Paste your class scores and get the average, middle score, pass rate and letter grade count in one go. You can also combine the averages of several class periods into one correct overall average.
Paste your class scores and press Calculate average. The average, middle score, pass rate and letter grade count appear here.
Looking for your own grade in a class? Use the Grade Calculator instead.
How to use the class average calculator
- Choose Student scores if you have every score, or Section averages if you only have the average of each class period.
- Paste the scores straight from Excel or Google Sheets, or type them with spaces between. Scores can be points (85), fractions (42/50) or percents (90%). Type abs or ex for missing work so it is skipped instead of counted as zero.
- Check the points possible and the passing score. The defaults are 100 points and 60%.
- Press Calculate average. Copy the summary for a report, print the results, or send the scores to the Grade Curve Calculator if you are thinking about a curve.
How to calculate a class average
Class average = sum of all scores ÷ number of studentsFive students score 92, 85, 70, 64 and 55 out of 100. The sum is 366, and 366 ÷ 5 = 73.2%, which is a C on the standard scale.
If the test was not out of 100, turn each score into a percentage first: score ÷ points possible × 100. A 42 out of 50 is 84%. The calculator does this for you, and it also shows the average in points.
Average or middle score: which tells you more?
The average uses every score, so a few very low or very high scores pull it up or down. The middle score (the median) is the score in the middle when you line them up from lowest to highest, so it is not moved by a few extremes.
Take a class that scores 90, 90, 90, 90 and 10. The average is 74%, but the middle score is 90%. Most of the class did well, and one score dragged the average down. When the two numbers are far apart, the calculator points it out.
The most common score (the mode) is the score that appears most often. It is useful on quizzes with few possible scores, and the calculator shows “none” when no score repeats.
What the spread (standard deviation) means
The standard deviation measures how far scores sit from the average. A small number means most students scored close together. A large number means scores were spread out, with some students far ahead and some far behind.
In a class whose scores form a rough bell shape, about two thirds of the scores fall within one standard deviation of the average. With an average of 75 and a spread of 10, most students scored between 65 and 85. The calculator uses the whole class (population standard deviation), the same way the Grade Curve Calculator does.
Why you can’t just average the section averages
Say 1st period has 25 students who averaged 80%, and 2nd period has 10 students who averaged 60%. Averaging the two numbers gives 70%, but that treats 10 students as if they counted as much as 25.
(25 × 80 plus 10 × 60) ÷ 35 = 2600 ÷ 35 = 74.29%The correct combined average is 74.29%. The two methods only agree when every section has the same number of students. Use Section averages in the calculator to get this right for up to 20 sections.
Should zeros and missing work count?
It depends on your school’s policy, and it can change the average a lot. A student who missed the test with an excuse usually should not count. A student who did not turn in work may count as a zero.
- Type abs, ex or – for anyone who should not count. They are skipped and listed as skipped.
- A typed 0 counts as a zero. Tick Leave out zeros to see the average without them.
Running it both ways shows how much missing work is pulling the class down.
Frequently asked questions
Can I paste scores from a spreadsheet?
Yes. Copy a column of scores from Excel or Google Sheets and paste it into the box. Use a period for decimals (85.5), because commas are read as separators between scores.
What is a good class average?
There is no single number. It depends on how hard the test was, the subject and your school’s grading scale. Comparing one test’s average with your other tests, or with the same test in earlier years, tells you more than any fixed target.
Can I mix points, fractions and percents?
Yes. Plain numbers use the points possible you enter, fractions like 42/50 and percents like 90% are used as they are. When you mix them, the average is shown as a percentage only.
How is the pass rate worked out?
Every score at or above the passing score counts as a pass. The pass rate is the number of passes divided by the number of students counted, times 100. Skipped entries are not included.
The average is low. Should I curve?
That is your call. Press Curve these scores under the results to open the same scores in the Grade Curve Calculator and compare five common methods before you decide.
Are the scores saved anywhere?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing you type is sent to our server. If you send scores to the Grade Curve Calculator, they are passed within your own browser tab and removed as soon as that page opens.