Mean of grades: The sum of all (normalized) grades ÷ the total number of grades
A1 = 70/100, A2 = 20/80, A3 = 10/10, Category maximum grade = 100 (0.7 + 0.25 + 1.0) / 3 = 0.65, Category grade = 0.65 x 100 = 65 |
When to use Mean of grades: This aggregation type averages all the grades in a category where each item is given equal weight. For instance, a quiz worth 20 points is worth the same amount as a quiz worth 10 points. It is best to use this type of aggregation when all individual grade items in a category have the same amount of maximum possible points, such as all quizzes have a possible maximum value of 10.
Weighted mean of grades: Each grade item is multiplied by a weight assigned by the instructor. The assigned weight tells Moodle how much that particular grade counts toward the final grade calculation. For instance, an assignment given a weight of 2 counts twice as much toward the final grade as an assignment given a weight of 1. An assignment given a weight of 75 counts three times as much as an assignment given a weight of 25.
A1 = 70/100 weight 10, A2 = 20/80 weight 5, A3 = 10/10 weight 3, category maximum = 100 [(0.7 x 10) + (0.25 x 5) + (1.0 x 3)] / 18 = 0.625, Category grade = 0.625 x 100 = 62.5 |
When to use Weighted mean of grades: Use this aggregation type when you want each category or grade item to be weighted differently toward the final grade calculation.
Example 1: Calculating weighted grades within a category (using Categories and items > Simple view)
Assignment | Grade Earned | Max. Possible Points | Normalized grade | Weight |
1 | 80 | 100 | 80/100 = 0.8 | 2.0 |
2 | 45 | 50 | 45/50 = 0.9 | 1.0 |
3 | 95 | 100 | 95/100 = 0.95 | 2.0 |
4 | 90 | 100 | 90/100 = 0.9 | 3.0 |
[(0.8 x 2.0) + (0.9 x 1.0) + (0.95 x 2.0) + (0.9 x 3.0)] / 8.0 = 0.8875
Category grade for the student: 0.8875 x 100 = 88.75
Example 2: Calculating weighted categories within a gradebook
From Syllabus:
- Attendance = 5%
- Assignments = 30%
- Forum Participation = 20%
- Quizzes = 45%
Categories and items view from Gradebook:
- Select Weighted mean of grades from the course's Aggegration column at the top of the screen
- Enter the weighted value for each category in the Weight column
Category | Grade Earned for category | Max. Possible Points for category | Normalized grade | Weight |
Attendance | 100 | 100 | 100/100 = 1.0 | 5.0 |
Assignments | 90 | 100 | 90/100 = 0.9 | 30.0 |
Forums | 95 | 100 | 95/100 = 0.95 | 20.0 |
Quizzes | 85 | 100 | 85/100 = 0.85 | 45.0 |
[(1.0 x 5.0) + (0.9 x 30.0) + (0.95 + 20.0) + (0.85 x 45.0)] / 100 = 0.8925
Category grade for the student: 0.8925 x 100 = 89.25
Return to Grade Aggregation Types menu
Simple weight mean of grades: This aggregration type is the same as weighted mean of grade, except that a grade item's maximum point value determines how much it weighs toward the final grade calculation.
A1 = 70/100, A2 = 20/80, A3 = 10/10, category max = 100 [(0.7 x 100) + (0.25 x 80) + (1.0 x 10)] / 190 = 0.526, Category grade = 0.526 x 100 = 52.6 |
When to use Simple weighted mean of grades: It is best to use this type of aggregation when you have items graded on differing scales and you want the items to contribute to the final grade based on their possible maximum points. For instance, an assignment worth a possible100 points will count five times more toward the final grade calculation than an assignment worth a possible 20 points.
Return to Grade Aggregation Types menu
Median: This aggregation type takes the middle grade or mean of two middle grades when grades are arranged in order of size. Median prevents outliers from skewing the results.
Natural: By default, Natural weighting produces a Sum of the Grades. The sum of all grades earned are divided by the total possible points. However, Moodle now provides a way to custom weight each assignment.
Without weights:
A1 = 70/100, A2 = 20/80, A3 = 10/10, category maximum = 50 (70 + 20 + 10) / 190 = 0.526, Category grade = 100 out of 190 Final grade calculation: 0.526 x 50 = 26.32 |
When to use Natural:
Grade items can act as extra credit with some aggregation types. In general, extra credit points add to the earned points but not the maximum possible points. Moodle will not report grades greater than the maximum possible points even if the addition of extra credit points calculates over the amount.
Configure extra credit
Note: If a grade item is created in the gradebook (versus through a Moodle module like assignment, quiz, etc.) the Extra Credit option will not appear until the grade item is saved, return to the gradebook settings and edit the grade item.
Aggregation types that can be configured with extra credit items:
Simple weighted mean with Extra Credit
A1 = 70/100, A2 = 20/80, A3 (Extra Credit) = 10/10, category max = 100 [(0.7 x 100) + (0.25 x 80) + (1.0 x 10)] / 180 = 0.556, Category grade = 0.556 x 100 = 55.6 |