Grade Clarity

Throughout the semester, students use their projected grades to determine whether to seek help, adjust their study habits, or continue on their current path. When a grade estimate is misleading, perhaps because missing work has not yet been recorded as a zero, assignments have not been published, or grading weights do not match the syllabus, students may make decisions based on inaccurate information. The costs, both academic and financial, can be considerable. In some cases, students have made high-stakes financial aid decisions based on an incorrect grade estimate, an outcome that is difficult to reverse but entirely preventable.

Supporting students with clear, trustworthy grade information doesn’t have to be complicated. The sections below cover the main areas to review, starting with the basics and moving toward more detailed checks.

Keep Grades Current

 Start by making sure the gradebook reflects where students actually stand.

• Enter scores promptly, especially before key midterm and end-of-term decision drop dates.
• Enter zeros for missing work or automate this with a missing submission policy.
• Use “Excused” for work that should not count instead of leaving the cell blank.
  • How do I apply a Missing Submission policy in the Gradebook?
  • How do I apply a Late Submission policy in the Gradebook?

Make Sure Grades Are Visible

Even accurate, up-to-date grades don't help if students can't see them.

• Grades under a manual posting policy are hidden from students, along with instructor's comments and grade notifications.
  • How do I select a grade posting policy for a course in the Gradebook?
  • How do I select a grade posting policy for an assignment in the Gradebook?

If You Do Not Use the Canvas Total

Some instructors calculate final grades outside of Canvas. If that applies to you, the Canvas total can create confusion rather than clarity.

• Hide the total so students do not rely on an inaccurate estimate.
• State clearly in the syllabus, and again at multiple points in the semester, that the Canvas total is not the course grade, and explain how students can find their standing.
  • How do I hide totals in my students’ grade summaries?

Setting up Assignment Group Weights

If you do use the Canvas total, it will only be as accurate as your weighting setup. This is one of the most common sources of misleading grade estimate.

• If your syllabus uses percentages (for example, Quizzes 20%, Exams 50%), Canvas will only calculate the total correctly when the assignment group weights match those percentages exactly.
• Confirm that “Weight final grade based on assignment groups” is turned on and that the weights add up to 100%. Canvas will save weights that total more or less than 100%, so it will not catch this mistake for you.
• Check that every assignment sits in the right group. An assignment left in the default “Assignments” group, or placed in the wrong category, will be weighted incorrectly.
• Watch for empty groups early in the term. A group with no graded work is left out of the current total, which can make a student’s grade look higher or lower than it will be at the end.
  • How do I weight the final course grade based on assignment groups?

Check Accuracy from the Student View using the Test Student

Once your settings are in place, it's worth verifying that everything works as intended. These checks let you catch problems before students do

• Use Student View to see exactly what students see. The Test Student appears at the end of the Gradebook, so instructors can enter sample scores and compare the total with their own calculation.
• Check that each assignment column is in the correct assignment group, has the correct point value, and counts toward the final grade.
  • How do I view a course as a test student using Student View?

Review Assignment Columns

In addition to testing with sample scores, a direct review of the Gradebook columns can surface issues that a test student may not reveal.

• Scan each column in the Gradebook to confirm that the point value matches the syllabus and the assignment instructions.
• Make sure graded work has not been set to “Do not count this assignment towards the final grade” by mistake, and that practice or ungraded items are set this way on purpose.
• Check columns for grades from outside tools, such as publisher platforms, to confirm that scores have synced into Canvas.
• Look for columns that are hidden from students or still have blank cells, since both affect what students see in their total.
  • How do I use the Gradebook?

Midsemester Check-Ins

With grades accurate and visible, you’re in a strong position to put that information to work for students. Midsemester check-ins give instructors a timely opportunity to share feedback with students. The Center for Teaching and Learning encourages instructors to gather student feedback at midsemester. This is also a natural moment to share current grade information and guidance for improvement while students still have time to act on it. Doing so allows students to adjust their study strategies or seek support while meaningful progress is still possible.

Still looking for more?

The steps above cover what most instructors need to keep grades accurate. If your course uses letter grades or a custom grading scale, or you want to explore other Gradebook features, the guides below walk through those settings in more detail. Each link opens Instructure’s official Canvas Instructor Guide, which is updated as Canvas changes.

• How do I enable a grading scheme for a course?
• How do I use grading schemes in a course?
• Canvas Instructor Guide (main hub)

You can also get help from CTL by scheduling an Individual Consultation with an Educational Developer to discuss your gradebook or make changes.

Related Resources

Columbia University CTL — “Strategies for Manageable and Meaningful Grading”: Practical strategies for efficient, meaningful grading, clear expectations, rubrics, and maintaining one consistent grade source.

Haughney, K., Wakeman, S., & Hart, L. (2020) — “Quality of Feedback in Higher Education: A Review of Literature”: A review of research on effective feedback, including its quality, timing, specificity, and usefulness for student learning.

 Maxham, D., Titareva, T., Mabrey III, P. E., Barron, K., & Prins, S. (2023) — “The Transformative Potential of Mid-Term Grades & Feedback for Student Success”: Examines how midterm grades and feedback can support student success, retention, and communication between students and instructors.

Rutgers University — "Best Practices for Using Grades in Canvas”: This guide explains how to organize and configure the Canvas gradebook, align grading practices with the syllabus, and ensure grades are visible to students.

University of Colorado Boulder CTL — “Grade for Student Success”: Guidance on making grading policies, feedback, and student grades clear and transparent, including posting grades promptly.

University of Illinois Springfield — “Grading and Gradebooks”: Guidance on making gradebooks fair, accurate, and transparent so students understand their current standing.

Utah State University — “Five Keys to Grading”: Guidance on configuring Canvas gradebooks accurately, applying grading rules, and ensuring students see reliable course grades.