A C sits in the middle of the grading scale: below the B range and above a D. On the common U.S. plus/minus grading scale, a C is 73% to 76%, and on a standard 4.0 GPA scale it is worth 2.0 grade points. If your school does not use plus and minus grades, a C usually covers the whole 70% to 79% range instead.
That quick answer works for most classes, but the more useful questions are usually "is a C good enough for what I need?" and "what would it take to move up?" This guide covers both, with worked examples.
Your syllabus is always the final word. Teachers and schools set their own cutoffs, so check yours before relying on any chart.
The short answer
On the common plus/minus scale (the one GradeCalc Lab uses):
| Letter | Percent | GPA (4.0 scale) |
|---|---|---|
| B− | 80–82% | 2.7 |
| C+ | 77–79% | 2.3 |
| C | 73–76% | 2.0 |
| C− | 70–72% | 1.7 |
| D+ | 67–69% | 1.3 |
So 73%, 74%, 75% and 76% are all a C on this scale. A 77% is a C+, and a 72% is a C−. The full chart from A+ to F is on our letter grade scale page.
C on other grading scales
Not every school grades the same way. Common differences include:
- No plus or minus grades. Many schools use simple ten-point bands: A = 90–100, B = 80–89, C = 70–79, and so on. In that system a 71% and a 79% are both a C worth 2.0.
- Stricter or shifted cutoffs. Some schools and teachers use a different scale where each letter starts at a higher percentage, so the C band can sit a few points higher than 70–79%. Your syllabus or student handbook lists the exact numbers.
- Different grade points. Most 4.0 scales give a C 2.0, a C+ 2.3 and a C− 1.7, but some schools use slightly different values, such as 2.33 or 1.67. Check your school's GPA policy.
- Weighted classes. In high schools that weight honors, AP or IB courses, a C in one of those classes may count for more than 2.0 in a weighted GPA. Our post on weighted vs unweighted GPA explains how that works.
Is a C a passing grade?
In most classes, yes. A C is generally considered a passing, "average" grade, and D grades are usually the lowest passing grades before an F. But passing a class and meeting a requirement are not always the same thing:
- "C or better" requirements. Some programs require at least a C in certain courses, for example prerequisites or classes in your major. If you get a D, you may pass the class but still have to retake it for that requirement.
- C− can be a trap. Where a rule says "C or better," check whether a C− counts. Policies differ, and the difference between 72% and 73% can matter.
- Pass/fail courses. If you take a class pass/fail, your school's policy decides which letter grade counts as a pass.
Your advisor, syllabus or course catalog will tell you the exact rule for your situation. For more on the bottom of the scale, see the grade FAQ.
Check your weighted grade or what you need on the final — free, in your browser.
Open the free grade calculator →How to tell if you have a C
First, turn your grade into a percentage. In a points-based class:
- Grade % = points earned ÷ points possible × 100
Example: you have 362 points out of 480. 362 ÷ 480 ≈ 0.7542, so your grade is about 75.4%, a C.
In a weighted class, each category counts for a set share of the grade. Multiply each category average by its weight and add the results.
Example: homework 88% (weight 20%), quizzes 72% (weight 30%), exams 70% (weight 50%).
- 88 × 0.20 = 17.6
- 72 × 0.30 = 21.6
- 70 × 0.50 = 35.0
- Total = 17.6 + 21.6 + 35.0 = 74.2%, a C
Averaging the three numbers without weights would give about 76.7%, which is still a C but closer to a C+. With different numbers the gap could change your letter grade, so always use the weights from your syllabus. See how weighted grades work and our guide to calculating a grade percentage, or let the grade calculator do the math.
How close is a C to a B−?
On the common scale, the B− line is 80%. From a 76% you need four more percentage points; from a 79% (a C+) you need just one. How realistic that is depends on how much of your grade is still to come. A big final exam can move your grade a lot. A few small homework assignments at the end of the term usually cannot.
Worked example: what do I need on the final?
Say your current grade is 71% (a C−) and the final exam is worth 25% of your course grade. The rest of the course (75%) is already done.
The formula is:
- Needed final score = (target grade − current grade × (1 − final weight)) ÷ final weight
First, 71 × 0.75 = 53.25. That is how many points your work so far contributes to the course grade.
- To reach a C (73%): (73 − 53.25) ÷ 0.25 = 19.75 ÷ 0.25 = 79% on the final.
- To stay at C− or above (70%): (70 − 53.25) ÷ 0.25 = 16.75 ÷ 0.25 = 67% on the final.
- To reach a B− (80%): (80 − 53.25) ÷ 0.25 = 26.75 ÷ 0.25 = 107%, which is not possible without extra credit.
This kind of check helps you set a realistic goal before you start studying. Our guide on what you need on your final explains the formula in more detail, and the final exam grade page has more examples.