In the Weighting dialog box, we have checked the box for Weight Terms and entered 50% for each term, (i.e. equal weights). The weights total 100, but it is not necessary for the weights to total 100. Term 1 will be 50/100 = 50% of the Final Grade. The same would apply if the weights were 40 for each term. Term 1 would be 40/80, which is still 50% of the Final Grade.

In the example the average is:

Calculation

(T1 Average * T1 Weight) + (T2 Average * T2 Weight) / Total Weight = Final Average

(85.5 * 50) + (76.0 * 50) = 4275 + 3800 = 8075 / 100 = 80.75

More commonly, the final average is calculated by adding the term subtotals together and dividing by the number of terms if the terms have equal weights.

Calculation

85.5 + 76.0 = 161.5 / 2 = 80.75

Two Terms with Category Weights

The category weights have been added to the gradebook by checking Weight Categories. The weight row for assignments will remain empty when only term and/or category weights are used.

Category by Term subtotals are displayed to show that weights are applied within the term.

Calculation

Term 1

Category Test:

Assignment 1 75

Assignment 4 92

Total 167/200 = .835 * 60 = .501

(Total points / Possible Points) * Category Weight

Category Daily

Assignment 2 90

Assignment 3 85

Total 175/200 = .875 * 40 = .350

Term 1 Average .501 + .350 = .851 * 100 = 85.1

Category Totals / Total Weight = Term Average

Term 2

Category Daily:

Assignment 5 65

Assignment 6 87

Total 152/200 = .76 * 40 = 30.4/40 = .76

Term 2 Average .76 * 100 = 76.0

Note Since only one category (Daily) was used in Term 2, 100% of the grade would come from that category (40/40 = 100%). Category weights for a term do not have to add up to 100.

Final Average

Term 1 85.1 * 50 = 4255

Term 2 76.0 * 50 = 3800

Total 8055 / 100 = 80.55

(T1 Average * T1 Weight) + (T2 Average * T2 Weight) / Total Weight = Final Average

Variable Points Possible
No Weighting

The daily assignments in this gradebook have a variable number of points. Our previous explanations used only assignments with 100 possible points. The assignments are weighted based upon the possible points. If an assignment has more points possible (100) then it has more weight than an assignment that has less possible points (20).

The final average is calculated by dividing the total number of points the student received (Tot) by the maximum points possible for that student (Max):

Calculation

229/265 = .8641 * 100 = 86.41

Adding Term and Category Weights

To calculate the term average, you must first determine the Category average. The category average is calculated by dividing the sum of the test scores by the sum of the possible points.

The category averages in term 1 would be calculated as:

Calculation

Test (75 + 92)/(100 + 100) = 167/200 = 83.5)

Daily (20 + 9)/(20 + 10) = 29/30 = 96.6

The category weight is applied to each category average:

Calculation

Test 83.5 * 60 = 5010

Daily 96.6 * 40 = 3864

The term average is calculated by summing the weighted category averages and dividing by the sum of the weights:

Calculation

(5010 + 3864) = 8874/(60 +40) = 88.74

Note Weighting is determined from both?Possible Points and the Category Weighting.