What is a test grade calculator?
The test grade calculator is a tool designed to help students and educators calculate the percentage of tasks completed correctly in a test, converting those percentages into familiar grading systems. By entering the total number of tasks and the number of tasks completed correctly or incorrectly, the calculator determines the percentage score and the corresponding grade according to multiple grading systems. This calculator is invaluable for quickly assessing performance and understanding how scores translate into different grading standards.
The principle of this calculation is that one task in the test is assigned one point, so this calculation for tests with a different number of points for a task can only be adapted if data on the number of points is entered (both total for the entire test and correctly completed) to get a correct estimate of the result.
Grading systems
United States grading system
The United States grading system is widely recognized and often used as a reference in academic environments. Below is a table representing the typical letter grades used in the U.S. education system:
- “A” is 90% to 100%;
- “B” is 80% to 89%;
- “C” is 70% to 79%;
- “D” is 60% to 69%;
- “F” is 59% and below – and it’s not a passing grade.
A more detailed rating scale looks like this and is used in our calculator
| Letter grade | Percentage range |
|---|---|
| A+ | 97-100% |
| A | 93-96% |
| A- | 90-92% |
| B+ | 87-89% |
| B | 83-86% |
| B- | 80-82% |
| C+ | 77-79% |
| C | 73-76% |
| C- | 70-72% |
| D+ | 67-69% |
| D | 63-66% |
| D- | 60-62% |
| F | 59% and below |
United Kingdom grading system
The UK generally uses a point or band system in higher education:
- First-class honours (1st): 70% and above
- Upper second-class honours (2:1): 60-69%
- Lower second-class honours (2:2): 50-59%
- Third-class honours (3rd): 40-49%
- Fail: Below 40%
Australian grading system
Australian universities typically employ a grading scale with High Distinction (HD) as the highest:
- High Distinction (HD): 85-100%
- Distinction (D): 75-84%
- Credit (C): 65-74%
- Pass (P): 50-64%
- Fail (F): Below 50%
GPA grading system
In addition, there is a grading system with GPA (Grade Point Average) that is commonly used at the higher education level. GPA is typically used to evaluate the overall average of grades over an academic period, not for individual tests. However, the GPA scale can be adjusted to evaluate test results:
| Grade | GPA | Percentage (%) |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.3 | 97-100 |
| A | 4.0 | 93-96 |
| A- | 3.7 | 90-92 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 87-89 |
| B | 3.0 | 83-86 |
| B- | 2.7 | 80-82 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 77-79 |
| C | 2.0 | 73-76 |
| C- | 1.7 | 70-72 |
| D+ | 1.3 | 67-69 |
| D | 1.0 | 63-66 |
| D- | 0.7 | 60-62 |
| F | 0.0 | 0-59% |
ECTS grading system
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) uses a letter grading scale:
| Grade | Percentage (%) | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90-100% | Excellent |
| B | 80-89% | Very Good |
| C | 70-79% | Good |
| D | 60-69% | Satisfactory |
| E | 50-59% | Sufficient |
| FX | 30-49% | Insufficient |
| F | 0-29% | Fail |
Formula for calculating test grades
To calculate your test score percentage, use the formula:
This percentage can then be mapped to the desired grading system of your choice.
Examples of grade calculations
Example 1: American grading system
Suppose you answered 45 out of 50 questions correctly.
According to the American grading system, this would be an A-.
Example 2: UK grading system
If you scored 36 out of 50:
This would earn a second-class honours (2:1) in the UK.
Customizable grading scales
The test grade calculator also allows you to choose from:
- 5-point scale: Russian, Chinese, Japanese.
- 6-point scale: German.
- 10-point and 20-point scale: Spanish, Italian, Brazilian, French, etc.
- 100-point scale: Chinese.
The calculator also allows you to make adjustments to the percentages of grades depending on the requirements of a particular educational institution. For example, if the A grade does not correspond to 90-100%, then the necessary values can be entered into the calculator to calculate according to your requirements.
FAQs
How to find the percentage if I answered 80 out of 100 questions correctly?
To find the percentage:
This often corresponds to a B- in the American grading system.
What grading system is used in Canadian universities?
Canadian universities typically employ a percentage system often aligned with letter grades similar to the American system, though specific ranges might slightly differ.
Can I use different grading scales for various subjects?
Yes, educators can select different grading systems to better fit the evaluation criteria for different subjects or assessments.
Why do some countries prefer percentage-based grades over letter grades?
Percentage-based grades provide precise performance metrics, but letter grades offer simplicity and a broader classification which can be easier to interpret at a glance.
How do plus and minus signs affect letter grades?
Pluses and minuses provide more precise evaluation, allowing distinctions within each grade letter. For instance, an A- is slightly lower than an A but higher than a B+.
With the test grade calculator, you can effortlessly translate your performance into meaningful evaluations across varied educational systems.