Required Exam Score Calculator
Find out exactly what mark you need on your remaining exam to hit your target GCSE or A Level grade.
Leave blank if you have not sat any papers yet.
How This Calculator Works
You already know some of your scores. Now you need to know exactly what you have to get on the exam you have not taken yet. That is the one question this tool answers.
The maths works backwards from your target grade. It takes the weighted scores you have banked from completed papers, works out how much of the grade is still up for grabs, and tells you the minimum raw mark you need on your remaining exam.
Banked Score = Sum of (Your Mark / Max Mark x Weight) for each done paper
// Minimum total % needed for your target grade
Target Total % = Grade Boundary (e.g. 80% for Grade A or Grade 7)
// What the remaining exam must contribute
Remaining Needed % = Target Total % – Banked Score
// Convert to a raw mark
Required Raw Mark = (Remaining Needed % / Remaining Weight) x Max Mark
Worked Example: GCSE Maths, Need a Grade 6
Suppose you have already sat Paper 1 (50% weighting) and scored 56 out of 80. Paper 2 (50% weighting) is still to come, max 80 marks. Your target is Grade 6 (60% overall).
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 score | 56 / 80 x 100 = 70% | 70% |
| Banked contribution | 70% x 50% weighting | 35% banked |
| Target total | Grade 6 requires 60% | 60% needed |
| Still needed | 60% – 35% | 25% from Paper 2 |
| Required % on Paper 2 | 25% / 50% weighting = 50% | 50% on Paper 2 |
| Required raw mark | 50% x 80 max marks | 40 out of 80 |
You need 40 out of 80 on Paper 2 to achieve Grade 6. That is a 50% pass rate on the remaining paper, which is very achievable if you have already scored 70% on Paper 1.
Worked Example: A Level Chemistry, Targeting Grade A
You have completed Paper 1 (35% weighting, 84/105) and Paper 2 (35% weighting, 78/105). Paper 3 (30% weighting, max 90) is still ahead. You want a Grade A (80% overall).
| Component | Score | Weighted Contribution |
|---|---|---|
| Paper 1 (done) | 84/105 = 80% | 28.0% |
| Paper 2 (done) | 78/105 = 74.3% | 26.0% |
| Total banked | 54.0% | |
| Target (Grade A) | 80% | Need 80% total |
| Still needed from Paper 3 | 26.0% from 30% weight | |
| Required % on Paper 3 | 26 / 30 x 100 | 86.7% |
| Required raw mark | 86.7% x 90 | 78 out of 90 |
Table of Truth: Common Scenarios
| Target | Banked so far | Remaining weight | Max mark left | You need | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GCSE Grade 7 (70%) | 32% banked | 50% | 80 | 61/80 (76%) | Achievable |
| GCSE Grade 5 (50%) | 28% banked | 50% | 80 | 35/80 (44%) | Easy |
| GCSE Grade 4 (40%) | 18% banked | 50% | 80 | 35/80 (44%) | Achievable |
| A Level Grade A (80%) | 49% banked | 33% | 100 | 94/100 (94%) | Very hard |
| A Level Grade B (70%) | 45% banked | 33% | 100 | 76/100 (76%) | Achievable |
| A Level Grade C (60%) | 35% banked | 33% | 100 | 76/100 (76%) | Achievable |
What If the Target Is Impossible?
This happens more than students expect, especially if one early paper went badly. If the calculator says your target grade is no longer reachable, there are still useful things you can do.
Find the highest grade still available
The calculator automatically shows you what each grade requires on your remaining exam. If Grade 7 is gone, Grade 6 might only need 55% on the next paper. Knowing this keeps you focused on a real, achievable target rather than spending revision energy on something that is off the table.
Consider resitting
GCSE and A Level exams can be resit in the following series (usually January for some A Level units, or the following June for most subjects). If your target matters for university entry or employment, a resit is often worth planning from now. Use your remaining exam to bank as many marks as possible so the resit gap is smaller.
Check what grade you actually need
Sometimes students aim for a grade that is higher than their university offer or job requirement actually needs. If your offer asks for a Grade 5 and you are now targeting Grade 7, check whether Grade 6 is actually fine. One grade lower might not change your options at all.
Common Mistakes That Throw Off This Calculation
Using the wrong maximum mark
Paper maximums vary by subject and exam board. AQA Chemistry Paper 1 is 105 marks, not 100. Edexcel Maths papers are 80 marks each. Always take the maximum mark from your mark scheme or the cover of your exam paper, not from guessing.
Entering percentage instead of raw marks
Enter the actual mark you scored, not a percentage. If you got 67%, enter the actual mark (e.g. 54 out of 80), not 67 into the “your mark” field.
Wrong weightings
Not all papers weigh the same. GCSE Science Combined can have three papers at different splits. A Level History might have 40%, 40%, and 20% for two exams plus coursework. Pull the exact weightings from your exam board’s specification, not from memory.
