Exam labels do not determine the math. The syllabus weights do. A midterm worth 20 percent and a final worth 30 percent must be combined with the other 50 percent of the course.
Formula
Worked example
| Component | Score | Weight | Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 78 | 50% | 39.00 |
| Midterm | 85 | 20% | 17.00 |
| Final | 90 | 30% | 27.00 |
| Total | 100% | 83.00 |
Exams inside a category
Sometimes the midterm and final are simply two items in an exams category. In that case, calculate the category average according to its point rules, then apply the category weight once. Applying both an exam-item weight and a category weight can double-weight the exam.
Planning before the final
If the final is unknown, use the target-score formula to solve for it. Keep the actual midterm contribution fixed and solve only for the remaining final weight.
Build a useful exam scenario table
Before the final, calculate several possible scores rather than treating one number as a prediction. With a final worth 30 percent, every ten-point change on the final moves the course grade by three points. That sensitivity tells you whether the target is realistic and which remaining component has the most leverage.
Keep actual and hypothetical values visually separate. Once the final grade posts, replace the scenario with the official score and recalculate from the same weights.
Read replacement rules carefully
Some courses replace the midterm with the final when the final score is higher. That is a conditional rule, not a normal weighted average.