Grade Calculation

There are two ways you can have Canvas calculate your students grades: points or percent/weighted. The Assignment Tool default is points, but it is easy to switch this to a percentage based gradebook.

Points Based Grade Calculation

Point based grade calculation is the default setting for the Assignment Tool. If you are using a points based gradebook then you do not need to make any changes to the Assignment Tool before you start adding your groups. For a points based course it does not matter how your assignments are grouped, the course grade will be calculated based on the number of points each assignment is worth and the students average score for these assignments. Yet, it is still good to group assignments or put them in a specific order to help you and your students keep track of what's going on in the course.

Percent Based Grade Calculation

The way you set up percent/weighted grading for your course grade in Canvas is to use groups on the Assignments page. Groups are used to show how the different assignments in your course are weighted differently.The best way to create Groups is to look at your course syllabus and make sure your Groups match how you show that grades will be calculated on your syllabus.

How to switch the Assignment Tool to Weights/Percent

When you click on the Assignments navigational link in a course there will be a gear icon at the top right of the page. If you click on this gear icon the Assignment Settings window will pop-up and you will need to check the box to "Weight the final grade based on assignment groups" and then click the Save button.

 

Video Directions

Setting up a Percent-based Gradebook in Canvas Links to an external site.

Percent Gradebook Example

If your percent breakdown looks like this on your syllabus, then your assignment page should look like this in Canvas (see images below).

Extra Resource

Canvas Instructor Guide: How do I weight the final grade based on Assignment Groups?