Grade Curve Calculator

The grade curve calculator at allgradecalculator.com applies a flat curve to a single graded item — either a fixed number of extra points (e.g. +5) or a fixed percentage uplift (e.g. +10%). The result panel shows the original grade and the curved grade side by side, so you can see exactly how much the curve shifts your standing and whether it changes the letter grade.

Curve type:

Original score

Max score

Curve (extra points)

Original

72%

C- · 72/100

Curved

77%

C+ · 77/100

Lift: +5% (jumps from C- to C+).

Capped at the max score (points mode) or at 100% (percent mode).

Share my result

My curved grade: 72% → 77% after a +5 point curve — calculated at allgradecalculator.com

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When instructors curve grades

A grade curve is a uniform adjustment instructors apply when an assessment was harder than intended. The most common forms are a flat point bump (everyone's raw score goes up by the same amount) or a flat percentage bump (everyone's percentage goes up by the same amount). Both preserve relative ranking — the curve just shifts everyone up.

Worked examples

Points mode. Original 72/100 = 72%. Curve +5 points → 77/100 = 77%. Letter goes from C− to C+.

Percent mode. Original 72/100 = 72%. Curve +10% → 82%. Score equivalent: 82/100. Letter goes from C− to B−.

Other curve types

Square-root curve: new = √(score) × √(max). Bigger lift for low scores. Not implemented here.
Bell curve: grades distributed against a target mean and standard deviation. Use class statistics rather than this tool.
Highest-score curve: top score becomes the new 100%, every score scaled. Equivalent to a percentage curve sized to (100 − top%).

Pair with

Class average calculator — see if a curve is justified for the cohort.
Assignment grade calculator — start from raw points then add the curve.
Course grade calculator — feed the curved grade back into the overall course total.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between +Points and +Percentage modes?

Points adds a flat number to the raw score (e.g. +5 of 100), percentage adds to the final percentage (e.g. +10% on a 70% becomes 80%). They’re only equivalent when max = 100.

Why is the curved grade capped?

You can’t score more than the maximum on a paper or higher than 100% overall. The calculator caps automatically when the curve would push past those ceilings.

Should I curve a class or curve an exam?

Either is valid. Curving an exam is fastest. Curving the final course grade ripples through every category — use the course grade calculator for that and adjust each row.