How do I change a student's final grade in Canvas?

Quick Links: | Prerequisites | Instructions | Troubleshooting |

The Canvas Final Grade Override feature allows instructors to manually adjust final grades for students, overriding the grade automatically calculated by Canvas. This feature can be particularly useful for applying grading curves or making manual adjustments in large classes. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for enabling and using the Override column directly in Canvas or via an imported CSV file.

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have the following:

• Enabled a grading scheme for your course.
• Reviewed and finalized all grades in the Gradebook.
• Confirmed assignment weights and group rules are correct.
• Entered zeros for late and missing submissions.
• Posted all grades and ensured they are visible to students.
• Decided to use the Override column after reviewing the total column in the Gradebook.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Enable the Override Column in the Canvas Gradebook

To enable the Override Grade column, follow these steps:

1. Select Grades in the course navigation menu.
2. Click the gear icon in the top right corner.
   
3. Go to the Advanced [3] tab.
4. Check the box for Allow final grade override [4].
5. Click Apply Settings [5].
   

Override the Grade

There are two options for overriding the grade: directly in Canvas or by importing from a CSV file.

Option 1: Override the Grade Directly in Canvas

To override grades directly in Canvas, follow these steps:

1. Locate the student whose grade you want to change.
2. Enter the new grade in the corresponding box in the Override column.

You can enter a letter grade or a percentage. Entering a percentage is recommended for flexibility. For example, if you enter a grade of B (range 83-86%), Canvas will store 83% as the score.

Option 2: Import from a CSV File

To override grades using an imported CSV file, follow these steps:

Export Your Gradebook to a CSV File

1. Select Export from the top right corner.
2. Choose Export Entire Gradebook.
3. Open the exported file (select "Don’t Convert" if prompted about data conversions in Excel).
   

Enter the Override Grades in Excel

1. Locate the Override Score column (you may need to scroll all the way to the right).
   • Do not enter any values into the Override Status column, or the import will fail.
   • Recommendation: Use raw scores instead of letter grades for flexibility.
2. Enter the new grades in a numerical format.
   
3. Save the CSV file to your computer once all grades are entered.
    

Import Your CSV File

1. Go back to your Canvas Gradebook.
2. Select Import in the top right corner.
   
3. Select Choose File and upload the saved CSV file.
4. Select Upload Data.
   
5. Verify the grades in the next screen. Select Save Changes.
   

Congratulations! You will be redirected back to the Canvas Gradebook where the Override column will be updated.

Troubleshooting

• Override Column Not Visible:

  • Ensure the Allow final grade override setting is enabled in the Advanced tab of the Gradebook settings.
  • Check if you have the necessary permissions to make changes in the Gradebook.

• Error Messages When Importing CSV:

  • Verify that no values are entered in the Override Status column.
  • Ensure the CSV file is saved correctly without any formatting changes.
  • Make sure the Override Score column is filled with numerical values.

• Grades Not Updating:

  • Refresh the Canvas Gradebook page.
  • Check if the CSV file was correctly uploaded and saved.
  • Ensure you clicked Save Changes after importing the CSV file.

Still need help? If you run into problems or still need help, reach out to the Technology & Learning Program or Canvas Support.