Calculating Final Grades
The Final Grades page lists the calculated final grade for each user in your grade book. You should ensure these grades are accurate. Final grades might be inaccurate if:
- You did not select the Automatically keep final grades updated option when you set up your grade book.
- There are grade items that you still need to enter grades for.
You can decide whether you would like to have the Calculated Final Grade or the Adjusted Final Grade as the final grade released to users. Calculated Final Grades are strictly calculated by the system and cannot be adjusted due to special circumstances. Adjusted Final Grades can be automatically calculated by the system, but can also be adjusted manually for special circumstances. We recommend releasing Adjusted Final Grades. To access this option:
- In the Grades tool, click Settings in the top right.Image
- Click the Calculation Options tab.Image
- Under Final Grade Release, select your preferred option.Image
- Click Save.Image
It is important to have your grades updated before releasing them to students. To keep grades automatically updated, you will need to enable "Automatically keep final grades updated", so when any change is made that affects the final grade calculations (i.e. modifying a user's grade, changing the 'bonus' property of a grade item) the final calculated grade will recalculate automatically. If this option is not checked, the final calculated grade must be manually recalculated. Out of date final calculated grades are indicated with a calculator icon. To enable this feature:
- In the Grades tool, click Settings in the top right.Image
- Click the Calculation Options tab.Image
- Scroll down and check the box next to Automatically keep final grades updated.
- Click Save.Image
Scenarios for Final Calculated Grades using Points and Weighted Systems
For examples on using Final Calculated Grades in points and weighted systems, view the following examples from D2L:
You can edit how Calculated or Adjusted Final Grades appear in the grade book including changing the name of the items and/or customizing how items are displayed in your or the user’s view:
- In Manage Grades, click the arrow next to either Calculated Final Grade or Adjusted Final Grade, then click Edit Grade Item.Image
- Use the Properties tab to make edits to the name and display options. You can also select any custom grade schemes. Lastly, you can enable whether final grades and exceed calculated totals.
- Note: Enabling ‘Can Exceed’ will allow final grades to exceed the calculated possible total points (e.g., 110/100 or 105%)Image
- Note: Enabling ‘Can Exceed’ will allow final grades to exceed the calculated possible total points (e.g., 110/100 or 105%)
- Click on the Restrictions tab to set up Release Conditions for either item. See D2L’s official support pages for more information on setting up Release Conditions.Image
- Click Save and Close or Save once you’ve completed your edits.Image
- From the Manage Grades page, click the arrow to Final Calculated Grade and select Enter Grades.Image
- From the Final Grades page, click the checkboxes next to each user (or click the top left corner box to select all users). Select Release/Unrelease.Image
- You will notice that the checkboxes under the Release Final Calculated Grade column will either automatically add or remove checks. Image
- Click Save and Close or Save to release the Final Calculated Grade.Image
- From the Manage Grades page, click the arrow to Final Adjusted Grade and select Enter Grades.Image
- From the Final Grades page, you will notice a column titled Final Adjusted Grade with two open fields in each user’s row to create a ratio. From here, you can enter a custom grade. Image
- You can also click the calculator icon next to each field that will bring up a pop-up icon of all grade items and categories of your course. Select which items will contribute toward the final grade and click Calculate. Image
- The fields will automatically populate based on the selected items. You can also make enter custom scores based on this criteria as well.
- Click the checkboxes next to each user (or click the top left corner box to select all users). Select Release/Unrelease.Image
- You will notice that the checkboxes under the Release Final Adjusted Grade column will either automatically add or remove checks. Image
- Click Save and Close or Save to release the Final Adjusted Grade.Image
It is possible to evaluate and record grades for grade items that you don't want to be included in users' final grades. For example, you could evaluate practice assignments or course participation even though they are not included in users' final grades so that users get ongoing feedback and support.
Notes:
- Items are excluded from both the calculated and adjusted final grades.
- You cannot use excluded points grade items in calculated grade items.
Exclude a Grade Item or Category in the Weighted System
- From the Manage Grades area, click on the name of the grade item or category you want to editImage
- Set the Maximum Points to whatever value you want to evaluate the item or category out of.
- Set the Weight to 0%.Image
- Click Save and Close, Save and New, or Save.Image
Exclude a Grade Item or Category in the Points System
- From the Manage Grades area, click on the name of the grade item or category you want to edit.Image
- Select the Exclude from Final Grade Calculation option.Image
- Click Save and Close, Save and New, or Save.Image
Editing the Max. Points, Weight, Bonus, or Can Exceed fields for a grade item that already has grades entered for it can drastically change users’ recorded achievement. Make sure you consider how grades are affected before you make changes and review and adjust users’ grades afterward.
Examples:
- You raise the Max. Points for a grade item from 10 to 20. A user who previously had 10/10 now has a grade of 10/20.
- You lower the Max. Points for a grade item from 12 to 10 when Can Exceed is not selected. A user who previously had 11/12 now has 10/10.
