Grade Categories & Weighting
Organize grades into categories with weighted percentages.
Understanding Categories
Categories group similar items:
- Assignments (30%)
- Quizzes (25%)
- Midterm (20%)
- Final Exam (25%)
Creating Categories
1. Open Gradebook
2. Click "Settings" > "Categories"
3. Click "Add Category"
4. Enter name and weight
Weighting Options
Percentage-Based
Weights must total 100%:
- Assignments: 40%
- Quizzes: 30%
- Exams: 30%
Points-Based
No weighting needed:
- Total points across all items
- Percentage = earned/possible
Hybrid
Mix of weighted and unweighted:
- Some categories weighted
- Others use raw points
Advanced Options
Drop Lowest
- Automatically drop lowest N grades
- Per category setting
- Encourages consistent effort
Extra Credit
- Mark items as extra credit
- Points add to total
- Don't count against possible
Minimum Score
- Set minimum passing grade
- Required for category completion
Calculating Final Grades
Weighted Calculation
1. Calculate category averages
2. Multiply by weight
3. Sum weighted averages
Example
| Category | Average | Weight | Weighted |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignments | 85% | 40% | 34% |
| Quizzes | 90% | 30% | 27% |
| Exams | 80% | 30% | 24% |
| Final | 85% |
Tips
1. Keep categories simple
2. Match your syllabus
3. Communicate weights clearly
4. Consider drop policies