Grade Curve Adjuster (Simple)

Grade curve calculator to adjust scores with a simple curve

A grade curve changes raw scores after a test, quiz, or assignment. Teachers and schools use curves for different reasons, such as a hard exam, an unfair question, or a grading policy that targets a specific distribution. This calculator helps you estimate what a curve would do to your score using three common methods that show up in real classrooms: adding points, multiplying scores, or converting a score to a new maximum.

To use it, enter your raw score in points and the maximum possible points for the assessment. Then pick a curve method and provide the one extra input for that method. The results show your curved score in points and as a percentage, plus the change from your original result. That way you can quickly see whether a small curve actually makes a meaningful difference.

Curves are not universal. Some curves cap scores at the original maximum and some allow scores above the maximum. Some curves adjust points, while others adjust percentages. This tool is intentionally simple, so you can model typical curve rules without needing the full class distribution or a detailed grading rubric.

Assumptions and how to use this calculator

• Raw scores are entered as points (not letter grades), and the maximum possible points must be greater than zero.
• “Add points” and “Multiply score” can optionally cap the curved score at the original maximum, which is the most common policy.
• “Convert to a new maximum” keeps your percentage the same, but expresses it on a different total (useful when an assessment is re-weighted or re-scored).
• Rounding is optional and only applies to the “new maximum” method, since schools often round converted points.
• This calculator does not model percentile curves, z-scores, or bell-curve grading, because those require class-wide data.

Common questions

Is adding points the same as adding percentage points?

No. Adding points means adding to your score out of the original maximum. Adding percentage points means adding directly to the percentage. For example, adding 5 points on a test out of 50 changes the percentage far more than adding 5 points on a test out of 100. This calculator treats “add points” as point-based, which is how many instructors describe it.

Should I cap the curved score at the maximum?

If you are trying to match typical school policies, yes. Many grading systems do not allow scores above the maximum (for example, above 100%). If your instructor allows extra credit or explicitly allows scores above the maximum, turn the cap off so you can see the full increase.

What does “multiply score” represent?

A multiplier is a proportional curve. Everyone’s score is scaled by the same factor, such as 1.05 for a 5% increase. This keeps the ranking of scores the same while lifting the overall results. It is common when an exam was harder than intended but the instructor wants a simple rule that applies to all students.

Why does converting to a new maximum sometimes not change my percentage?

Because it is a conversion, not a boost. If your percentage stays the same, your points change only because the total points changed. This is useful when an assessment is re-scored or re-weighted, but it is not the same thing as a curve that increases grades.

How can I make the result more accurate?

Use the curve method and policy your instructor actually states, and match any rounding rules. If the curve is based on class statistics (for example, “raise the average to 70%” or “grade on a bell curve”), this tool will not match that outcome without class-wide data. In that case, ask for the exact rule or the adjusted scoring scheme.