Canvas Weighted Grade Calculator

Start with the sample below, or replace it with your own scores. For a points-based course, put all assignments in one group at 100%. Letter grades use an example scale; check your syllabus. Drop rules, grading periods, and late penalties must be entered manually.

How Canvas weighted grading works

Canvas calculates your course grade in two steps:

1. Within each assignment group, your average is the sum of earned points divided by the sum of possible points. Missing work (zero score) is included; excused work is excluded.
2. Across groups, each group's average is multiplied by its weight, and those products are summed. Divide by the combined weight of groups with graded work to get your current grade. Empty and wholly pending groups are excluded from the current grade.

Example: Quizzes (weight 30%) avg = 85, Essays (weight 30%) avg = 92, Final (weight 40%) avg = 78 → course grade = 0.30 × 85 + 0.30 × 92 + 0.40 × 78 = 84.3%.

Status types per assignment

• Graded — normal entry. Earned points + total possible both fill in.
• Missing (use when your instructor assigns a zero) — counts as zero. Hurts your group average.
• Excused — not counted at all. Removed from the average.
• Pending — not graded yet. Excluded from your current grade; included in the zero-score projection and What-If mode. A blank score with possible points is also treated as pending.

What-If mode

Switch to What-If: target grade at the top, then:

1. Mark unfinished assignments as Pending (use the status dropdown on each row)
2. Pick a target letter grade or percentage at the top
3. The tool solves for the same percentage score on each pending assignment, accounting for its points and group weight

You can also explore scores with Canvas's own "What-If Grades" feature. This calculator solves for a uniform percentage across the pending work you enter.

Where to find your weights in Canvas

1. Open the course → Grades in the left nav
2. Look for assignment-group weights on the Grades page or in your syllabus
3. Copy the percentage for each weighted assignment group
4. If your course uses points-based grading, use one group at 100% and enter all assignments there

FAQ

Why does my grade differ from Canvas's display?

Common reasons: (1) Canvas may auto-drop the lowest grade in some groups — toggle that work as "Excused" here to mirror the behavior. (2) Your course uses points totals, not weights — use a single group at 100%. (3) Some assignments are excused/late with deductions on Canvas's side.

Why is Canvas calculating my grade incorrectly?

Canvas may be applying assignment-group weights, drop rules, excused or missing statuses, grading periods, or posted-versus-unposted scores that your manual calculation does not include. Compare the syllabus and every assignment status before assuming the calculation is wrong, then model the same setup in the calculator above.

Why did my Canvas grade change?

A grade can change when an instructor posts or edits a score, marks work missing, applies a late policy, changes a group weight or drop rule, or when Canvas switches between current and total grade views. What-If scores are temporary and can also be reset.

Does Canvas count ungraded assignments as zero?

Canvas can show a current grade based only on graded assignments or a total grade that includes all assignments. Whether an ungraded item appears to count as zero depends on the selected view and the course's grade-display settings.

What if my course doesn't use weighted groups?

Use a single group with weight 100% and add every assignment to it. The math is the same — sum of earned / sum of possible × 100.

Is anything saved to a server?

New saved links store your entries in the URL fragment, which is not sent in the page request. Anyone with the link can read the entries, so avoid personal information. The page also uses site analytics. Older query-based links still open.

How is this different from the Final Grade Calculator?

The Final Grade Calculator answers one question: "what do I need on the final?" — assumes the final is the only thing left. This tool handles courses with multiple remaining assignments across multiple weighted groups.