Explain Weighted Grades in Canvas

Weighted grading in Canvas uses assignment group percentages to determine how much each category contributes to the final course grade. Within each category, Canvas calculates a points-based average, so assignments do not need equal point values, and higher-point assignments will have more impact within that category.

Quick Links: | Prerequisites | Understand Weighted Grades in Canvas | Troubleshooting | Next Steps |

Introduction

Weighted grading in Canvas lets you decide how much each assignment group (category) contributes to the final course grade. A common misconception is that assignments within a weighted category must all be worth the same number of points to “count equally.” In Canvas, assignments inside a category can have different point values, and Canvas will still calculate the category correctly. This guide explains how Canvas calculates weighted grades, why higher-point assignments affect the category more, and what to do if you want assignments to count equally within a category.

Prerequisites

• You have instructor (or equivalent) access to a Canvas course
• Your course uses assignment groups and (optionally) weighted assignment groups

Understand Weighted Grades in Canvas

To understand how weighted grades work in Canvas, do the following:

1. In your course, open Assignments.
2. Select the Assignment Groups Weight option (this is typically found in the Assignments settings menu for the course).
3. Set a percentage weight for each assignment group (category), such as:
   • Homework = 40%
   • Quizzes = 30%
   • Final Exam = 30%
4. Confirm that the assignment group weights total 100%.
5. Now Canvas knows how much each category contributes to the final course grade.

How Canvas Calculates Grades Within a Category

To understand how Canvas calculates grades inside a weighted category, do the following:

1. Identify an assignment group where assignments have different point values (for example, 10 points, 20 points, and 30 points).
2. Add up the student’s points earned for all assignments in the group.
3. Add up the total points possible for all assignments in the group.
4. Divide total earned by total possible to get the category percentage.

Example (Homework category):

• HW 1: 8 out of 10
• HW 2: 18 out of 20
• HW 3: 24 out of 30

Totals:

• Total earned = 8 + 18 + 24 = 50
• Total possible = 10 + 20 + 30 = 60

Homework average:

• 50 ÷ 60 = 83.3%

Now Canvas applies the Homework group weight (40%) to that 83.3% when calculating the final course grade.

Why Higher-Point Assignments “Count More”

To understand why larger assignments have more impact within a category, do the following:

1. Compare the point values of assignments within the same assignment group.
2. Note that Canvas totals points in the group before calculating the percentage.
3. Recognize that a higher-point assignment changes the total earned/possible more than a lower-point assignment.

In the example above, the 30-point assignment affects the Homework average three times more than the 10-point assignment because it contributes three times as many points to the category total.

Now you can predict how changes to one assignment score will impact the category average.

Make Assignments Count Equally Within a Category

If you want assignments to count equally within a category, do the following:

1. Give each assignment in the group the same point value, OR
2. Move assignments into separate assignment groups and apply equal (or intentionally chosen) weights to those groups.

Now each assignment will have the equal (or intended) impact you’re aiming for.

Example of the Final Grade Calculation

To calculate a final grade using weighted categories, do the following:

1. Convert each category percentage to a decimal weight.
2. Multiply each category average by its weight.
3. Add the weighted results together.

Example category averages:

• Homework (40%) = 83.3%
• Quizzes (30%) = 90%
• Final Exam (30%) = 80%

Final grade:

• (83.3 × 0.40) + (90 × 0.30) + (80 × 0.30)
• = 33.32 + 27 + 24
• = 84.32%

Now the final grade reflects both the category weights and the points-based averages within each category.

Troubleshooting

• If your final grades look “off,” confirm that assignment group weights total 100% and that all graded items are in the correct assignment group.
• If students say one assignment “counted too much,” check whether that assignment has a much higher point value than others in the same group (it will have proportionally more impact).
• If you need all items to count equally, standardize point values within the group or separate items into different assignment groups with intentional weights.