Written by Zufishan · MS Environmental Science · Updated June 2026
Why quiz averages matter
In most syllabi the quiz category carries 10 to 15% of the overall grade, but consistent quiz performance often decides the difference between adjacent letter grades. Tracking your quiz percentage week by week tells you whether your study habits are working before the heavier assessments arrive.
Quizzes also reveal gaps early. A weak result on a chapter quiz signals a topic that needs review before it appears on the midterm, when the stakes are higher.
The formula
Quiz average = (Total marks obtained ÷ Total maximum marks) × 100
This handles quizzes with different maximums correctly. A 5-point quiz and a 20-point quiz are not averaged as equal contributors. The 20-point quiz carries four times the weight in the overall percentage.
Step-by-step example
Six quizzes with mixed point values:
| Quiz | Score | Maximum |
|---|---|---|
| Pop quiz 1 | 4 | 5 |
| Chapter quiz 1 | 17 | 20 |
| Pop quiz 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Chapter quiz 2 | 15 | 20 |
| Weekly quiz | 38 | 50 |
| Pop quiz 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Total | 82 | 105 |
Quiz average = (82 ÷ 105) × 100 = 78.1% (C+). The 50-point weekly quiz has far more influence on this result than any of the 5-point pop quizzes.
Understanding your result
| Quiz average | Letter grade | Contribution if category weight is 15% |
|---|---|---|
| 90 to 100% | A range | 13.5 to 15 pts toward course grade |
| 80 to 89% | B range | 12 to 13.4 pts |
| 70 to 79% | C range | 10.5 to 11.9 pts |
| 60 to 69% | D | 9 to 10.4 pts |
| Below 60% | F | Below 9 pts |
How to use this calculator
- Add a row for each quiz the instructor has returned.
- Enter the points you scored and the maximum for each quiz.
- Read the running total and percentage in the result tiles.
- To preview a drop policy, leave your lowest row out.
- To plan for an upcoming quiz, add a row with a hypothetical score.
Drop policies and how to use them
Many instructors drop the lowest one or two quiz scores at the end of the semester. To preview your post-drop average, find your lowest-scoring row and leave it out. To be conservative, leave out the two lowest rows if the syllabus drops two. The result is your expected quiz average after the drop.
Keep the dropped row in a note so you can add it back if your remaining scores end up lower than expected. A drop policy only helps if the excluded score is genuinely your weakest one by the end of term.
When to use this calculator
Use it after each quiz is returned to keep a running average without waiting for the gradebook to update. If you want to see how your quiz average contributes to your overall course grade, take the percentage here and enter it as one row in the Grade Calculator with the quiz category weight. For tests rather than quizzes, the Test Average Calculator works the same way.
Common mistakes
Treating all quizzes as equally weighted. If you enter scores as percentages and use a maximum of 100 for every row, each quiz counts equally. That is only accurate if all quizzes genuinely have the same point value. For mixed-maximum situations, enter the raw score and the actual maximum.
Including a dropped score as a zero. A zero for a dropped quiz lowers your average for a score that will not count. Leave the row out entirely.
Forgetting bonus point quizzes. Some instructors offer small bonus point quizzes that can push your score above the regular maximum. Enter the actual score even if it exceeds the standard maximum. The calculator handles scores above 100% correctly.
Related calculators
- Grade Calculator for combining the quiz average with all other course categories
- Test Average Calculator for averaging test scores across a term
- Weighted Grade Calculator for a weighted average when quizzes have different course weights
- Extra Credit Calculator to see how much extra credit would lift your grade
- Final Exam Calculator for the score you need on the final
Disclaimer: Results are estimates based on the scores and maximums you enter. Your instructor may apply curves, bonus points, or drop policies that change the official result. Always confirm your quiz average with your course gradebook.