Home / Exams / What Grade Do I Need on My Final to Get an A−?

What Grade Do I Need on My Final to Get an A−?

Calculate the exact score you need on your final exam to finish the course with an A−. A− is 90–92%, which is 3 percentage points lower than a flat A (93%). See how much easier A− is to reach compared to A or A+.

Calculator

%
Your average so far on graded work
%
90% for A−; change to 93% for flat A
%
What % of your course grade is the final
Required on Final
—
F
0–59 D
60–69 C
70–79 B
80–89 A
90–100

Why A− is easier than A

Many students chase an A (93%) without realizing that a lower target—A− at 90%—is 3 percentage points closer and often makes the difference between reachable and impossible.

Here's the math with a concrete example: if you're at 88% and your final is 25% of your grade, you would need:

Target Grade Percentage Required on Final Status
A− 90% 96.0% Demanding but reachable
A 93% 108.0% Impossible (needs extra credit)
A+ 97% 124.0% Impossible (needs extra credit)

At 88% current grade with a 25% final, you can reach 96% on the final—it's tough but possible with focused review. But a flat A requires 108%, which exceeds the maximum. The 3-point gap between A− and A expands into an 12-point gap on the final (96% vs. 108%).

The lower your current grade, the sharper this gap becomes. If you were at 80%, you'd need 100% on the final for A− but 115% for A. This is why checking your school's grading scale matters—if A− is available, it's often the pragmatic choice when aiming high.

How this is calculated

required = (target − current × (1 − w)) / w

target = grade you want in the course, %
current = your average on graded work so far, %
w = final exam weight, as a decimal (e.g., 25% → 0.25)

Assumption: Your current grade is the average of all work graded so far, which makes up (1 − w) of your course grade. Everything ungraded counts toward the final.

Worked example: A− with a low current grade

You have an 88% average on work worth 75% of the course. Your final is 25%. What do you need to finish with an A− (90%)?

required = (90 − 88 × (1 − 0.25)) / 0.25
required = (90 − 88 × 0.75) / 0.25
required = (90 − 66) / 0.25
required = 24 / 0.25
required = 96%

You need a 96% on the final to finish with exactly 90% (A−). That's a high score but achievable with solid exam performance.

Comparison: same student, flat A

Same scenario, but you want a flat A (93%) instead:

required = (93 − 88 × 0.75) / 0.25
required = (93 − 66) / 0.25
required = 27 / 0.25
required = 108%

You would need 108% on the final—which is impossible without extra credit. This shows why the 3-point gap between A− and A matters: it transforms a demanding path into an impossible one.

Required final score by current grade and target

This table shows what you need on the final to reach A− (90%), A (93%), or A+ (97%), given your current grade and a 25% final exam weight. All entries assume the standard US grading scale; check your school's cutoffs to confirm.

Current Grade A− (90%) A (93%) A+ (97%)

Final exam weight is fixed at 25% in this table. Use the calculator above to adjust for different weights.

When does your school use A−?

A− is part of the plus/minus grading scale, used by most US colleges and many high schools. Under this system:

  • A− = 90–92% (top tier, but one step below a full A)
  • A = 93–96% (the highest standard letter grade)
  • A+ = 97–100% (sometimes available; not all schools use A+)

However, some schools collapse all A-range grades into a single A band (90–100%), treating A− and A as equivalent. Check your syllabus or your school's registrar handbook to confirm which system you're under.

If your school does not use A−, this calculator still works: just treat 90% as your target if you want the highest attainable grade at your institution.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between A− and a flat A?

A− is 90–92%, while a flat A is typically 93–96%. A− is 3 percentage points lower, making it measurably easier to achieve. If your target is an A−, you need a lower final exam score than you would for an A. Both are strong grades; A− simply sits one step below A in the grading band.

Do employers or grad schools care if it's A− versus A?

In most contexts, no meaningful difference. Both are A-range grades and are treated similarly by employers and graduate admissions. GPA calculations typically award similar point value for both (often 3.7 on a 4.0 scale). A− is still a strong, respected grade.

Does my school use A−, or just A?

Some schools use a traditional plus/minus scale (A, A−, B+, B, B−, etc.), while others collapse all A-range grades into a single A band. Check your syllabus or registrar's handbook. If your school doesn't use A−, enter 90% as your target and it becomes equivalent to your institution's highest attainable grade.

How much easier is A− than A at a fixed current grade?

At 88% current with a 25% final, you need 96% on the final for A− (90%) but would need 108% for A (93%)—which is impossible. This shows the 3-point gap compounds: you're trading a demanding-but-reachable target for an impossible one. The lower your current grade, the sharper this difference becomes.

What if I want to know A versus A+ as well?

A+ is typically 97% or higher. Check your school's scale on your syllabus. You can compare all three on this page's reference table, which shows required finals for A− (90%), A (93%), and A+ (97%) at the same current grade and final weight.

Can I change the final weight in the calculator?

Yes. The calculator defaults to 25%, but adjust it to match your syllabus. A heavier final gives you more leverage to move your grade—but also more risk. A lighter final makes it harder to recover a low current grade.

Related tools

Compare this page to the flat A calculator (93% target) to see the difference side-by-side. Or explore converting any score to a letter grade under your school's specific grading scale.

Sources