How are grades calculated in Gradebook Classic?
The Gradebook Classic tool automatically calculates a course grade based on the number of points scored out of the total points submitted (i.e., a running grade). Ungraded items will not be included in the course grade calculation, so the course grade will not necessarily reflect the student's true score. To include ungraded items in the course grade calculation, you need to enter a 0 (zero) for those items.
To exclude a gradebook item from the course grade, you can edit the gradebook item and deselect Include this item in course grade calculations. The score for that item will appear in parentheses to indicate that it is not included in the course grade calculation.
Extra credit points are excluded from the total possible points available, but included in student grade calculations for points awarded. See How does extra credit work in Gradebook Classic? for more information on extra credit gradebook items and categories.
Note: Students can't see their grades for an item unless you select Release this item to students when editing the gradebook item.
Example of a non-weighted gradebook calculation:
If your gradebook does not have weighted categories, the calculation is relatively simple. The Course Grade is the total number of points awarded divided by the total points possible. Let's look at an example of this below.
Assignment is worth 50 points.
In this example, the Assignment has a total points possible of 50 points.
Only Assignments has been graded.
Notice the scores for each student.
- student01 has a course grade of 70%. This grade is based on 35 out of 50 points on Assignment.
- student02 has a course grade of 80%. This grade is based on 40 out of 50 points on Assignment.
- student03 has a course grade of 90%. This grade is based on 45 out of 50 points on Assignment.
The Homework and Quiz are not calculated in the course grade since they have not been assigned any scores.
Homework is worth 100 points.
Homework has now been graded.
Cumulative grades after Homework is graded.
Now, notice the updated course grades for each student. The scores for Assignment and Homework are added together, and then they are divided by the total possible points for those two items combined.
- student01 has a course grade of 83.33%. This grade is based on the following calculation: (35 + 90) / 150 = 83.33%
- student02 has a course grade of 80%. This grade is based on the following calculation: (40 + 80) / 150 = 80%
- student03 has a course grade of 76.66%. This grade is based on the following calculation: (45 + 70) / 150 = 76.66%
Not all Quizzes have been submitted.
Only the grades that have been entered are calculated. Student01 has not submitted a quiz, so his grade is still (90 + 35) / 150 or 83.33%.
The other students have submitted quizzes. Quizzes are worth 25 points. so their scores are:
- student02 (40 + 80 + 24) / 175 = 82.28%
- student03 (45 + 70 + 25) / 175 = 80%
The student did not submit the quiz.
Since student01 did not turn in the quiz and was assigned a zero on that item by the instructor, now the grade is (90 + 35) / 175 = 71.42%
Example of a weighted gradebook calculation:
On the other hand, if you have weighted categories in your gradebook, the calculation is a little more complex. First, all of the items within each category are averaged, taking the total points awarded within the category, and dividing that by the total possible points within the category. Then, all category averages are multiplied by the category weighting and added together to determine the final score.
The example below shows the grade for an individual student in a weighted gradebook with three categories: Assignments (50% of course grade), Discussions (20% of course grade), and Quizzes (30% of course grade).
Student01 course grade with ungraded items.
In this example, student01 has not received a score for Assignment 3, Quiz 2, or Quiz 3. Those three items and their associated possible points are automatically excluded from the grade calculation. Therefore, the grade is calculated as follows:
Average within each category = total of awarded points divided by total possible points
- Assignments = (80 + 90) / 200 = 0.85 or 85%
- Discussions = (10 + 10 +10) / 30 = 1 or 100%
- Quizzes = 13 / 20 = 0.65 or 65%
Weighted course grade = category averages multiplied by category weighting and added together
- (0.85 x 50) + (1 x 20) + (0.65 x 30) = 82%
Student01 with no ungraded items.
Now, student01 has received grades for all items, including a zero for Quiz 3 which the student failed to submit. The grade is recalculated as follows:
Average within each category = total of awarded points divided by total possible points
- Assignments = (80 + 90 + 100) / 300 = 0.90 or 90%
- Discussions = (10 + 10 +10) / 30 = 1 or 100%
- Quizzes = (13 + 15 + 0) / 60 = 0.46 or 46%
Weighted course grade = category averages multiplied by category weighting and added together
- (0.90 x 50) + (1 x 20) + (0.46 x 30) = 79%
Setting all ungraded items to zero.
If you would like to enter zeros for all ungraded items in the course, you may update all items at once.
Note: This option should be used with caution, as it will enter a zero for any items not yet scored. It is best used at the end of the term after all submitted work has been graded. THIS ACTION CANNOT BE UNDONE.
Go to Course Grades.
Click the Set Ungraded Items to Zero button.
