Grading Scale for 18 Questions

On a 18-question test, each question is worth 5.56%, so every wrong answer lowers the score by 5.56 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 18 right down to 0.

5.56%Per question
11 rightTo pass at 60% (miss up to 7)
Miss 1Still an A at 90%+
Miss 3Still a B at 80%+
Open in EZ Grader

Letter grades on a 18-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 17 right (miss up to 1), a B allows 3 misses, a C allows 5, and a D allows 7.

GradeRightWrongPercentage
A+180100%
A17194.4%
A−No possible score on a 18-question test
B+16288.9%
B15383.3%
B−No possible score on a 18-question test
C+14477.8%
CNo possible score on a 18-question test
C−13572.2%
D+No possible score on a 18-question test
D12666.7%
D−11761.1%
F0–108–180–55.6%

Because each question is worth 5.56%, some letter grades can’t be reached at all on a 18-question test: A−, B−, C, 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 18 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
180100%A+A
17194.4%AA
16288.9%B+B
15383.3%BB
14477.8%C+C
13572.2%C−C
12666.7%DD
11761.1%D−D
10855.6%FF
9950%FF
81044.4%FF
71138.9%FF
61233.3%FF
51327.8%FF
41422.2%FF
31516.7%FF
21611.1%FF
1175.6%FF
0180%FF

Borderline scores to watch

On a 18-question test, 1 score sits just below a grade cutoff and would move up a letter grade if you round to the nearest whole percent: 12/18 = 66.7%, which rounds up to a D+. Decide your rounding rule before grading so these students are treated the same way. The EZ Grader’s Show decimals option shows the exact value.

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 17-question test, where each miss costs 5.88 points, a miss here costs 5.56 points, so every answer matters a little less.

Questions about 18-question tests

How many questions can you miss on a 18-question test and still pass?
With 60% as the passing mark, you need at least 11 right, so you can miss up to 7 of 18 questions. Missing 8 gives 55.6%, which is an F.
How many can you miss on a 18-question test and get an A?
If an A starts at 90%, you can miss up to 1 question (94.4%). On a plus/minus scale where A starts at 93%, you can miss 1 (94.4%).
What percentage is 17 out of 18?
17 out of 18 is 94.4%, which is an A on the standard plus/minus scale.
What grade is 14 out of 18?
14 out of 18 is 77.8%, 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