How can I convert a score of 17/20 to a grade?
I got 17 out of 20 on an essay and I'm trying to convert that to a letter grade. What percentage is 17/20, and is that considered a good mark?
A score of 17 out of 20 is 85%. On many U.S. grading scales, that is a B and is generally considered a good score, though the exact letter grade varies by school and instructor.
You can calculate it by dividing the points earned by the points possible: 17 ÷ 20 = 0.85, or 85%.
A common grading scale used by many U.S. schools is:
- A range: 90% to 100%
- B range: 80% to 89%
- C range: 70% to 79%
- D range: 60% to 69%
- F: Below 60%
Because there is no single national grading scale, schools and instructors may use different cutoffs or plus/minus systems. On many grading scales, 85% is a B. It could be a B+ if your school uses a lower B+ cutoff. It is usually not an A, since the A range commonly starts at 90%. Check your syllabus or online gradebook for the official grading policy used in your class.
One essay rarely equals your final course grade by itself. How much 17/20 matters depends on the assignment's weight in the syllabus. Related conversions: 13 out of 15 and what an 88 letter grade means.
Bottom line: 17 out of 20 is 85%, usually a B and generally a good mark. Your syllabus determines the official letter grade and how much the essay affects your course average.
The answers are generated with AI and reviewed by the EDsmart editorial team before publication.
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