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Pass/Fail Calculator

Enter your grades and weights to see if you'll pass your course, or compare the GPA impact of taking a class for a letter grade versus pass/fail to make a smarter academic decision.

Assignment / CategoryScore (%)Weight (%)

Passing Threshold (%)

PASS ✓

68.85%

You pass! You are 8.85% above the threshold.

Current Average

68.8%

Threshold

60%

Letter Grade

D+

How to Use the Pass/Fail Calculator

Use Will I Pass? to enter each graded item with its score and weight percentage, set your class's passing threshold, and instantly see whether you pass or fail and by how much. Switch to GPA Impact to compare what your cumulative GPA would be if you take a course for a letter grade versus opting for pass/fail grading.

The Advanced calculator below adds scenario planning and strategic decision modeling. For a full decision-support analysis with multiple courses and GPA trajectory, scroll to the Professional tier.

Advanced Scenario Planning & Decision Modeling Strategic pass/fail decisions across multiple courses

Class NameYour Grade %Pass Threshold %

PASS — 2.0% above threshold (C-)

PASS — 5.0% above threshold (D)

PASS — 18.0% above threshold (B+)

PASS — 21.0% above threshold (A-)

Passing

Failing

Pass Rate

100%

Will I Pass Formula

Weighted Average = Σ(Score × Weight) ÷ Σ(Weight)
Pass if: Weighted Average ≥ Passing Threshold

Example: (72×30 + 65×35 + 70×35) ÷ 100
= (2160 + 2275 + 2450) ÷ 100 = 6885 ÷ 100 = 68.85%
Threshold: 60% → PASS (margin: +8.85%)

GPA Impact Formula

New GPA (letter grade) = (Current GPA × Current Credits + Letter GPA × Course Credits) ÷ (Current + Course Credits)

New GPA (pass/fail) = Current GPA (no change)

Example: GPA 3.2, 45 credits, 3-credit course with expected B (3.0 GPA points)
With Letter: (3.2×45 + 3.0×3) ÷ 48 = (144 + 9) ÷ 48 = 3.1875
With P/F: 3.200 (unchanged)

When to Choose Pass/Fail

You expect a C or lower, and a low letter grade would hurt your GPA significantly.
You're taking an elective outside your major and want to explore it without GPA risk.
You're in a difficult semester and need to protect your GPA in core courses.
The course is required but outside your strengths — passing satisfies the requirement without GPA damage.

Note: Many graduate schools, pre-med programs, and scholarships require minimum letter-grade GPAs and may not count pass/fail credits favorably. Always check requirements for your intended path.

Professional Full Decision Support Analysis Multi-course GPA trajectory with pass/fail comparison

Pass Threshold (%)

Mark "Must Pass" for components with independent pass/fail requirements (e.g., mandatory exams that must be passed separately).

Component	Earned	Possible	Weight%	Must Pass?	Status
			%		PASS (85.0%)
			%		PASS (78.0%)
			%		FAIL (62.0%)
			%		—

Overall P/F Status

FAIL

72.1% overall — failed a mandatory component

Need 65.0% avg on remaining work to pass

Frequently Asked Questions

At most US universities, a Pass grade does not affect your GPA at all — it simply satisfies credit requirements. A Fail grade also typically doesn't affect GPA, but it does not earn credit. Policies vary by institution, so check your school's academic regulations.

The standard 4.0 scale used in this calculator: A+/A = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D- = 0.7, F = 0.0. Some schools don't award A+ grades or don't differentiate them from A.

Yes — the passing threshold field is fully editable. Some courses require 65%, 70%, or even 75% to pass. Enter whatever threshold your course uses. Common examples: most US undergrad courses use 60–65%, nursing and medical programs often require 75–80%.

Yes — only enter the grades you've received so far. Leave future assignments out entirely. The calculator will base the pass/fail result on your current weighted average with the assignments you have entered, with the caveat that future grades will shift the result.

The GPA Impact tab is a good starting point. Enter your current GPA, the credits at stake, and your expected grade. If the GPA drop is significant and you can't recover the grade, dropping or switching to pass/fail might protect your academic standing. Factor in your school's withdraw policy and any transcript implications before deciding.