Grading Scale for 17 Questions

On a 17-question test, each question is worth 5.88%, so every wrong answer lowers the score by 5.88 percentage points. That is typical of a weekly quiz or spelling test. The chart below shows the percentage and letter grade for every possible score, from 17 right down to 0.

5.88%Per question
11 rightTo pass at 60% (miss up to 6)
Miss 1Still an A at 90%+
Miss 3Still a B at 80%+
Open in EZ Grader

Letter grades on a 17-question test

This summary uses the standard plus/minus scale (A from 93%, A− from 90%, B+ from 87% and so on down to D− at 60%). For a plain scale, an A needs 16 right (miss up to 1), a B allows 3 misses, a C allows 5, and a D allows 6.

GradeRightWrongPercentage
A+170100%
A16194.1%
A−No possible score on a 17-question test
B+15288.2%
BNo possible score on a 17-question test
B−14382.4%
C+No possible score on a 17-question test
C13476.5%
C−12570.6%
D+No possible score on a 17-question test
D11664.7%
D−No possible score on a 17-question test
F0–107–170–58.8%

Because each question is worth 5.88%, some letter grades can’t be reached at all on a 17-question test: A−, B, C+, D+, D−. Scores jump straight over those ranges. If that matters for your grade book, use half-point scoring in the EZ Grader (Settings → Half points).

Full grade chart for 17 questions

The dashed line marks the pass mark (60%). “+/−” uses the standard plus/minus scale; “Plain” uses A 90, B 80, C 70, D 60.

RightWrongPercentage+/− gradePlain
170100%A+A
16194.1%AA
15288.2%B+B
14382.4%B−B
13476.5%CC
12570.6%C−C
11664.7%DD
10758.8%FF
9852.9%FF
8947.1%FF
71041.2%FF
61135.3%FF
51229.4%FF
41323.5%FF
31417.6%FF
21511.8%FF
1165.9%FF
0170%FF

Borderline scores to watch

No score on a 17-question test rounds up into a higher letter grade, so your rounding policy never changes a grade on a test this size (standard plus/minus scale).

Need a different grade scale, half points or bonus questions? The EZ Grader rebuilds this chart with your school’s cutoffs, Class Mode grades a whole class list at once, the grade chart library compares test sizes side by side, and the same grade calculator works out weighted and final grades.

Compared with a 16-question test, where each miss costs 6.25 points, a miss here costs 5.88 points, so every answer matters a little less.

Questions about 17-question tests

How many questions can you miss on a 17-question test and still pass?
With 60% as the passing mark, you need at least 11 right, so you can miss up to 6 of 17 questions. Missing 7 gives 58.8%, which is an F.
How many can you miss on a 17-question test and get an A?
If an A starts at 90%, you can miss up to 1 question (94.1%). On a plus/minus scale where A starts at 93%, you can miss 1 (94.1%).
What percentage is 16 out of 17?
16 out of 17 is 94.1%, which is an A on the standard plus/minus scale.
What grade is 13 out of 17?
13 out of 17 is 76.5%, which is a C on the standard plus/minus scale and a C on a plain A–F scale.

Grade charts for other test sizes

See every size grouped by quiz, chapter test, midterm and final exam in the grade chart library.

Scroll to Top