How far above or below my target is my grade right now?

Enter a result (current or projected) and your target. This shows the exact cushion or shortfall, in plain percentage points.

Need your next decision? Grade Needed to Pass

How we calculated this

Cushion is simply your result minus your target. A positive number means you are above target by that many points; a negative number means you are short by that many. Using the example values above, 84% against a 90% target is a cushion of -6.00 points, a 6-point shortfall.

Limitations

This does not know whether your result is a final, current, or projected figure; the cushion is only as meaningful as the number you feed it. Pair it with Current Versus Projected Course Grade if you are not sure which one to use.

Common mistakes

A common error is treating a positive cushion as permanent instead of a snapshot; if the result you entered was a projection rather than a final grade, the cushion can shrink or disappear as remaining work actually gets graded. Another is comparing a cushion computed against a course target to a different number, such as a GPA requirement, which is not the same kind of threshold.

Frequently asked

Is a positive cushion guaranteed to hold?: Only if the result you entered is final or fully graded. A cushion based on a projected grade can still change as remaining work happens.
What is a "safe" cushion?: That depends entirely on how much uncertainty remains in your course; this tool shows the number, not a judgment about whether it is enough.
Can I use this for a category instead of a whole course?: Yes; enter a category's own result and target the same way, since cushion is just subtraction and does not care what the two numbers represent.
Why is my cushion shown as a negative number instead of "you need X more"?: A negative cushion and a "points needed" figure describe the same gap from two angles; use Final Grade Needed if you want the answer framed as a specific score to aim for instead.
Does a small positive cushion mean I can stop paying attention?: Not necessarily; a thin cushion on a projected grade can vanish if an assumption behind it turns out optimistic. Treat a small cushion as a reason to keep tracking, not a reason to stop.

Next decision

If your cushion is negative, see Final Grade Needed or Grade Needed to Pass to find out what closes the gap.