What Grade Is 8 out of 20?
8 out of 20 is 40% — a F on the standard US scale, a failing score.
- Percentage40%
- Letter gradeF
- Missed12 pts
- For an A (90%)18/20
Score breakdown for a 20-point test
| Score | Percent | Letter |
|---|---|---|
| 18/20 | 90% | A- |
| 16/20 | 80% | B- |
| 14/20 | 70% | C- |
| 8/20 | 40% | F |
How this is calculated
Divide the points earned by the points possible and multiply by 100: 8 ÷ 20 × 100 = 40%. On the common 10-point-band scale that lands in the F range — you'd have needed 18/20 to reach the A band.
Common questions
How are letter grades calculated from percentages?
Most US schools map percentages to letters in 10-point bands: 90–100 is an A range, 80–89 a B range, 70–79 a C range, 60–69 a D range, and below 60 an F. Plus/minus splits each band roughly in thirds (e.g. 90–92 = A-, 93–96 = A, 97+ = A+). Individual schools and professors can and do vary the cutoffs.
Is a 3.5 GPA good?
On the standard 4.0 scale, 3.5 sits between an A- and B+ average — comfortably above the typical US college average (around 3.1) and competitive for most graduate programs, internships and scholarships, though the most selective programs skew 3.7+. Trend matters too: an upward trajectory reads better than a flat one.