Grading Scale for 21 Questions
On a 21-question test, each question is worth 4.76%, so every wrong answer lowers the score by 4.76 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 21 right down to 0.
Letter grades on a 21-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 19 right (miss up to 2), a B allows 4 misses, a C allows 6, and a D allows 8.
| Grade | Right | Wrong | Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 21 | 0 | 100% |
| A | 20 | 1 | 95.2% |
| A− | 19 | 2 | 90.5% |
| B+ | No possible score on a 21-question test | ||
| B | 18 | 3 | 85.7% |
| B− | 17 | 4 | 81% |
| C+ | No possible score on a 21-question test | ||
| C | 16 | 5 | 76.2% |
| C− | 15 | 6 | 71.4% |
| D+ | No possible score on a 21-question test | ||
| D | 14 | 7 | 66.7% |
| D− | 13 | 8 | 61.9% |
| F | 0–12 | 9–21 | 0–57.1% |
Because each question is worth 4.76%, some letter grades can’t be reached at all on a 21-question test: 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 21 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.
| Right | Wrong | Percentage | +/− grade | Plain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 | 0 | 100% | A+ | A |
| 20 | 1 | 95.2% | A | A |
| 19 | 2 | 90.5% | A− | A |
| 18 | 3 | 85.7% | B | B |
| 17 | 4 | 81% | B− | B |
| 16 | 5 | 76.2% | C | C |
| 15 | 6 | 71.4% | C− | C |
| 14 | 7 | 66.7% | D | D |
| 13 | 8 | 61.9% | D− | D |
| 12 | 9 | 57.1% | F | F |
| 11 | 10 | 52.4% | F | F |
| 10 | 11 | 47.6% | F | F |
| 9 | 12 | 42.9% | F | F |
| 8 | 13 | 38.1% | F | F |
| 7 | 14 | 33.3% | F | F |
| 6 | 15 | 28.6% | F | F |
| 5 | 16 | 23.8% | F | F |
| 4 | 17 | 19% | F | F |
| 3 | 18 | 14.3% | F | F |
| 2 | 19 | 9.5% | F | F |
| 1 | 20 | 4.8% | F | F |
| 0 | 21 | 0% | F | F |
Borderline scores to watch
On a 21-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: 14/21 = 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.
Compared with a 20-question test, where each miss costs 5 points, a miss here costs 4.76 points, so every answer matters a little less.
Questions about 21-question tests
How many questions can you miss on a 21-question test and still pass?
How many can you miss on a 21-question test and get an A?
What percentage is 20 out of 21?
What grade is 16 out of 21?
Grade charts for other test sizes
See every size grouped by quiz, chapter test, midterm and final exam in the grade chart library.