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Weighting Grades

Apply different weights or percentages to each of your assessment categories.

Brooke Fodor avatar
Written by Brooke Fodor
Updated over a week ago

Category weighting is used when you want specific categories of assignments to be worth more than others. For example, you may want tests to have more of an impact on a student's overall grade than quizzes. This can be accomplished by applying different weights to the appropriate assessment categories in the gradebook settings.

❗️Category weighting applies to points-based assessments only and is only available in the assessments view.


Understanding Weighting

Weights are percentages that you apply to each of the assessment categories that you use. The sum of the percentages must total 100.

Tests

60%

Quizzes

30%

Assignments

10%

Total

100%

Overall Grade Calculation

The percentage earned for each category is calculated and then multiplied by the weight it has been assigned. This represents the weighted category score. Once all weighted category scores have been found, they are added together to determine the final percentage.

To see an example of a raw score calculation vs. a weighted grade calculation, click here.


Setting Weights in Otus

  • Step 1: Navigate to the Points Gradebook module.

  • Step 2: Select the ellipsis in the upper-right corner.

  • Step 3: Select Weighting.

  • Step 4: Type in the desired assessment category weight. Percentages added here must add up to 100.

  • Step 5: To save the weighting, click anywhere outside of the weighting window. You will see a green popup message that says "Gradebook weighting saved successfully."

Things to Consider:

  • Weighting grades has the potential to drastically change students' final grades in the gradebook depending on the weights applied to each category. The only way to know if a student's grade would be higher or lower with gradebook weighting enabled is to practice with the different weights. If you want to practice with weighted grades, here is a resource that allows you to try it out.

  • If grade weighting is turned ON, the points earned / total points ratio will no longer display in the gradebook. This is to avoid confusion among those trying to calculate the grade when grade weighting is on.


Otus Live Video

Click to see a video from our Otus Live series on weighting grades.


FAQ and Troubleshooting

Click to see FAQ and Troubleshooting details.

Can I reset the weighting?

Yes, you can change the weighting at any time. Simply open the weighting modal again and change any of the values. If you need to remove the weighting altogether, select Clear Weighting.

Can I set the weighting for all of my classes at the same time?

No. Weighting is set on a class-by-class basis.

As an administrator, can I set school or district-wide weighting for all gradebooks?

That is something the Otus Team can do for you. Reach out to your Otus Client Experience Partner or the Otus Support Team using our chat feature. We are happy to help!

Why isn't weighting available for standards-based assessments?

Standards-based grades do not have numerical values. Numerical values are needed for grade weighting.

If a weighted category doesn't have any assessments linked to it, how does that impact the student's grade?

The category will not impact the grade until it has assessments tied to it.

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