What is a Weighted Grade?

A weighted grade in the Canvas LMS is a grading system where different assignment groups, (like quizzes, exams, discussions, or homework) are assigned a specific percentage of the final grade. Instead of every assignment's total point value being added up equally, the final grade is calculated by first finding the percentage score for each assignment group and then multiplying that score by the group's assigned weight. This allows instructors to give different categories of work a different level of importance in the final calculation.

Assignment Group: An assignment group is a category for organizing and categorizing assignments, quizzes, and discussions in Canvas. The key functions of assignment groups are:

Organize assessments
Allow weighted grading
Gradebook management
Consistency
Flexibility

In the Weighted Grade pie graph image below, there are four weighted assignment groups. Each group makes up a portion of the total value of the overall grade. The Total Value of the gradebook is 100%. A best practice when calculating weighted grades is to not exceed a total weight of 100% for the main assignment groups. Any calculation above the 100% total should be calculated as extra credit. It is best to not count extra credit as part of the weighted grade.

The maximum points you assign to individual grade items can be any value, but their contribution towards the overall grade will be determined by the specific percentage allotted to each item out of the 100%. If you want a specific item, like a final exam or final project to hold more weight than other items in the course, the final exam or final project should be given a higher percent value than the other items. In the pie chart image, the course exams are weighted at 40% which yield a higher value than the other assignment groups.

The gradebook is not accurate until all grades are entered for each assessment and within each group.

image.png displays a pie chart with the breakdown of a weighted grade. The weights are broken down by pieces of the pie: Exams = 40%, Discussions = 20%, Quizzes = 25% & Homework = 15%. Each pie has a different color code.

Video: How do I weight the final course grade based on assignment groups?

Link to Video: How do I weight the final course grade based on assignment groups?

Best Practices When Using Weighted Grades

A best practice to consider when using a weighted grade in the Canvas LMS is to not exceed a total overall weight of 100%.

Be sure to explain to students how the weighted grade is distributed in your course. Point out that the course is not based on total points, or a Sum/Average grade.
Weight important assignment groups, like tests and projects, more heavily than less important assignment groups, like homework.
Do not use Extra Credit as a grade recovery tool or to help a student on the cusp of a letter grade to "level up" to a higher letter grade.
Ways to Add Extra Credit
- Add points to an individual assignment, quiz or discussion question.
- Add fudge points to a quiz when a question is thrown out or needs additional explanation/revisions.
- Add points to the total score at the end of the semester via the override total column in the gradebook. This column has to be turned on.
  - Link to: How do I override a student's final grade in the Gradebook?
- It is not recommended to increase the total weight of the grade book above 100%. The Canvas gradebook is set to a ten-point scale by default. If extra credit is not required, it should not be calculated in the 100% total as it may inhibit the students' ability to earn the highest value available, 100%.

How Can I Weight Items within an Individual Group?

Equal Distribution of the weighted percentage for a Group
- When assigning the point values of assignments within a specific weighted group if you want all the assignments to be weighted equally across the group, assign the same number of points for each assignment. This will distribute the weight equally across all items.
Weights within Weighted Groups
- If you do not want the assignments within a group to be equally weighted, assign lower or higher point values based on the importance of the graded items within the group.

Add Groups & Assign Weighted Percentages

If you are using a weighted grade, keep in mind, you need to check to make sure it is turned on every semester. The setting does not automatically turn on or roll over from a copied course or blueprint course. In order for a weight to be applied to each group, there must be at least one assignment, discussion, or quiz listed in one of the weighted groups for the instructor to edit the weight for the group. If you do not have at least one item listed in one of the groups, the system may not allow you to edit or add the weighted percentage for any of the groups. You will also not be able to edit already existing groups if no content is assigned to at least one of the weighted groups.

Instructions: Add Groups

Navigate to your Canvas Course
Click the Assignments link from the left navigation menu.

3. Click the + Group button (top right of screen) to create an Assignment Group.

4. The Add Assignment Group window will display. Enter the name for the Assignment Group. Click the Save button. (Repeat this step until you have created all the assignment groups for the course.) You can also edit the names of the Groups or Percentages at this step.

5. After clicking the Save button do not navigate away from the Assignments page. You will be able to assign the weighted percentages to each of the groups you just created. Follow the next set of instructions below to add the weights to each group.

Instructions: Turn on the Weighted Grade

If you navigated away from the Assignments page, click on the Assignments link in the white navigation menu to the left of the screen to return to the Assignments page.

2. Click the three dots located to the right of the green +Assignment button. Then select Assignment Groups Weight from the drop-down menu.

3. The Assignments Group Weight window will display. Select the box for Weight final grade based on assignment groups, then enter a percentage for each of the assignment groups.

4. Add the percentages to the Groups. This will weigh the overall grade in the course. Do not exceed a 100% total weight.

- If you are unable to add the percentages, e.g., the cursor will not move in the boxes or you are unable to type the numbers in the boxes, it is because there has to be at least one content item that has a numerical value (assignment, quiz, discussion, etc.), in one of the Groups in order for the system to activate the weighted grade.
- As a reminder, if you are attempting to edit the Weighted Group names or Percentages in a course that already has content, or adding a new Group, be sure to drag or place the correct content items into the correct Groups.

5. Click the Save button before navigating away from the page.

If there is a Group in the course titled: "Imported Assignments", the content in this group will need to be put into the appropriate weighted group. If the assignments remain in the imported Assignments group, it will not count towards the weighted grade. Drag the assignment to the appropriate group and then delete the Imported Assignments group.

Link to guide: How do I weight the final course grade based on assignment groups?

Link to guide: How do I override a student's final grade in the Gradebook?

7/2025; 10/2025