Calculating a pupil's term and annual average
Published on 6 October 2026 · SuGes
The average is the most-read figure on a report card — and the most disputed when it is wrong. Here is the method, step by step, with a full example.
1. The subject average
Within a period (sequence, term or semester), a pupil often has several marks in one subject: quizzes, tests, exams. The subject average is the average of these marks, possibly weighted. Many schools give more weight to the supervised test than to quizzes.
Example: ¼ quiz, ¾ test
- Quiz: 12/20 — Test: 15/20
- Subject average = 12 × 0.25 + 15 × 0.75 = 3 + 11.25 = 14.25/20
2. The overall average: coefficients
Each subject carries a coefficient (weight). The period's overall average is the sum of (average × coefficient) divided by the sum of coefficients. A subject in which the pupil was not assessed should not count as zero: it leaves the calculation, coefficient included.
Weighted average example
- Mathematics: 14.25 × coef. 4 = 57
- English: 11 × coef. 4 = 44
- French: 13 × coef. 2 = 26
- Physical education: 16 × coef. 1 = 16
- Total: 143 points for 11 coefficients → overall average = 143 ÷ 11 = 13.00/20
3. The term average
When the year is split into sequences, the term average is often the average of its two sequences, subject by subject, then weighted by coefficients as above. Other schools compute directly from all the term's marks: the two methods do not always give the same result, so the same rule must apply to the whole class.
4. The annual average
The annual average is most often the average of the three term averages. Some rules give the last term more weight, or compute from sequences: your school regulations apply.
5. Ranking
Ranking orders pupils by descending average. Two pupils with equal averages share the same rank, and the next one takes the rank after the number of pupils ahead: 1st, 2nd (tie), 2nd (tie), 4th.
The most common mistakes
- Counting a missing mark as zero (or the reverse) without a written rule.
- Rounding each subject average before the overall calculation: the gaps add up.
- Forgetting a coefficient changed during the year.
- Copying averages by hand from a spreadsheet to the report card.