Grading Scale for 38 Questions

On a 38-question test, each question is worth 2.63%, so every wrong answer lowers the score by 2.63 percentage points. That is typical of a chapter test. The chart below shows the percentage and letter grade for every possible score, from 38 right down to 0.

2.63%Per question
23 rightTo pass at 60% (miss up to 15)
Miss 3Still an A at 90%+
Miss 7Still a B at 80%+
Open in EZ Grader

Letter grades on a 38-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 35 right (miss up to 3), a B allows 7 misses, a C allows 11, and a D allows 15.

GradeRightWrongPercentage
A+37–380–197.4–100%
A36294.7%
A−35392.1%
B+34489.5%
B32–335–684.2–86.8%
B−31781.6%
C+30878.9%
C28–299–1073.7–76.3%
C−271171.1%
D+261268.4%
D24–2513–1463.2–65.8%
D−231560.5%
F0–2216–380–57.9%

Full grade chart for 38 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
380100%A+A
37197.4%A+A
36294.7%AA
35392.1%A−A
34489.5%B+B
33586.8%BB
32684.2%BB
31781.6%B−B
30878.9%C+C
29976.3%CC
281073.7%CC
271171.1%C−C
261268.4%D+D
251365.8%DD
241463.2%DD
231560.5%D−D
221657.9%FF
211755.3%FF
201852.6%FF
191950%FF
182047.4%FF
172144.7%FF
162242.1%FF
152339.5%FF
142436.8%FF
132534.2%FF
122631.6%FF
112728.9%FF
102826.3%FF
92923.7%FF
83021.1%FF
73118.4%FF
63215.8%FF
53313.2%FF
43410.5%FF
3357.9%FF
2365.3%FF
1372.6%FF
0380%FF

Borderline scores to watch

On a 38-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: 33/38 = 86.8%, which rounds up to a B+. 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 37-question test, where each miss costs 2.7 points, a miss here costs 2.63 points, so every answer matters a little less.

Questions about 38-question tests

How many questions can you miss on a 38-question test and still pass?
With 60% as the passing mark, you need at least 23 right, so you can miss up to 15 of 38 questions. Missing 16 gives 57.9%, which is an F.
How many can you miss on a 38-question test and get an A?
If an A starts at 90%, you can miss up to 3 questions (92.1%). On a plus/minus scale where A starts at 93%, you can miss 2 (94.7%).
What percentage is 37 out of 38?
37 out of 38 is 97.4%, which is an A+ on the standard plus/minus scale.
What grade is 29 out of 38?
29 out of 38 is 76.3%, 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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