Calculate Grades

About Calculations

You can create your own formulas and use common arithmetic operations, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, and use group operators (parentheses).

You can add calculations based on the average, total, maximum, or minimum of the variables you include such as categories, graded items, and other calculations. For example, add a calculation that displays the average of all assignments, so students have an overall picture of their performance. You can add as many calculations as you need.

---

Create Calculations Inline

1. In the item list or student grid view, select the plus sign wherever you want to add a calculation and select Add Calculation.

2. Type a meaningful title for the calculation. Students see calculated grades on their Grades pages, but they don't see your descriptions or formulas.
3. Determine how the result of the calculation appears. In the Select a grade schema menu, choose Points, Percentage, or Letter.
4. Create your formula. In the left pane, select a function, variable, or operator to add it to the right pane.
5. Value: After the text box appears in the formula, click in the box to add a numeric value. You can include seven digits before a decimal point and four digits after it. When the calculation is generated and appears in students' grade pills, only two digits appear after the decimal point.

---

Create your Formula

For example, select Total in the left pane to add that function to the right pane. Expand the list and select the check boxes for the items you want to add to the formula. When you choose a category, all items in that category are included. You must choose graded items and other calculations individually. Scroll through the list to view all items. In the Variable menu, select an item to choose it.

Example of a Formula: Total of Assignment category + Test category + Attendance - Pop Quiz

After you make a selection in a menu, click anywhere outside of the menu to exit and save the selection in the right pane. You can press and drag any added element to reorder your formula. To remove an element, select it and select the X.

When you select Save or Validate, the system checks the accuracy of your formula. Validate checks the formula while you remain on the page. You can't save a calculation until it's mathematically valid.

Select Clear to remove all elements from the right pane and start over.

Your newly created calculated item appears in your gradebook. In item list view, press the Move icon in the row of the calculation to drag it to a new location and release. The order you choose also appears in the grid view and on students' Grades pages.

Reminder: Students won't see the calculation until it has a grade and you make the item visible to them.

 

---

Create Weighted Calculations

You can use normal arithmetic operations to create the weighting you need.

For example, if you have four tests and one final test, you can weight each for a "Weighted Tests" calculation.

Select tests individually from the Variable menu and select Value to add the percentage for each test, such as .15. Add the operators needed such as Multiply and Add.

Basic formula:

Test 1 x .15 + Test 2 x .15 + Test 3 x .15 + Test 4 x .15 + Final Exam x .40

You can include parentheses in this example if you want:

(Test 1 x .15) + (Test 2 x .15) + (Test 3 x .15) + (Test 4 x .15) + (Final Exam x .40)

The calculation is valid either way and produces the same result.

In item list view, select the calculation to view each student's calculated grade or access the student grid view and navigate to the column.

Additional Resources: