Canvas allows you to automatically weight assignments through Assignments. Learn how to toggle between weighted or point based scoring, and how to ensure your weighted scoring system is properly set up. 

Weighted grading allows you to tell Canvas to make a given assignment group worth a percentage of the students total grade, regardless of the point value of each individual assignment. Points-based grading is strictly by the numbers- each assignment is worth the number of points you choose out of the total points available for your course. 

Enable Points-Based Grading

1. Navigate to Assignments
   
2. Click on the three dots by +Assignment
3. Click ‘Assignment Groups Weight’.
   
4. Uncheck ‘Weight final grade based on assignment groups’. 
   
5. Save. 

Sorting Assignments by Groups

The first step to setup weighted assignment grading is to ensure your assignments are sorted into groups (such as Exams, Quizzes, Worksheets, etc). 

1. Navigate to Assignments.
   
2. Click +Group.
   
3. Name your Assignment Group.
   
4. Save.

Now, you can create new assignments in each group, or drag assignments from one group to another.

Moodle vs Canvas Gradebook View

Canvas displays assignment groups to students at the end of the gradebook rather than as section headers. Take a look at this example student's view:

Assignments are listed at the top, with their category written in smaller writing right below each item. At the bottom of the table (which will include all the assignments they have completed) are the categories, and the student's overall grade in each of these. 

Total is calculated with weights if you are using weighted grading.

The instructor point of view is similar. The entries on the left of the gradebook will be individual assignments. On the right, Canvas automatically keeps track of how each student is doing on each assignment group. Take a look at this example:

The student is on the far left, each individual assignment (Test Quiz, Test Exam) are listed next, then that student's percent grade of each assignment group (Assignments, Exams, and Quizzes), with their total grade listed at the far end. 

 

Once your course assignments are sorted into your chosen categories, you are ready to set up weighted grading. 

Enable Weighted Grading

1. Navigate to Assignments.
   
2. Click on the three dots next to +Assignment. 
3. Click Assignment Groups Weight.
   
4. Check ‘Weight final grade based on assignment groups’.
   
5. Enter your chosen weights. 
   Note: Make sure they add up to 100%!
6. Save.