Test Score Calculator — Percentage, Letter Grade & Next-Grade Guide
Enter your correct answers and the total questions — any total works: 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, 100, anything — and get your test percentage, your letter grade, and exactly how many more correct answers you need for the next grade up. That last part is the one most test-score calculators skip.
Letter grades use the standard scale: A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60. Check your syllabus — some teachers use different cutoffs.
How your test score is calculated
Every test score is the same simple fraction, no matter how many questions the test has:
For example, 17 correct out of 20 questions: 17 ÷ 20 = 0.85, and 0.85 × 100 = 85.0%. Each question on that test was worth 5 percentage points, so every correct answer moved the score by exactly 5%.
The standard grading scale
Once you have the percentage, the letter grade comes from your teacher's grading scale. The standard scale used by most schools is:
| Letter grade | Percentage range | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| A | 90 – 100% | Excellent — you mastered the material |
| B | 80 – 89% | Good — solid understanding, small gaps |
| C | 70 – 79% | Satisfactory — met the basics |
| D | 60 – 69% | Below average — significant gaps |
| F | Below 60% | Failing — the material needs a redo |
Heads-up: this scale is not universal. Some teachers set A at 93+, use plus/minus grades (B+, B, B−), or curve the whole class. The percentage you compute here never changes — only the letter attached to it does. When in doubt, your syllabus wins.
How many more correct answers for the next grade up?
This is where most test calculators stop, but it's the most useful number on this page. The logic works in three steps:
- Find the next cutoff. If you scored a B (80–89), the next grade up is an A, whose cutoff is 90%.
- Convert the cutoff to a question count. Multiply the cutoff by the total questions and round up: 0.90 × 20 questions = 18 correct.
- Subtract what you got. 18 − 17 = 1 more correct answer would have earned an A.
The ceiling (round-up) matters: if the math says 17.1 correct answers, you can't get a tenth of a question right — you need the full 18. That's also why each extra question matters less on long tests: on a 100-question test, one more correct moves you only 1%, while on a 10-question test it moves you 10%.
Worked examples, step by step
Example 1: 17 out of 20
| Step | Math | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Percentage | (17 ÷ 20) × 100 | 85.0% |
| 2. Letter grade | 85 falls in 80–89 | B |
| 3. Next grade up | A, cutoff 90% | A |
| 4. Correct answers for an A | ⌈0.90 × 20⌉ = 18 | 18 of 20 |
| 5. Gap to close | 18 − 17 | 1 more correct |
Example 2: 42 out of 50
| Step | Math | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Percentage | (42 ÷ 50) × 100 | 84.0% |
| 2. Letter grade | 84 falls in 80–89 | B |
| 3. Next grade up | A, cutoff 90% | A |
| 4. Correct answers for an A | ⌈0.90 × 50⌉ = 45 | 45 of 50 |
| 5. Gap to close | 45 − 42 | 3 more correct |
Notice the pattern: both scores are B's in the mid-80s, but the 50-question test needed three more correct for an A while the 20-question test needed only one. More questions = each question worth less = harder to jump a grade boundary. That's exactly why the "next grade up" math depends on your test's total, not just your percentage.
Reading your result the smart way
If you're 1–2 correct answers from the next grade, review your wrong answers first — that's where the cheapest points are. Students usually lose those on misreading the question, not on missing knowledge.
If you're far from the next grade, the percentage tells you the honest story: a 62% (D) needs the same study time as it takes to re-learn the material, not a lucky guess or two. Use the Final Exam Calculator to see how this test fits into your whole course grade.
Partial credit changes everything. This calculator assumes whole questions, but many teachers give half points. If you earned partial credit, add up your actual points instead of counting whole questions — enter points earned as "correct" and total points as "total."
What does "X out of Y" mean?
"X out of Y" is simply a score written as a fraction: X is how many questions (or points) you got right, and Y is the total the test was worth. "14 out of 18" means 14 correct answers on an 18-question test. It tells you nothing about the grade by itself — the letter grade depends on the percentage, and the percentage depends on both numbers.
To convert any X-out-of-Y score to a percentage, use the same formula as the calculator above:
Worked example — 14 out of 18:
- Divide the score by the total: 14 ÷ 18 = 0.7778
- Multiply by 100: 0.7778 × 100 = 77.8%
- Match it to the grading scale: 77.8% falls in 77–79, so the letter grade is C+
The same works backwards. If you know you want an A (90%) on a 24-question test, multiply 0.90 × 24 = 21.6, and round up to 22 — you need at least 22 out of 24 correct.
Test score lookup tables: X out of Y, percentage & letter grade
Instead of doing the division yourself, look up your score below. Each table lists every possible score for the most common test totals — 10, 12, 15, 18, 20, 24, 25, 30, 40, and 50 — with the percentage (rounded to one decimal) and the letter grade on the standard plus/minus scale. The scale used here:
| 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 | Below 60 |
Quick jump: 10 · 12 · 15 · 18 · 20 · 24 · 25 · 30 · 40 · 50
Scores out of 10
Every possible score on a 10-question test. Each question on a 10-question test is worth 10.0 percentage points.
| Score | Percentage | Letter grade |
|---|---|---|
| 10/10 | 100.0% | A+ |
| 9/10 | 90.0% | A- |
| 8/10 | 80.0% | B- |
| 7/10 | 70.0% | C- |
| 6/10 | 60.0% | D- |
| 5/10 | 50.0% | F |
| 4/10 | 40.0% | F |
| 3/10 | 30.0% | F |
| 2/10 | 20.0% | F |
| 1/10 | 10.0% | F |
| 0/10 | 0.0% | F |
Scores out of 12
Every possible score on a 12-question test. Each question on a 12-question test is worth 8.3 percentage points.
| Score | Percentage | Letter grade |
|---|---|---|
| 12/12 | 100.0% | A+ |
| 11/12 | 91.7% | A- |
| 10/12 | 83.3% | B |
| 9/12 | 75.0% | C |
| 8/12 | 66.7% | D |
| 7/12 | 58.3% | F |
| 6/12 | 50.0% | F |
| 5/12 | 41.7% | F |
| 4/12 | 33.3% | F |
| 3/12 | 25.0% | F |
| 2/12 | 16.7% | F |
| 1/12 | 8.3% | F |
| 0/12 | 0.0% | F |
Scores out of 15
Every possible score on a 15-question test. Each question on a 15-question test is worth 6.7 percentage points.
| Score | Percentage | Letter grade |
|---|---|---|
| 15/15 | 100.0% | A+ |
| 14/15 | 93.3% | A |
| 13/15 | 86.7% | B |
| 12/15 | 80.0% | B- |
| 11/15 | 73.3% | C |
| 10/15 | 66.7% | D |
| 9/15 | 60.0% | D- |
| 8/15 | 53.3% | F |
| 7/15 | 46.7% | F |
| 6/15 | 40.0% | F |
| 5/15 | 33.3% | F |
| 4/15 | 26.7% | F |
| 3/15 | 20.0% | F |
| 2/15 | 13.3% | F |
| 1/15 | 6.7% | F |
| 0/15 | 0.0% | F |
Scores out of 18
Every possible score on a 18-question test. Each question on a 18-question test is worth 5.6 percentage points.
| Score | Percentage | Letter grade |
|---|---|---|
| 18/18 | 100.0% | A+ |
| 17/18 | 94.4% | A |
| 16/18 | 88.9% | B+ |
| 15/18 | 83.3% | B |
| 14/18 | 77.8% | C+ |
| 13/18 | 72.2% | C- |
| 12/18 | 66.7% | D |
| 11/18 | 61.1% | D- |
| 10/18 | 55.6% | F |
| 9/18 | 50.0% | F |
| 8/18 | 44.4% | F |
| 7/18 | 38.9% | F |
| 6/18 | 33.3% | F |
| 5/18 | 27.8% | F |
| 4/18 | 22.2% | F |
| 3/18 | 16.7% | F |
| 2/18 | 11.1% | F |
| 1/18 | 5.6% | F |
| 0/18 | 0.0% | F |
Scores out of 20
Every possible score on a 20-question test. Each question on a 20-question test is worth 5.0 percentage points.
| Score | Percentage | Letter grade |
|---|---|---|
| 20/20 | 100.0% | A+ |
| 19/20 | 95.0% | A |
| 18/20 | 90.0% | A- |
| 17/20 | 85.0% | B |
| 16/20 | 80.0% | B- |
| 15/20 | 75.0% | C |
| 14/20 | 70.0% | C- |
| 13/20 | 65.0% | D |
| 12/20 | 60.0% | D- |
| 11/20 | 55.0% | F |
| 10/20 | 50.0% | F |
| 9/20 | 45.0% | F |
| 8/20 | 40.0% | F |
| 7/20 | 35.0% | F |
| 6/20 | 30.0% | F |
| 5/20 | 25.0% | F |
| 4/20 | 20.0% | F |
| 3/20 | 15.0% | F |
| 2/20 | 10.0% | F |
| 1/20 | 5.0% | F |
| 0/20 | 0.0% | F |
Scores out of 24
Every possible score on a 24-question test. Each question on a 24-question test is worth 4.2 percentage points.
| Score | Percentage | Letter grade |
|---|---|---|
| 24/24 | 100.0% | A+ |
| 23/24 | 95.8% | A |
| 22/24 | 91.7% | A- |
| 21/24 | 87.5% | B+ |
| 20/24 | 83.3% | B |
| 19/24 | 79.2% | C+ |
| 18/24 | 75.0% | C |
| 17/24 | 70.8% | C- |
| 16/24 | 66.7% | D |
| 15/24 | 62.5% | D- |
| 14/24 | 58.3% | F |
| 13/24 | 54.2% | F |
| 12/24 | 50.0% | F |
| 11/24 | 45.8% | F |
| 10/24 | 41.7% | F |
| 9/24 | 37.5% | F |
| 8/24 | 33.3% | F |
| 7/24 | 29.2% | F |
| 6/24 | 25.0% | F |
| 5/24 | 20.8% | F |
| 4/24 | 16.7% | F |
| 3/24 | 12.5% | F |
| 2/24 | 8.3% | F |
| 1/24 | 4.2% | F |
| 0/24 | 0.0% | F |
Scores out of 25
Every possible score on a 25-question test. Each question on a 25-question test is worth 4.0 percentage points.
| Score | Percentage | Letter grade |
|---|---|---|
| 25/25 | 100.0% | A+ |
| 24/25 | 96.0% | A |
| 23/25 | 92.0% | A- |
| 22/25 | 88.0% | B+ |
| 21/25 | 84.0% | B |
| 20/25 | 80.0% | B- |
| 19/25 | 76.0% | C |
| 18/25 | 72.0% | C- |
| 17/25 | 68.0% | D+ |
| 16/25 | 64.0% | D |
| 15/25 | 60.0% | D- |
| 14/25 | 56.0% | F |
| 13/25 | 52.0% | F |
| 12/25 | 48.0% | F |
| 11/25 | 44.0% | F |
| 10/25 | 40.0% | F |
| 9/25 | 36.0% | F |
| 8/25 | 32.0% | F |
| 7/25 | 28.0% | F |
| 6/25 | 24.0% | F |
| 5/25 | 20.0% | F |
| 4/25 | 16.0% | F |
| 3/25 | 12.0% | F |
| 2/25 | 8.0% | F |
| 1/25 | 4.0% | F |
| 0/25 | 0.0% | F |
Scores out of 30
Every possible score on a 30-question test. Each question on a 30-question test is worth 3.3 percentage points.
| Score | Percentage | Letter grade |
|---|---|---|
| 30/30 | 100.0% | A+ |
| 29/30 | 96.7% | A |
| 28/30 | 93.3% | A |
| 27/30 | 90.0% | A- |
| 26/30 | 86.7% | B |
| 25/30 | 83.3% | B |
| 24/30 | 80.0% | B- |
| 23/30 | 76.7% | C |
| 22/30 | 73.3% | C |
| 21/30 | 70.0% | C- |
| 20/30 | 66.7% | D |
| 19/30 | 63.3% | D |
| 18/30 | 60.0% | D- |
| 17/30 | 56.7% | F |
| 16/30 | 53.3% | F |
| 15/30 | 50.0% | F |
| 14/30 | 46.7% | F |
| 13/30 | 43.3% | F |
| 12/30 | 40.0% | F |
| 11/30 | 36.7% | F |
| 10/30 | 33.3% | F |
| 9/30 | 30.0% | F |
| 8/30 | 26.7% | F |
| 7/30 | 23.3% | F |
| 6/30 | 20.0% | F |
| 5/30 | 16.7% | F |
| 4/30 | 13.3% | F |
| 3/30 | 10.0% | F |
| 2/30 | 6.7% | F |
| 1/30 | 3.3% | F |
| 0/30 | 0.0% | F |
Scores out of 40
Every possible score on a 40-question test. Each question on a 40-question test is worth 2.5 percentage points.
| Score | Percentage | Letter grade |
|---|---|---|
| 40/40 | 100.0% | A+ |
| 39/40 | 97.5% | A+ |
| 38/40 | 95.0% | A |
| 37/40 | 92.5% | A- |
| 36/40 | 90.0% | A- |
| 35/40 | 87.5% | B+ |
| 34/40 | 85.0% | B |
| 33/40 | 82.5% | B- |
| 32/40 | 80.0% | B- |
| 31/40 | 77.5% | C+ |
| 30/40 | 75.0% | C |
| 29/40 | 72.5% | C- |
| 28/40 | 70.0% | C- |
| 27/40 | 67.5% | D+ |
| 26/40 | 65.0% | D |
| 25/40 | 62.5% | D- |
| 24/40 | 60.0% | D- |
| 23/40 | 57.5% | F |
| 22/40 | 55.0% | F |
| 21/40 | 52.5% | F |
| 20/40 | 50.0% | F |
| 19/40 | 47.5% | F |
| 18/40 | 45.0% | F |
| 17/40 | 42.5% | F |
| 16/40 | 40.0% | F |
| 15/40 | 37.5% | F |
| 14/40 | 35.0% | F |
| 13/40 | 32.5% | F |
| 12/40 | 30.0% | F |
| 11/40 | 27.5% | F |
| 10/40 | 25.0% | F |
| 9/40 | 22.5% | F |
| 8/40 | 20.0% | F |
| 7/40 | 17.5% | F |
| 6/40 | 15.0% | F |
| 5/40 | 12.5% | F |
| 4/40 | 10.0% | F |
| 3/40 | 7.5% | F |
| 2/40 | 5.0% | F |
| 1/40 | 2.5% | F |
| 0/40 | 0.0% | F |
Scores out of 50
Every possible score on a 50-question test. Each question on a 50-question test is worth 2.0 percentage points.
| Score | Percentage | Letter grade |
|---|---|---|
| 50/50 | 100.0% | A+ |
| 49/50 | 98.0% | A+ |
| 48/50 | 96.0% | A |
| 47/50 | 94.0% | A |
| 46/50 | 92.0% | A- |
| 45/50 | 90.0% | A- |
| 44/50 | 88.0% | B+ |
| 43/50 | 86.0% | B |
| 42/50 | 84.0% | B |
| 41/50 | 82.0% | B- |
| 40/50 | 80.0% | B- |
| 39/50 | 78.0% | C+ |
| 38/50 | 76.0% | C |
| 37/50 | 74.0% | C |
| 36/50 | 72.0% | C- |
| 35/50 | 70.0% | C- |
| 34/50 | 68.0% | D+ |
| 33/50 | 66.0% | D |
| 32/50 | 64.0% | D |
| 31/50 | 62.0% | D- |
| 30/50 | 60.0% | D- |
| 29/50 | 58.0% | F |
| 28/50 | 56.0% | F |
| 27/50 | 54.0% | F |
| 26/50 | 52.0% | F |
| 25/50 | 50.0% | F |
| 24/50 | 48.0% | F |
| 23/50 | 46.0% | F |
| 22/50 | 44.0% | F |
| 21/50 | 42.0% | F |
| 20/50 | 40.0% | F |
| 19/50 | 38.0% | F |
| 18/50 | 36.0% | F |
| 17/50 | 34.0% | F |
| 16/50 | 32.0% | F |
| 15/50 | 30.0% | F |
| 14/50 | 28.0% | F |
| 13/50 | 26.0% | F |
| 12/50 | 24.0% | F |
| 11/50 | 22.0% | F |
| 10/50 | 20.0% | F |
| 9/50 | 18.0% | F |
| 8/50 | 16.0% | F |
| 7/50 | 14.0% | F |
| 6/50 | 12.0% | F |
| 5/50 | 10.0% | F |
| 4/50 | 8.0% | F |
| 3/50 | 6.0% | F |
| 2/50 | 4.0% | F |
| 1/50 | 2.0% | F |
| 0/50 | 0.0% | F |
Don't see your test total? The math is identical for any total — type your score into the calculator at the top of this page and it will do the conversion instantly, or use the Grade Conversion Table for percentage, letter-grade, and GPA equivalents.
Want to see how this test affects your course grade?
Open the Weighted Grade Calculator →Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my test score percentage?
Divide the number of correct answers by the total number of questions, then multiply by 100. For example, 17 correct out of 20 questions is 17 ÷ 20 × 100 = 85%.
What letter grade is 17 out of 20?
17 out of 20 is 85%, which is a B on the standard grading scale (A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60). You would need 18 out of 20 — one more correct answer — to reach an A.
How many more correct answers do I need for the next grade up?
Take the percentage cutoff of the next grade, multiply it by the total number of questions, and round up. Subtract your current correct count. Example: on a 20-question test at 85% (B), the A cutoff is 90%, so 0.90 × 20 = 18 correct needed — one more than your 17.
What if my teacher uses a different grading scale?
Some teachers use different cutoffs — for example, 93+ for an A, or a plus/minus scale. The percentage is always the same regardless of scale; only the letter changes. Check your syllabus for the exact cutoffs your teacher uses.
Does this work for any number of questions?
Yes. The math works for 10, 12, 15, 20, 25, 30, 50, 100, or any other total. Enter the exact total — the percentage formula divides by whatever you enter.
What's the difference between this and a weighted grade calculator?
This calculator scores a single test: correct answers over total questions. A weighted grade calculator combines multiple categories (tests, homework, quizzes, finals) with different weights into your overall course grade.
What is 14 out of 18 as a percentage?
14 out of 18 is 77.8% (14 ÷ 18 × 100 = 77.78, rounded to one decimal). On the standard plus/minus grading scale that is a C+ (77–79). You would need 16 out of 18 — two more correct answers — to reach 88.9% and a B+.
Is 19 out of 24 a good score?
19 out of 24 is 79.2%, which is a C+ on the standard plus/minus scale (77–79) — solidly average. It is just 0.8 points shy of a B− (80%): one more correct answer, 20 out of 24 = 83.3%, would lift it to a B. So 19/24 is a score where a single extra correct answer makes a real grade difference.
How do I convert my test score to a letter grade?
Two steps. First, convert the score to a percentage: divide correct answers by total questions and multiply by 100 (for example, 14 ÷ 18 × 100 = 77.8%). Second, match the percentage to your teacher's grading scale — the standard scale is A 90–100, B 80–89, C 70–79, D 60–69, F below 60, with plus/minus refinements (e.g. B+ 87–89, B 83–86, B− 80–82). The lookup tables above do both steps for the most common test totals, and the Grade Conversion Table shows percentage, letter, and GPA equivalents.
What is 9 out of 12 as a percentage?
9 out of 12 is 75.0% (9 ÷ 12 × 100 = 75). On the standard plus/minus scale that is a C (73–76) — satisfactory, and meeting the basics of the material. On a 12-question test each question is worth about 8.3 percentage points, so one more correct answer (10 out of 12 = 83.3%) would jump the grade to a B.
Related calculators
Weighted Grade Calculator — combine this test with homework, quizzes, and exams into your course grade.
Final Exam Calculator — find the exact score you need on your final exam.
Extra Credit Calculator — see how extra credit points change your grade.
Cumulative GPA Calculator — combine semester GPAs into your overall GPA.
Grade Conversion Table — percentage, letter grade, and GPA equivalents.
Class Average Calculator — mean, median, and grade distribution for a whole class.
Final Exam Score Tables — look up what you need on the final for an A, B, or C.
How to Calculate a Weighted Grade — the formula plus a worked example.
Factor Calculator — all factors and prime factorization.
Molarity Calculator — solution concentration in mol/L.