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How To Calculate or Assign Letter Grade In Excel?

Author: Xiaoyang Last Modified: 2024-08-23

To assign letter grade for each student based on their scores may be a common task for a teacher. For example, I have a grading scale defined where the score 0-59 = F, 60-69 = D, 70-79 = C, 80-89 = B, and 90-100 = A as following screenshot shown. In Excel, how could you calculate letter grade based on the numeric score quickly and easily?

a screenshot of the original data and the assigned letter grades based on numeric scores

Calculate letter grade based on score values with IF function

To get the letter grade based on score values, the nested IF function in Excel can help you to solve this task.

The generic syntax is:

=IF (condition1, value_if_true1, IF (condition2, value_if_true2, IF (condition3, value_if_true3, value_if_false3)))
  • condition1, condition2, condition3: The conditions you want to test.
  • value_if_true1, value_if_true2, value_if_true3: The value that you want to return if the result of the conditions are TRUE.
  • value_if_false3: The value that you want to return if the result of the condition is FALSE.

1. Please enter or copy the below formula into a blank cell where you want to get the result:

=IF(B2>=90,"A",IF(B2>=80,"B",IF(B2>=70,"C",IF(B2>=60,"D","F"))))

Explanation of this complex nested IF formula:

  • If the Score (in cell B2) is equal or greater than 90, then the student gets an A.
  • If the Score is equal or greater than 80, then the student gets a B.
  • If the Score is equal or greater than 70, then the student gets a C..
  • If the Score is equal or greater than 60, then the student gets a D.
  • Otherwise the student gets an F.

Tips: In the above formula:

  • B2: is the cell which you want to convert the number to letter grade.
  • the numbers 90, 80, 70, and 60: are the numbers you need to assign the grading scale.

2. Then, drag the fill handle down to the cells to apply this formula, and the letter grade has been displayed in each cell as follows:

a screenshot of using formula to calculate letter grade based on score values

Click to know more IF function...

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Calculate letter grade based on score values with VLOOKUP function

If the above nested if function is somewhat difficult for you to understand, here, the Vlookup function in excel also can do you a favor.

The generic syntax is:

=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])
  • lookup_value: The value that you want to search and find in the table_array.
  • table_array: A range of cells in the source table containing the data you want to use.
  • col_index_num: The column number in the table_array that you want to return the matched value from.
  • range_lookup: A value is either TRUE or FALSE.
  • if TRUE or omitted, Vlookup returns either an exact or approximate match
  • if FALSE, Vlookup will only find an exact match

1. Firstly, you should create a lookup table as below screenshot shown, and then use the Vlookup function with approximate math to get the result.

a screenshot showing the original data range and the lookup table

Note: It is important that the lookup table must be sorted in ascending order for the VLOOKUP formula to get proper result with an approximate match.

2. Then, enter or copy the following formula into a blank cell – C3, for instance:

=VLOOKUP(B2,$F$2:$G$6,2,TRUE)

Tips: In the above formula:

  • B2: refers to the student score that you want to calculate the letter grade.
  • $F$2:$G$6: It is the table where lookup value will be returned from.
  • 2: The column number in the lookup table to return the matched value.
  • TRUE: Indicates to find the approximate match value.

3. And then, drag the fill handle down to the cells that you want to apply this formula, now, you can see all the letter grades based on the corresponding grade scale table are calculated at once, see screenshot:

a screenshot of using VLOOKUP function to calculate letter grade based on score values

Click to know more VLOOKUP function...

Calculate letter grade based on score values with IFS function (Excel 2019 and Office 365)

If you have Excel 2019 or Office 365, the new IFS function also can help you to finish this job.

The generic syntax is:

=IFS( logical_test1, value_if_true1, [logical_test2, value_if_true2],... )
  • logical_test1: The first condition that evaluates to TRUE or FALSE.
  • value_if_true1: Returns the result if logical_test1 is TRUE. It can be empty.
  • logical_test2: The second condition that evaluates to TRUE or FALSE.
  • value_if_true2: Returns the second result if logical_test2 is TRUE. It can be empty.

1. Please enter or copy the below formula into a blank cell:

=IFS(B2>=90,"A",B2>=80,"B",B2>=70,"C",B2>=60,"D",B2<60,"F")

2. Then, drag the fill handle down to the cells to apply this formula, and the letter grade has been displayed as following screenshot shown:

a screenshot of using IFS function to calculate letter grade based on score values

Click to know more IFS function...

More relative text category articles:

  • Categorize Data Based On Values In Excel
  • Supposing, you need to categorize a list of data based on values, such as, if data is greater than 90, it will be categorized as High, if is greater than 60 and less than 90, it will be categorized as Medium, if is less than 60, categorized as Low, how could you solve this task in Excel?
  • Assign A Value Or Category Based On A Number Range
  • This article is talking about assigning value or category related to a specified range in Excel. For example, if the given number is between 0 and 100, then assign value 5, if between 101 and 500, assign 10, and for range 501 to 1000, assign 15. Method in this article can help you get through it.
  • Assign Serial Number To Duplicate Or Unique Values
  • If you have a list of values which contains some duplicates, is it possible for us to assign sequential number to the duplicate or unique values? It means giving a sequential order for the duplicate values or unique values. This article, I will talk about some simple formulas to help you solving this task in Excel.
  • Convert Letter Grade To Number In Excel
  • If you have a sheet which contains student names and the letter grades, now you want to convert the letter grades to the relative number grades as below screenshot shown. You can convert them one by one, but it is time-consuming while there are so many to convert.

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