Test Grade Calculator — Get Your Percentage and Letter Grade Instantly
This test grade calculator gives you an instant result. Enter the total number of questions and how many were wrong — and you will immediately see the percentage score, letter grade, and a complete grading table showing every possible score. Perfect for teachers grading papers quickly and students checking their quiz or exam results.
How to Use This Test Grade Calculator
Using this tool takes less than 20 seconds. Here is what to enter:
- Grading Scale — Choose between the A+ slash A- plus minus scale or the simple A B C D F scale depending on your school’s grading system.
- Total Questions — Enter the total number of questions on the test, for example 50 or 25.
- Wrong Answers — Enter how many questions were answered incorrectly. You can also tap the Plus Wrong button to count wrong answers one by one as you go through the paper.
The calculator instantly shows the percentage, letter grade, correct answer count, and a full grading table for every possible score on that test.
US Grading Scale — What Each Letter Grade Means
This calculator uses the standard US grading scale. Here is what each letter grade represents:
A plus is 97 to 100 percent — Excellent
A is 93 to 96 percent — Excellent
A minus is 90 to 92 percent — Excellent
B plus is 87 to 89 percent — Above average
B is 83 to 86 percent — Above average
B minus is 80 to 82 percent — Above average
C plus is 77 to 79 percent — Average
C is 73 to 76 percent — Average
C minus is 70 to 72 percent — Average
D plus is 67 to 69 percent — Below average
D is 63 to 66 percent — Below average
D minus is 60 to 62 percent — Below average
F is below 60 percent — Fail
Some schools use the simple scale without plus and minus. Use the toggle in the calculator to switch between the two scales.
How to Calculate a Test Grade — The Formula
The formula to calculate a test grade percentage is simple:
Percentage = (Total Questions minus Wrong Answers) divided by Total Questions, multiplied by 100
Example: A test has 40 questions. The student got 7 wrong.
Correct answers = 40 minus 7 = 33
Percentage = (33 divided by 40) multiplied by 100 = 82.5 percent
Letter grade = B minus on the plus minus scale
The calculator does this instantly and also builds a complete table showing the grade for every possible number of wrong answers on that specific test.
Tips for Teachers Using This Calculator
This tool is especially useful for teachers who need to grade a stack of papers quickly. Here are a few ways to use it efficiently:
Enter the total questions once and keep the page open. Then use the Plus Wrong button to count wrong answers as you go through each paper without retyping the total each time.
Use the Undo button if you tap one too many wrong answers by mistake.
The full grading table at the bottom shows every possible score for that test. You can refer to it directly while grading instead of calculating each paper individually.
If you need to find out what score a student needs on a final exam to pass the course, use our Final Grade Calculator for that calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate a test grade from wrong answers?
Use this formula: subtract the number of wrong answers from total questions to get correct answers, then divide by total questions and multiply by 100. For example, 5 wrong out of 50 gives you 45 correct, which is 90 percent, which is an A minus on the standard scale.
What is a passing grade on a test?
In most US high schools and colleges, 60 percent is the minimum passing grade which corresponds to a D minus on the letter grade scale. However some courses, especially major requirements at university level, require a C which is 70 percent or higher. Always check your course syllabus to confirm the passing threshold. You can also use our Pass Fail Calculator to instantly check if any score is passing or failing.
What is the difference between the plus minus scale and the simple scale?
The plus minus scale uses grades like A plus, A, A minus, B plus, B, B minus and so on — giving 13 possible letter grades. The simple scale uses only A, B, C, D, and F — giving 5 possible grades. Most US colleges and universities use the plus minus scale. Many high schools use the simple scale. Use the toggle in the calculator to switch between the two.
Can I use this for any type of test?
Yes. This calculator works for any test, quiz, or exam that is scored by number of correct and incorrect answers including multiple choice tests, true or false quizzes, and short answer exams where each question is worth one point.