Creating a Grade Item

Grade items include any items that you want to grade users on such as individual assignments, quizzes, or performance measurement. Each grade item has its own entry in the grade book and you will assign a grade to each item for each user. Grade items can be tied to other course objects (such as quizzes or discussion forums) or they can exist independently. Grade items can also be graded differently depending on the type of grade item. For instance, items can be graded numerically, based on a grade scheme, or with a simple text message.

If you will be exporting/importing your gradebook, please make sure grade items do not have the same exact name as any grade categories, as this will cause an error when uploading.

From the Manage Grades page, Click the New button and select Item.

Create new grade item

Types of Grade Items

  • Numeric: Grade users by assigning a value out of a specified total number of points.
    • Example: 8/10
  • Selectbox: Grade users by assigning a grade scheme level that best matches their achievement.
    • Example: "Excellent” or “B+”
    • Note: Selectbox grade items cannot be created until you create at least one grade scheme for the course.
  • Pass/Fail: Grade users using a simple pass/fail grade scheme.
  • Formula: Automatically grade users using a custom formula based on achievement on other grade items.
    • Example: Give users who received at least 50% on all of their Weekly Participation grades a Perfect Attendance bonus. IF{ MIN{ [ITEM1.Percent], [ITEM2.Percent] } < 50, 0, 100}
    • Notes: Formula grade items cannot belong to a category. You must create all of the grade items you want to include in the formula grade item before you create the formula item. Formula grade items cannot contribute to the calculated final grade unless you are using the Formula grading system.
  • Calculated: Calculate users’ cumulative achievement across multiple grade items.
    • Example: Midterm Grade: Item1 + Item2 + Item3 / Total points * 100 = 73%
    • Notes:
      • Calculated grade items cannot belong to a category.
      • Calculated grade items cannot contribute to the calculated final grade.
  • Text: Prove comments in the grade book that are not calculated in the final grade.
  • Example: “Consent from received” or “Course evaluation completed.”
    • Notes:
      • Text grade items cannot belong to a category
      • Text grade items do not contribute to the calculated final grade

  1. From the New Item page, select Numeric.
    Numeric Grade Items
  2. Enter a Name for the grade item.
  3. If you want the grade item to be associated with a category, select a category from the Category drop-down or click New Category.
  4. Enter the value of the grade item in the Maximum Points field.
  5. If you are using the weighted system, enter the Weight you want the grade item to contribute to the final grade or its category.
  6. Select the Can Exceed check box if you want students’ grades to be able to exceed the total value of the item.
  7. Select the Bonus check box if you want the item to be counted as a bonus item (extra credit). 
    • Note: Bonus items are not counted towards the total possible points for a category or the final grade. They are added to the grade on top of each students' total.
    • Note: If you choose to put your bonus items with in a category, then you must set the Category properties to "Can Exceed" in a Point System or "Allow category grade to exceed category weight" in a Weighted System.
      Numeric Grade Items Details
  8. If you are using the points system, you may choose the Exclude from Final Grade Calculation option, if applicable. (If you are using the weighted system you can accomplish the same results by setting the weight to 0%)
  9. Select a Grade Scheme to associate with the item, if applicable.
  10. Add a rubric by clicking the Add Rubric button or click the Create Rubric in New Window link to create a rubric.
  11. Click Save and Close, Save and New, or Save.
    Numeric Grade Item Save Button

  1. From the New Item page, select Selectbox.
    Select box grade item
  2. Enter a Name for the grade item.
  3. Select a category from the Category drop-down or click New Category if you want the grade item to be associated with a category.
  4. Enter the value of the grade item in the Maximum Points field.
  5. If you are using the weighted system, enter the Weight you want the grade item to contribute to the final grade or its category.
    Select box grade item details
  6. Select the Bonus check box if you want the item to be a bonus item.
    • Note: Bonus items are not counted towards the total possible points for a category or the final grade. They are added to the grade on top of the total.
    • Note: If you choose to put your bonus items with in a category, then you must set the Category properties to "Can Exceed". See Categories.
  7. If you are using the points system, you may also choose the Exclude from Final Grade Calculation option, if applicable. (If you are using the weighted system you can accomplish the same results by setting the weight to 0%)
  8. Select a Grade Scheme to associate with the item.
  9. Add a rubric by clicking the Add Rubric button or click the Create Rubric in New Window link to create a rubric. See Rubrics for more information.
  10. Click Save and Close, Save and New, or Save.
    Select Box grade item save

  1. From the New Item page, select Pass/Fail.
    Pass Fail Grade Item
  2. Enter a Name for the grade item.
  3. If you want the grade item to be associated with a category, select a category from the Category drop-down or click New Category.
  4. Enter the value of the grade item in the Maximum Points field.
  5. If you are using the weighted system, enter the Weight you want the grade item to contribute to the final grade or its category.
  6. Select the Bonus check box if you want the item to be counted as a bonus item.
    • Note: Bonus items are not counted towards the total possible points for a category or the final grade. They are added to the grade on top of the total.
    • Note: If you choose to put your bonus items with in a category, then you must set the Category properties to "Can Exceed".
      Pass Fail Grade Item Details
  7. If you are using the points system, you may also choose the Exclude from Final Grade Calculation option, if applicable. (If you are using the weighted system you can accomplish the same results by setting the weight to 0%)
  8. Select a Grade Scheme to associate with the item.
  9. Add a rubric by clicking the Add Rubric button or click the Create Rubric in New Window link to create a rubric. See Rubrics for more information.
  10. Click Save and Close, Save and New, or Save.
    Pass Fail Grade item save

  1. From the New Item page, select Formula.
    Formula grade item
  2. Enter a Name for the grade item.
  3. Enter the value you want the item graded out of in the Maximum Points field.
  4. Click Edit Using the Formula Editor to define a calculation formula. See the following support pages for more information:
  5. Select the Can Exceed check box if you want users’ grades to be able to exceed the total value of the item
  6. Select a Grade Scheme to associate with the item.
    formula grade item details
  7. Add a rubric by clicking the Add Rubric button or click the Create Rubric in New Window link to create a rubric.
  8. Click Save and Close, Save and New, or Save.
    formula grade item save

  1. From the New Item page, select Calculated.
    calculated grade item
  2. Enter a Name for the grade item.
  3. Select the Can Exceed check box if you want students’ grades to be able to exceed the total value of the item.
  4. Select a Grade Scheme to associate with the item.
    calculated grade item details part 1
  5. In the Calculation section, select the check boxes beside the items you want to include in the calculation. Clicking a category selects all grade items in the category. Clicking the check box at the top or bottom of the list selects all items.
  6. If you are using a weighted grading system, you can select one of the following calculation methods for the item. For more information on milestone grade calculations, see the Using the Milestone Grade Calculation for calculated grade items D2L support page.
    calculated grade item details part 2
  7. Add a rubric by clicking the Add Rubric button or click the Create Rubric in New Window link to create a rubric.
  8. Click Save and Close, Save and New, or Save.
    calculated grade item save

  1. From the New Item page, select Text.
    Text grade item
  2. Enter a Name for the grade item.
  3. Add a Rubric by clicking the Add Rubric button or click the Create Rubric in New Window link to create a rubric.
  4. Click Save or Save and New if you want to save this and create a new grade item.
    text grade item details