A foreword on weighted grades:

Whenever weights are applied to scores, the scores are first normalized before the weights are applied. Normalization means that the raw score is converted into a ratio between 0.0 and 1.0. For example, a score of “18 out of 20” is normalized as 18/20 = 0.9, while a score of “50 out of 100” is normalized as 50/100 = 0.5. This means that “18 out of 20” is a higher score than “50 out of 100” even though the raw score of 50 is higher numerically than the raw score of 18. In other words, the points are converted to percentages FIRST which then are multiplied by the weight.

It is recommended to use Natural or Weighted aggregation rather than Simple Weighted. Make sure all categories are set to Natural.

If Simple weighted mean was used with category totals that specified weights, put those weights in the WEIGHT column under the Natural aggregation strategy.

If Simple weighted mean was used with category totals set to 100, change it to Natural, and check Exclude empty grades.

Help! My gradebook doesn’t add up right.

• Gradebook Overrides - Verify all of your overridden grades are intentional adjustments of the grades. If you see a pencil with a box on any category or course total in the Grader Report, it means the totals have been overridden. Overridden grades will not be calculated or updated. Remove gradebook overrides if these are not intentional.
• Locked Grades - Verify that no grades or grade categories are locked. Locked grades will not post or aggregate. Locked grades can be identified with a lock icon on grade items or categories in the Grader Report. Remove these grade locks if they are not being used intentionally.
• Excluded Grade Items - Verify no grade items are excluded in the grader report. Not only can empty grades be excluded but one can exclude individual graded items from a student or student's gradebook. Excluded grades can be identified with a circle with a minus inside of it icon on grade items or categories in the Grader Report.
• Hidden Items - Verify all grade items that should be included in students' final grades are showing. Items in the grader report with crossed-out eye icon are items or categories that are hidden. Check the visibility status in the Gradebook Setup and for quizzes check the visibility in the quiz settings itself.
• Correct Weights - When using Natural grading, the gradebook will automatically calculate weights, so only change them manually if you want specific category weights. Weights for natural aggregation should add up to 100. Look for check marks in subcategories and items, this indicates that the weight was manually changed.
• 0 Weights - Categories or items with weights of "0" will not be included in the total. This should only be done deliberately. To remove the 0 uncheck the box if it is checked.
• Extra Credit - If a category is to be used only for extra credit activities, make sure the category is marked as extra credit and NOT the assignments, or the grade will not be calculated correctly.
• Drop the Lowest - If using the Drop the lowest category item, each item in the category must have the same score.
• Exclude Empty Grade, Course Wide - If grades are showing extremely low at the beginning of the term check to see if Exclude Empty Grades is turned off in the Gradebook setup. By default, this is set to on. When it is off it will make all empty grades count as a 0 leaving total scores as 0's at the beginning of the term.
• Grade Display - When you don't see the points, percent, or letter grades in the grader report make sure editing is turned off in the grader report first. If that does not resolve it edit the gradebook preferences.

Help! My students can’t see an item in the gradebook.

Check the Course.

• Ensure the activity (if it is an activity) is not hidden in the course. This is indicated by greyed-out text compared to other visible items.

Check the Gradebook.

• Ensure the item is not hidden. This is indicated by greyed-out text compared to other visible items. 
• Ensure the item is not locked.

Help! A student can’t view his grades for an assignment.

Go to the gradebook. Open the Grader report, turn editing on, and find the student with the hidden grade. Locate the assignment they can not see: if there is a closed or crossed-out eye next to their score, click on it to unhide. This may need to be repeated for multiple students; sometimes random student grades will be marked as hidden. This is an uncommon glitch. If this does not work contact the Academic Technology Center for help.