How to Calculate Weighted Grades and Generate Mock Notes in Python

Compute a weighted physics grade from exam and homework scores, then generate a performance-based mock note with percentage and feedback.

Easy Python 3.9+ Aug 9, 2026 A/B testing & experimentation 10 views 0 copies

grades weighted-average mock-note feedback functions

Python code

33 lines
Python 3.9+
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def get_physics_grade(exam_score, homework_score):
    """Calculate final grade from exam and homework scores."""
    exam_weight = 0.7
    homework_weight = 0.3
    return (exam_score * exam_weight) + (homework_score * homework_weight)


def mock_note(correct_score, max_score, student_name):
    """Generate a mock note based on correction logic."""
    percentage = correct_score / max_score * 100
    if percentage >= 90:
        note = "Excellent work"
    elif percentage >= 75:
        note = "Good effort"
    elif percentage >= 50:
        note = "Needs improvement"
    else:
        note = "Must revisit fundamentals"
    return f"{student_name}: {note} ({percentage:.1f}%)"


if __name__ == "__main__":
    # Correcting the mock exam scores
    exam = 82
    homework = 95
    final = get_physics_grade(exam, homework)
    print(f"Adjusted physics grade: {final:.1f}")
    
    # Adding a pelican peeking reference in the mock note
    student = "Tara"
    mock = mock_note(final, 100, student)
    print(mock)
    print("Note: The pelican peeked at the answer key, so we corrected the scores.")

Output

stdout 
Adjusted physics grade: 85.9
Tara: Good effort (85.9%)
Note: The pelican peeked at the answer key, so we corrected the scores.

How it works

The get_physics_grade function applies fixed weights (70% exam, 30% homework) to combine two scores into a final grade. The mock_note function converts that score into a percentage and maps it to a qualitative note using chained conditional comparisons. String formatting with :.1f rounds the percentage to one decimal place for clean output. The guard if __name__ == "__main__" lets the script run directly while keeping the functions importable elsewhere.

Common mistakes

  • Dividing by zero if max_score is 0 — add a guard or validate input
  • Using integer division instead of true division for the percentage calculation
  • Forgetting f-string formatting syntax when embedding variables in output

Variations

  1. Use `round(percentage, 1)` instead of f-string formatting for the final value
  2. Return a tuple of note and percentage instead of a formatted string
  3. Add a `max_score` parameter to `get_physics_grade` for modularity

Real-world use cases

  • An instructor generating performance feedback from automatically graded quizzes.
  • An analytics script calculating weighted KPIs and labeling them as pass or fail.
  • A student app scoring assignments and producing motivational messages from results.

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