests where answers are clearly right or wrong. For essay-based tests with subjective grading, it won't work.
Why I Added the Grade Table
The grade table is my favorite feature.
Most grade calculators just give you your grade. But students (and teachers) often want to see the bigger picture: "How close was I to the next grade? If I had gotten 2 more questions right, what would my grade be?"
The table answers those questions at a glance. You can see the exact impact of each wrong answer on your final grade.
It's also great for goal setting. Before a test, you can say: "I want an A. The test has 40 questions. According to the table, I can get at most 4 wrong to get an A on the standard scale." That's a clear, numerical target.
For teachers, it's a quick reference. Instead of calculating each student's grade individually, you can just look at the table: "8 wrong = B, 12 wrong = C, etc."
The table makes the relationship between wrong answers and final grade transparent and understandable.
Final Thoughts
So that's my Test Grade Calculator.
It's a simple tool for a common need. Whether you're a student trying to figure out how you did on a test, or a teacher converting scores to grades, I hope it saves you time and reduces stress.
Remember: grades are feedback, not final judgment. A lower grade than expected is information about what you need to study more, not about your intelligence or worth.
Use the tool to understand your performance, set realistic goals, and track improvement. But don't let the numbers define you.
Good luck with your tests and calculations. May your grades be ever in your favor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my test has questions worth different points?
This tool assumes all questions are worth the same number of points. If your test has different point values (like some questions worth 2 points, others worth 1), you'll need to calculate your total points first, then convert to percentage manually. This tool won't be accurate for unevenly weighted tests.
Does it work for tests with negative marking?
No. This tool assumes simple scoring: right answers get points, wrong answers get zero. If your test deducts points for wrong answers (negative marking), you'll need a different calculation method that accounts for the penalty.
Can I use this for essay-based tests?
Not really. This tool is designed for objective tests (multiple choice, true/false) where answers are clearly right or wrong. For essay tests with partial credit and subjective grading, you need to know your score out of total points, then convert that percentage to a grade.
What if my school uses a different grading scale?
The tool offers two common scales. If your institution uses something different (like 10-point scale: 90-100 A, 80-89 B, etc.), you might need to mentally adjust. The percentage calculation will still be accurate; only the letter grade conversion might differ.
Why does it show "Passed" for 60% and above?
60% is a common passing threshold in many educational systems. However, some courses require 70% or higher to pass. The tool uses 60% as a general standard. Always check your specific course requirements.
Can I calculate grades for multiple tests at once?
Not with this tool. It's designed for single tests. To calculate your overall grade in a course with multiple tests, you'd need to calculate each test's contribution based on their weights, then average.
Does the table show all possible wrong answers?
The table shows up to 20 wrong answers or the total number of questions (whichever is smaller). For most tests, this covers the relevant range. If you have a test with 100 questions and want to see grades for 30 wrong answers, you'd need to calculate that manually or adjust the inputs.