Know your attendance, and how many classes you can skip.
Enter the classes you have attended, the total held so far, the percent your school requires and how many classes are still to come. See your current attendance, exactly how many of the remaining classes you must still attend, and how many you can safely skip.
Your attendance
Required percent is the minimum your school wants, often 75. Remaining classes are the ones still to be held this term.
What this means
Where each choice leaves you at the end
Final attendance percent under each plan
Attendance scorecard
Scenario breakdown
Each row assumes a different plan for the classes still to come. Final attendance is attended classes divided by the final total held, then times 100.
| Plan for remaining classes | Attended | Missed | Final total | Final percent | Meets goal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Attendance and the bunk plan, explained
How attendance percentage is calculated
Attendance percentage is the number of classes you have attended divided by the total number of classes held so far, multiplied by 100. If you have attended 42 out of 50 classes, that is 42 divided by 50, which is 0.84, or 84 percent. The number only counts classes that have actually been held. Classes still on the timetable but not yet taught do not count against you yet, which is why the bunk planner treats them separately.
What the bunk planner does
A bunk planner answers the question every student asks: how many of the classes left this term can I skip and still stay above the required line? It works out the final total number of classes, which is the classes already held plus the classes still to come. It then finds the smallest whole number of attended classes that keeps you at or above the requirement across that final total. Whatever is left over from the remaining classes is the number you can safely skip. If the requirement is 75 percent and you are already comfortably above it, the planner will show a cushion of classes you can miss without dropping below the mark.
Why every early absence costs more
When only a few classes have been held, each one is a large share of the total, so a single absence swings the percentage a lot. Miss 1 of 4 and you are already at 75 percent. As the term goes on and the total grows, one absence moves the number far less. This is why staying present early in the term buys you flexibility later. A strong start gives you a buffer of skips you can spend near the end when projects and exams pile up.
When the requirement is out of reach
Sometimes the target simply cannot be met, even by attending every class that is left. This happens when too many absences have already stacked up. The planner checks for this by comparing the classes you must still attend against the classes that actually remain. If you would need to attend more classes than exist, it flags the goal as unreachable and shows the highest percentage you can still finish at, so you can talk to your instructor early rather than be surprised at the end.
Common questions
How is attendance percentage calculated?
Divide the classes you attended by the total classes held so far, then multiply by 100. For example, 42 attended out of 50 held is 42 divided by 50 times 100, which equals 84 percent. Only classes that have already been held are counted.
How many classes can I skip and still stay above the requirement?
Enter your required percent and the number of classes still to come. The planner finds the fewest remaining classes you must attend to stay at or above the line, and the rest are the classes you can safely skip. The safe-to-skip figure is shown as Can safely skip.
What if my attendance is already below the required percent?
You may still be able to recover if enough classes remain. The calculator shows how many of the remaining classes you must attend to climb back to the requirement. If that number is larger than the classes left, it flags the goal as unreachable and shows the best percentage you can still finish at.
Why does one absence hurt more at the start of the term?
Early on, each class is a big fraction of the small total, so a single absence moves the percentage sharply. Later, when many classes have been held, the same absence is a smaller share and barely changes the number. Attending early builds a cushion of skips you can use later.
Does the calculator round the required number of classes?
Yes. It rounds the classes needed up to the next whole number, because you cannot attend a fraction of a class. Rounding up guarantees the plan keeps you at or above the requirement rather than a hair below it.
Is 75 percent always the required attendance?
No. 75 percent is a common minimum, but schools, colleges and individual courses set their own thresholds, and some count late arrivals or excused absences differently. Change the Required percent field to match your own rule and confirm the policy with your institution.
Estimates for planning only. Your school may count late arrivals, excused absences, labs or medical leave differently, and may round attendance in its own way. Confirm your exact attendance policy and required percentage with your instructor, department or student handbook.