Extra Credit Columns

In the Gradebook, you can provide extra credit to students in two ways: 

• Extra credit for the Overall Grade column 
  • Create a new grade category and add extra credit column
• Extra credit when weighting grades
  • Add extra credit points to a category

Extra credit for the Overall Grade column

You can create an extra credit column in the Gradebook with a maximum score of 0 that is included in the default Overall grade column computation. Then, you can assign extra credit points as needed. 

This method works for only one individual extra credit column where grades aren't weighted.

If you assign 0 as the points possible, any grading schema that uses a percentage, such as Percentage or Letter, is represented in the Gradebook as a score. These grading schemas are based on the percentage of the score compared to the points possible. When the points possible are 0, a percentage can't be calculated.

Create a new grade category and add extra credit column 

1. Go to the Gradebook and select Settings. 
2. Go to Grade Categories and select Add New Category. 
3. Enter “Extra Credit” into the field for the new category name. 
4. Return to the Gradebook. 
5. In the Gradebook, select the plus button where you want to place the column. 
6. Select Add Item. 
7. In the New Item panel, provide the appropriate information. Include 0 as the maximum points and select Extra Credit from the Grade category dropdown.
8. Select Save. 

The extra credit column appears in the Gradebook. After you add points in an extra credit column, a student's total points can equal more than 100 percent. If a student receives full credit for all gradable items (100 points) and also receives 6 extra credit points, the result is 106 out or 100 or 106%.

Create extra credit when weighting grades 

The weighted total column generates a grade based on the result of selected columns and categories, and their respective percentages. When you create a weighted column, you can include other calculated columns and other weighted columns. Your options are to add extra credit points to a category or to the overall grade. 

More on creating a weighted total column

Add extra credit points to a category 

When you combine an extra credit column with a weighted total column, both calculate as points instead of percentages. 

More about the math logic used by weighted total columns

Create new grade category and add total calculation item 

1. Go to the Gradebook and select Settings. 
2. Go to Grade Categories and select Add New Category. 
3. Enter “Extra Credit” into the field for the new category name. 
4. Return to the Gradebook. 
5. In the Gradebook, select the plus button where you want to place the column. 
6. Select Add Total Calculation. 
7. In the New Total Calculation panel, provide the appropriate information. 
   • Include 0 as the maximum points and select Extra Credit from the Grade category dropdown. 
   • Name the item something including the words “Extra Credit,” so that you can find it later. 
8. Select Save. 

Link total calculation item to weighted category or item in the Gradebook 

1. Go to the Gradebook and select Settings. 
2. Go to the Overall Grade section and select Manage overall grade settings. Make sure that the column is included in the Overall Grade calculation on the Points Calculation type tab. 
3. Select the Advanced tab and configure the calculation. 
4. Select Total, then select the extra credit item from the dropdown. 
5. Select the + operator. 
6. Select Total again, then select Total Calculation. Select whichever item or grade category you would like to link to the extra credit. 
7. Select Save.

When you combine an extra credit column with a weighted total column, both calculate as points instead of percentages. 

More about the math logic used by weighted total columns