Why does contribution before the final not change the span?

Because the span measures the distance between the best and worst possible final scores, which only depends on the final's weight, not on what you have already earned.

Can I use this to decide where to focus my study time?

It is one useful input; combine it with Limited-Time Allocation or Study Hours by Course to turn leverage into an actual time split.

What if two finals have the same weight?

Their spans are identical; leverage alone will not distinguish them, so consider your confidence and remaining time in each separately.

Does a higher span mean a higher grade?

No; it means more room for your grade to move, in either direction, not a guarantee of improvement.

Which of my finals carries the most leverage over my grade?

Enter each course's current contribution before the final and the final's own weight. This reports the full percentage-point span each final could still move its course result, under ordinary 0 to 100 scoring, so you can see at a glance which final matters most.

Need your next decision? Limited-Time Allocation

How we calculated this

Each course's final-result span is simply its final's weight, expressed in percentage points, since a weighted aggregate evaluated at the final's two extremes (0% and 100%) always moves the course result by exactly that weight. Using the example values above (a 0.30-weight final versus a 0.20-weight final), the spans are 30 and 20 percentage points, so the first course's final carries more leverage.

Your contribution before the final does not affect the span itself; it only shifts where that span starts. This is the same math as Assessment Weight Impact, applied across multiple saved courses at once for direct comparison.

Limitations

This assumes ordinary 0-100 scoring on the final and does not account for a curve, minimum floor, or extra credit that could change the real span. It also does not tell you how likely you are to move the result within that span, only the maximum possible movement.

Common mistakes

A common error is treating the highest-weight final as automatically the one to prioritize without also considering how confident you feel or how much material it covers; span alone is leverage, not urgency. Another is entering weight as a whole number like 30 instead of a decimal like 0.30, which changes the comparison entirely.

Frequently asked

Why does contribution before the final not change the span?: Because the span measures the distance between the best and worst possible final scores, which only depends on the final's weight, not on what you have already earned.
Can I use this to decide where to focus my study time?: It is one useful input; combine it with Limited-Time Allocation or Study Hours by Course to turn leverage into an actual time split.
What if two finals have the same weight?: Their spans are identical; leverage alone will not distinguish them, so consider your confidence and remaining time in each separately.
Does a higher span mean a higher grade?: No; it means more room for your grade to move, in either direction, not a guarantee of improvement.

Next decision

To turn this leverage comparison into an actual study-time split, see Limited-Time Allocation.

For how leverage, a real time split, and a workload check fit together, read Limited Time and Grade Leverage.