On a 25-question test you can miss 10 questions and still pass at 60%, 7 and still earn a C, or 5 and still earn a B. An A needs 23 correct, so only 2 questions can be missed.
The missed-question limit for every grade
A 25-question test works out neatly: each question is worth exactly 4 percentage points, so the scores land on clean numbers like 80%, 76% and 72%.
That makes the missed-question limit easy to plan around.
| Letter grade | Minimum percentage | Correct needed | Most you can miss |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | 93% | 23 | 2 |
| A− | 90% | 23 | 2 |
| B+ | 87% | 22 | 3 |
| B | 83% | 21 | 4 |
| B− | 80% | 20 | 5 |
| C+ | 77% | 20 | 5 |
| C | 73% | 19 | 6 |
| C− | 70% | 18 | 7 |
| D+ | 67% | 17 | 8 |
| D | 63% | 16 | 9 |
| D− | 60% | 15 | 10 |
| F | below 60% | 14 or fewer | 11 or more |
How the maths works
Multiply the number of questions by the required percentage, round the result up to the next whole question, then subtract it from 25.
- A pass at 60%: 25 × 0.6 = 15 correct, so 10 questions can be missed.
- A B at 83%: 25 × 0.83 = 20.75, which rounds up to 21 correct, so 4 questions can be missed.
- An A at 93%: 25 × 0.93 = 23.25, which rounds up to 23 correct, so 2 questions can be missed.
Why 25 questions is friendlier than 20
On a 25-question test each question is worth 4 points instead of 5, so a single mistake costs less of the final grade. The letter bands also line up better, which is why a C+ is reachable here even though it is not on a 20-question paper.
The extra five questions effectively buy you two more wrong answers for the same letter grade.
Check another test length
Use the grading scale for 25 questions for the complete chart, or the grade chart generator to build the same table for any other test size.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many questions can you miss out of 25?+
You can miss 10 and still pass at 60%. For a C you can miss 6, for a B four, and for an A two.
What is 5 wrong out of 25?+
Five wrong leaves 20 correct, which is exactly 80%, a B−.
What is 7 wrong out of 25?+
Seven wrong leaves 18 correct, which is 72%, a C−.
How many can you miss for an A on 25 questions?+
An A needs 23 correct, so you can only miss 2 questions.
Muhammd Salman
I build and maintain Grade Calculator independently. Every worked example on this site is checked against the underlying formula, with notes on where school or instructor policy can change the result. More about this site →