Brightspace supports three grading systems: Weighted, Points, and Formula. Each system calculates final grades differently.
Choose the grading system that best matches your course structure, assessment strategy, and grading policies. After choosing a grading system, follow the Set up your Grade book topic to configure your grade book using the Grades Setup Wizard.
Choose a grading system
Grading system comparison
| Grading system |
Best for |
How it works |
Considerations |
|---|
| Weighted |
Courses organized into categories that contribute specific percentages to the final grade |
Grade items and categories contribute a percentage toward a final grade worth 100% |
Weights require careful planning, especially when grades are released before every item is graded |
| Points |
Courses that use straightforward point accumulation |
Each item's maximum points determine how much it contributes to the final grade |
Maximum point values must reflect the relative importance of each activity |
| Formula |
Courses with advanced or institution-specific grading rules |
A custom formula determines the final grade |
Requires Brightspace formula syntax and may not be available at your organization |
Weighted grading system
The Weighted grading system calculates grade items as percentages of a final grade worth 100%.
- Categories represent a percentage of the final grade.
- Each grade item's contribution is based on its weight within the category and the category's weight toward the final grade.
- Maximum points determine the learner's percentage score on an item, but the assigned weight determines how much the item contributes to the final grade.
Example
A category worth 10% of the final grade contains two equally weighted grade items. Each item contributes 5% toward the final grade.
In a separate example, if a quiz has a maximum score of 10 points and a weight of 20%, a learner who earns 8 out of 10 receives 80% of the item's weight. The quiz contributes 16% toward the learner's final grade.
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Important: Grade items within a category should total 100% of that category. Brightspace displays a warning when the weights do not total 100%, but it still calculates the category by scaling the item weights proportionally. For example, if three grade items are each assigned a weight of 25%, Brightspace scales the items proportionally so that each contributes approximately 33.33% of the category. |
Until all items are graded, the displayed final grade may be provisional. If you release grades during the course, review whether ungraded items should be dropped or treated as 0 in your grade calculation settings.
To exclude an item from the final grade calculation in a Weighted grading system, assign the item a weight of 0%.
Points grading system
The Points grading system uses maximum point values to determine how much each grade item contributes to the final grade.
The final grade is calculated using the following formula:
Total points earned divided by total maximum points, multiplied by 100.
- You do not assign percentage weights to grade items or categories.
- A grade item's maximum points directly affect its contribution to the final grade.
- Maximum point values should reflect the relative importance of each activity.
Example
A 100-point final exam contributes more to the final grade than a 10-point quiz because it represents a larger portion of the total available points.
Categories do not apply percentage weights in a Points grading system. However, category settings can affect calculations, such as when you configure a category to automatically drop the highest or lowest grade.
To exclude a grade item or category from the final grade, select Exclude from Final Grade Calculation when creating or editing it.
Formula grading system
The Formula grading system builds on the Points grading system and lets you use a custom formula to determine the final grade.
You can use a Formula grading system for advanced grading rules, such as:
- Requiring learners to achieve a minimum score on a specific assessment.
- Applying a penalty when a condition is not met.
- Calculating the final grade differently for specific combinations of results.
Example
You can create a formula that requires learners to earn at least 50% on both the midterm and final exam to pass the course.
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Important: The Formula grading system is intended for complex grading rules and requires knowledge of Brightspace formula syntax. It may not be available at your organization. If the Formula grading system is unavailable, you can release the Adjusted Final Grade and apply your calculation manually. Contact your administrator if you need help confirming which grading systems are available. |