All About Grading in Canvas

A grading scheme tells Canvas how your final course percentage translates into a letter grade, such as A, B+, or C.

Learn About Grading Schemes

Review your grading scheme before the semester begins to make sure the ranges in Canvas align with the grading scale communicated in your syllabus.

Where is this in Canvas?

Course Navigation → Settings → Course Details → Grading Scheme

Resource:

Canvas Guide: How do I use grading schemes in a course?

Next, make sure Canvas reflects how you calculate the final grade described in your syllabus.

Points-Based Grading

In a points-based course, assignments contribute to the final grade based on the number of points they are worth.

For example, a 100-point exam has a greater impact on the final grade than a 10-point discussion.

For a points-based course, consider the following setup:

1. Leave “Weight final grade based on assignment groups” unchecked.
2. Use assignment groups just for organization

Weighted Grading

If your syllabus specifies that categories of work contribute a certain percentage to the final grade, use weighted Assignment Groups.

For example:

Where is this in Canvas?
Course Navigation → Assignments → Assignment Groups Weights

For weighted grading, select the Options menu on the Assignments page and choose Assignment Groups Weight.

Before heading to the Gradebook, start with Assignments.

Assignment Groups organize your graded activities into categories such as Exams, Discussions, Homework, or Projects. If you're coming from Blackboard, Assignment Groups are similar to Categories.

They are especially important if your syllabus assigns different weights to different types of work.You can also create rules in your assignment groups such as automatically dropping the lowest grades within that group.                  

Where is this in Canvas?
Course Navigation → Assignments

Resources

• Canvas Guide: How do I move or reorder my assignment groups?
• Canvas Guide: How do I create rules for an assignment group?
• Canvas Guide: How do I weigh the final course grade based on assignment groups?
• Canvas Guide: How do I add an Assignment Group?

Now you're ready to add the individual activities students will complete.

Create your assignments, quizzes, graded discussions, and other graded activities, then place each one in the appropriate Assignment Group.

As you create each assignment, review the following details:

• Points possible
• Assignment Group
• Due date and Availability Dates
• Submission type
• Exclude Assignment from Final Grade 

Where is this in Canvas?

Course Navigation → Assignments

Good to know: To create an empty column in the gradebook, you need to create an Assignment with a "No Submission" or "On Paper" type. That will then create an empty column in grades.

Resources

• Canvas Guide: How do I add or edit points in an assignment?
• Canvas Guide: What assignment types can I create in a course?
• Tipsheet: Understanding Due Dates and Availability Dates
• Canvas Guide: How do I exclude an assignment from the final grade?

Once students begin submitting work, Grades and SpeedGrader become your primary grading spaces.

The Gradebook provides an overview of student grades across the course. SpeedGrader allows you to open individual submissions, assign grades, use rubrics, annotate work, and provide feedback.

Where is this in Canvas?

Course Navigation → Grades

From the Gradebook, select an assignment to access SpeedGrader.

Resources

• Advanced Canvas Training
• Canvas Video — Gradebook Overview 
• Canvas Video — SpeedGrader Overview 
• Canvas Guide: How do I get to SpeedGrader from the Gradebook?
• Canvas Guide: How do I leave feedback comments for student submissions in SpeedGrader?
• Canvas Guide: How do I use the Comment Library in SpeedGrader?
• Canvas Guide: How do I use a rubric to grade submissions in SpeedGrader?
• Canvas Guide: How do I leave comments for students in the Gradebook?
• Canvas Guide: How do I send a message to students from the Gradebook?
• Canvas Guide: How do I select a Grade Posting Policy in the Gradebook?

Review your Gradebook periodically throughout the semester and again before submitting final grades. Add filters and customize your view to make the gradebook easier to navigate. 

Where is this in Canvas?

Course Navigation → Grades

From the Gradebook, select an assignment to access SpeedGrader.

Before finalizing grades, check that:

• Graded activities are in the correct Assignment Groups.
• Assignment Group weights are correct, if applicable.
• All expected grades have been entered.
• Missing submissions are being handled as intended.
• Grades and feedback have been posted to students as intended.
• Your grading scheme matches the scale communicated in your syllabus.
• The calculated final grade looks as expected.

Canvas gives you control over when students can see grades and feedback. Your Grade Posting Policy determines whether grades are released to students automatically or manually.

Student View: Grades

Students can use Grades to view their scores, feedback, submission statuses, and current course grade. What they see depends on your Gradebook settings and whether grades have been posted, so it is important to consider the student view when setting up and releasing grades.

Automatic vs. Manual Grade Posting

With an automatic posting policy, grades become visible to students as you enter them. This is the default behavior in Canvas. This works well when you are comfortable with students seeing grades and feedback as grading progresses.

With a manual posting policy, grades remain hidden from students until you choose to post them. This can be useful when you want to finish grading an assignment for the entire class before releasing grades and feedback.

Important: Selecting a manual posting policy does not post grades later automatically. When you are ready for students to see them, you must return to the Gradebook and select Post Grades.

Before You Finish Grading

Check that:

• Your Grade Posting Policy is set to Automatic or Manual based on how you want to release grades.
• Grades you intend students to see have been posted.
• Grades you are still working on remain hidden, if appropriate.
• Feedback and comments are visible when you intend students to receive them.

Resource:

• Canvas Guide: How do I select a Grade Posting Policy in the Gradebook?

Canvas allows you to identify submissions as Missing, Late, or Excused and establish policies for how certain submissions are treated in the Gradebook.

Missing and Late Work
Canvas can automatically identify submissions as late or missing based on an assignment's due date. In Gradebook Settings, you can also establish policies that automatically apply a grade to missing submissions or deduct points from late submissions.

Before enabling these policies, consider how they align with the late and missing work policies communicated in your syllabus.

Where is this in Canvas?
Course Navigation → Grades → Gradebook Settings → Late Policies

Resources

• Canvas Guide: How do I apply a Missing Submission policy?
• Canvas Guide: How do I apply a Late Submission policy?
• Canvas Guide: How do I excuse an assignment for a student?

Before submitting final grades, review your Canvas Gradebook to make sure grades are complete and calculating as intended.

Check that assignments are in the correct Assignment Groups, weights are accurate (if applicable), missing work is handled appropriately, and your grading scheme aligns with the grading scale communicated in your syllabus.

Overriding a Final Grade
Canvas also provides a Final Grade Override option that allows you to enter a different final grade for an individual student without changing the grades for individual assignments.

Use a final grade override intentionally. If a student's calculated grade is unexpected, first review the student's grades and your course's Assignment Groups, weights, grading scheme, and other Gradebook settings to identify the cause.

Where is this in Canvas?

Course Navigation → Grades

Resources

• Canvas Guide: How do I override a student's final grade in the Gradebook?