Grading Scale for 36 Questions

On a 36-question test, each question is worth 2.78%, so every wrong answer lowers the score by 2.78 percentage points. That is typical of a chapter test. The chart below shows the percentage and letter grade for every possible score, from 36 right down to 0.

2.78%Per question
22 rightTo pass at 60% (miss up to 14)
Miss 3Still an A at 90%+
Miss 7Still a B at 80%+
Open in EZ Grader

Letter grades on a 36-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 33 right (miss up to 3), a B allows 7 misses, a C allows 10, and a D allows 14.

GradeRightWrongPercentage
A+35–360–197.2–100%
A34294.4%
A−33391.7%
B+32488.9%
B30–315–683.3–86.1%
B−29780.6%
C+28877.8%
C27975%
C−261072.2%
D+251169.4%
D23–2412–1363.9–66.7%
D−221461.1%
F0–2115–360–58.3%

Full grade chart for 36 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
360100%A+A
35197.2%A+A
34294.4%AA
33391.7%A−A
32488.9%B+B
31586.1%BB
30683.3%BB
29780.6%B−B
28877.8%C+C
27975%CC
261072.2%C−C
251169.4%D+D
241266.7%DD
231363.9%DD
221461.1%D−D
211558.3%FF
201655.6%FF
191752.8%FF
181850%FF
171947.2%FF
162044.4%FF
152141.7%FF
142238.9%FF
132336.1%FF
122433.3%FF
112530.6%FF
102627.8%FF
92725%FF
82822.2%FF
72919.4%FF
63016.7%FF
53113.9%FF
43211.1%FF
3338.3%FF
2345.6%FF
1352.8%FF
0360%FF

Borderline scores to watch

On a 36-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: 24/36 = 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 35-question test, where each miss costs 2.86 points, a miss here costs 2.78 points, so every answer matters a little less.

Questions about 36-question tests

How many questions can you miss on a 36-question test and still pass?
With 60% as the passing mark, you need at least 22 right, so you can miss up to 14 of 36 questions. Missing 15 gives 58.3%, which is an F.
How many can you miss on a 36-question test and get an A?
If an A starts at 90%, you can miss up to 3 questions (91.7%). On a plus/minus scale where A starts at 93%, you can miss 2 (94.4%).
What percentage is 35 out of 36?
35 out of 36 is 97.2%, which is an A+ on the standard plus/minus scale.
What grade is 27 out of 36?
27 out of 36 is 75%, 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.

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