Grade Calculation in Moodle | UMass Amherst Information Technology (2024)

Grade calculations are configured on the Gradebook Setup page in the Moodle gradebook. We highly recommend organizing grade items before choosing aggregation methods so that items are in the correct category (see ).

• For advanced calculation options, including how to drop the lowest items from a category (see Grade Category Options in the Moodle Gradebook).
• While Moodle has preset calculations, custom formulas can also be used for the course total and individual category totals (see Custom Grade Formulas in the Moodle Gradebook).

Configure Grade Calculation

Grade calculations depend on how grade items and categories are arranged on the Gradebook Setup page. To configure how grades are calculated, you will first need to choose an aggregation method in the Category Settings. Once applied, aggregation methods will calculatethe course total and subtotals for categories (if any).

By default, a grade category will calculate all items in that category. If a category contains a sub-category, then the sub-category total value will be used in the parent-category calculation.

To set a calculation method for a category:

1. To open the Moodle Gradebook setup page, in the menu bar at the top of your course page, select the Course Management icon (gear icon, ). The Course Management panel will open.
2. Under Course Settings, select Gradebook setup. The Gradebook setup page will open.
3. Locate the row that contains the title of the category. In theActions column (at right), select Edit. TheEdit settings menu will open.
4. From the Edit drop-down menu, select Edit settings. TheEdit category page will open.​
   Note: The Edit category settings for the course total can be found in the top row of the Gradebook setuptable.
5. Select a calculation method from theAggregation drop-down menu. Options include:
   • Mean of grades
   • Custom weights
   • Natural
6. At the bottom of the page, select Save changes.The Gradebook Setuppage will open.

Aggregation Methods

To configure how grades are calculated, choose a calculation method by editing Category Settings. The three aggregation methods are described below.

Mean of grades

What it does:

• Calculates the average of all grade items in the category (the sum of all grades divided by the number of grade items).
• If items in the category have point values different from the Maximum gradeof the category,grades will be adjusted proportionately.
• Does not allow grade items to be marked asExtra Credit.
• Allows categories to use Drop the lowest.

When touse it:

• To find the average percentage of multiple items.

Custom weights

What it does:

• Each graded item is assigned a value (Weight)used to determine its relative importance in the overall calculation. Items with higher values will count more toward the final average. The weight does not need to be the same as the possible points for an item. If an item has a weight of "0," it will not be calculated in the total.
• If items in the category have point values different from theMaximum gradeof the category,grades will be adjusted proportionately.
• Does not allow grade items to be marked asExtra Credit.
• Allows categories to use Drop the lowest.

When to use it:

• To work with items or categories that are each worth a different percentage of the final grade. If using this method to compute the course total, we suggest weights add up to 100.

Natural

What it does:

• Finds the sum of points for all items in the category.
• Allows grade items to be marked as Extra Credit.
• Allows categories to use Drop the lowest when specific criteria are met. Please see Grade Category Options in the Moodle Gradebook.

When to use it:

• To see the total number of points a student has earned out of the total points possible. It is also possible to change a category total to display a percentage of points earned instead of the real numerical points. For instructions, refer to Grade Category Options in the Moodle Gradebook.

Simple weighted mean of grades (Discontinued as of July 2014)

• The maximum point value is treated as the weight of each grade item.
• Note: If your gradebook is using Simple weighted mean of grades, please contact the Instructional Media Lab at instruct@umass.edu.

Additional Options

Additional options appear on theGradebook Setup page depending on the aggregation methods you select. Three important options are described below.

Weight

What it does:

• Appears only when the Custom weights or Natural aggregation is used. This field sets the numerical weight of an item relative to other items in the same category. Items with a weight of "0" are not calculated in the category total.

When to use it:

• To work with items or categories that are each worth a different percentage of the final grade.If using this method to compute the course total, we suggest that weights add up to 100.
• Note: When using the Natural aggregation method, the gradebook will automatically update weights to indicate a grade item's relative value compared to other items in the category. Weights can be adjusted by selecting the Weights checkbox for the item on the Gradebook Setup page, or navigating to the Edit settings page of the item.

Extra credit

What it does:

• This option is only available when Natural is used as the aggregation method.
• Items marked as Extra credit are not included in the Maximum gradeof the category. Instead, Extra credit items are added to the category total after the initial calculation.
• Weights can be adjusted for Extra credit items.
• It is possible for a student to receive a category total that is higher than the Maximum grade.

When to use it:

• To enter bonus points that will be added on top of a student's category total.

Maximum grade

What it does:

• Sets the maximum possible points that can be awarded in a category (the points required to receive 100%).

When to use it:

• With Natural aggregation, Maximum grade is calculated automatically as the sum of all grade items that are not marked as extra credit.
• With Mean of grades and Custom weights, if items in the category have point values different from the Maximum grade, the category will adjust grades proportionately.
• Note: Letter grade display uses the percentage value of the Maximum grade of a category to calculate the numeric to letter conversion.