Note: this is a detailed breakdown of the specific grading options available for your board. If you haven't already, please read the prerequisite high-level overview of the Grading feature here.
Grading scheme defines how different course elements contribute to the final grade and how that grade is calculated. In CLANED®, grading schemes include:
- The types of assessments or activities that count toward the final grade
- The points available for each element
- The weight or percentage each element contributes to the final grade
1. Grading Scheme Options
1. Pass/Fail
- Learners must meet a minimum point threshold to pass.
- Additional points beyond the threshold do not improve the grade.
- Common use: Compliance and safety training, where the goal is to ensure learners meet a standard, not rank performance. Common also in Code of conduct, onboarding and employment training.
- Typical threshold: 70-80% of total points to ensure sufficient understanding of the material.
Example:
A compliance course requires a minimum of 75 points out of 100 to pass. A learner who scores 75 points or 95 points will both receive the same result: Pass.
2. Percentage
- Represents a learner’s total accumulated points as a percentage of available points.
- No predefined pass/fail threshold—performance is shown transparently.
- Common use: Academic courses, personal development courses, and any training where performance differentiation is important.
Example:
A course has 20 total points available. A learner who earns 18 points will receive a grade of 90%.
3. Scale (A–F, 1–5, etc.)
- Grades are assigned based on predefined percentage ranges.
- Commonly used in education systems and skill assessments.
- Each grade level corresponds to a specific percentage range.
Example Scale:
- 90–100% → A
- 80–89% → B
- 70–79% → C
- 60–69% → D
- Below 60% → Fail
Example:
Two learners score 82% and 88%. Since both fall within the 80–89% range, they both receive a B.
2. Where Do the Points Come From?
In CLANED®, learners earn points from four sources:
- Assessments – Tests, quizzes, and graded exercises
- Progress – Course completion tracking and milestones
- Commenting – Participation in discussions and peer interactions
- Other Items – Manually graded activities like projects, assignments, or live participation
For more information, check the article linked here.
Tip: You can mix these elements to create a grading structure that fits your course goals, which is what we will go over next.
3. Types of Grading Set-Ups
1. Assessment-Based Grading
- Grade is based entirely on quizzes and tests.
- Works well for knowledge-based courses with structured exams.
- Ensures that final assessments reflect overall understanding.
How to set it up:
- In grading settings, set all assessments to mandatory (this ensures learners cannot pass without completing them).
- Choose an appropriate grading scheme:
- Pass/Fail → If simply meeting a threshold is enough.
- Percentage or Scale → If detailed performance reporting is needed.
- Optional: Apply weights to assessments so major exams (e.g., final test) contribute more to the final grade than smaller quizzes.
Example:
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A course includes weekly quizzes (30% of total grade) and a final exam (70% of total grade).
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A learner who scores 85% on quizzes and 75% on the final exam would have a weighted final grade of:
(0.30 × 85) + (0.70 × 75) = 25.5 + 52.5 = 78% (C grade on a standard scale)
Mandatory vs. Affects Grade – Understanding Assessment Settings
In the example image, a Pass/Fail grading scheme is being used, with an 80% threshold required to pass. The grading is based only on assessments, meaning no other activities (such as progress tracking or commenting) contribute to the final grade.
When setting up assessments, there are two key toggles to consider (see image below):
1. Mandatory Assessments
- Learners must complete these assessments to pass the course, regardless of their total score.
- This ensures that all required evaluations are completed before a learner can finish the course.
- Useful for core knowledge checks, such as final exams or compliance tests.
2. Affects Grade
- Determines whether an assessment contributes to the final grade calculation.
- If turned on, the learner’s score on the assessment impacts their overall grade.
- If turned off, the assessment is still required (if mandatory) but does not affect the learner’s total score.
- Useful for practice quizzes, where completion is required, but the score itself does not impact grading.
Customizing Assessment Weighting
- Each assessment can be weighted differently to reflect its importance.
- Example of weighting:
- Weekly quizzes: Weight is 1
- Final exam: Weight is 4
In the example below, you can see how specific assessments are selected and assigned weights based on their significance. This allows for a grading system that balances frequent low-stakes testing with more comprehensive evaluations.
Assessment & Progress-Based Grading
This grading method evaluates learners based on both assessments (tests/quizzes) and course progress (completed materials). It ensures that grades reflect not only test performance but also engagement with learning materials.
How to Set Up Assessment & Progress-Based Grading
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Follow the steps for setting up assessment-based grading.
- Ensure assessments are mandatory and weighted appropriately based on their significance.
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Enable progress tracking in grading.
- In the "Grade consists of" section, select both:
- Assessments (adjust weighting as needed)
- Progress rewards
- In the "Grade consists of" section, select both:
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Set completion thresholds for progress tracking.
- Define a minimum percentage of completed course content required to pass.
- Define a maximum percentage that earns full points for progress.
- Example:
- 50% completion → minimum progress required to pass
- 100% completion → full progress points awarded
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Determine grading weight distribution.
- Decide how much each component contributes to the final grade.
- Ensure the total adds up to 100%.
- Example breakdown:
- Assessments: 60%
- Progress: 40%
Example Use Case
A course includes:
✔ Quizzes & exams (60%) – ensuring learners understand key concepts
✔ Progress tracking (40%) – rewarding engagement with course materials
By using both assessments and progress tracking, this grading method encourages both knowledge retention and consistent learning engagement.
Fine-Tuning Progress Tracking for Grading
In the example image, grading is based on both assessment scores (60%) and course progress (40%). The progress score is further broken down to allow for some flexibility in completion rates:
- 80% course completion → Minimum required to pass
- 90%+ course completion → Full progress points awarded
- Between 80–90% completion → Partial points awarded, enough to pass
Why Avoid Setting 100% Completion Requirements?
Although it may seem logical to require full completion, we recommend avoiding a strict 100% requirement.
- In online learning, it’s easy for learners to miss minor elements—such as skipping the last few seconds of a video or not fully opening a smaller content item.
- Penalizing learners for these minor issues can lead to frustration and confusion, negatively affecting their overall experience.
- A slight margin for error (e.g., setting the full points threshold at 90% instead of 100%) ensures fairness while maintaining engagement.
This approach balances rigor and flexibility, helping to encourage progress without unnecessary penalties.
Assessment, Progress & Comment-Based Grading
This grading method includes assessments, progress tracking, and social activity (commenting).
Unlike traditional participation marks in a classroom, this approach:
- Encourages active engagement with course materials
- Promotes a social learning environment by rewarding discussion and interaction
- Provides tangible motivation for learners to participate in course discussions
How to Set Up Assessment, Progress & Comment-Based Grading
- Follow the setup steps for assessment & progress-based grading.
- Enable "commenting" in the "Grade consists of" options.
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Set commenting thresholds:
- Minimum number of comments required to earn passing points
- Higher number of comments required to earn full points for this metric
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Determine weight distribution for final grade.
- Ensure the total contribution of all elements equals 100%
- Example breakdown:
- Assessments: 40%
- Progress: 40%
- Commenting: 20%
Example Use Case
A course rewards learners for both knowledge acquisition and active participation:
✔ Assessments (40%) – Quizzes and exams measure knowledge retention
✔ Progress (40%) – Learners are rewarded for completing course materials
✔ Commenting (20%) – Learners earn points for engaging in discussions
This approach reinforces social learning, making engagement with the community an integral part of success in the course.
In the example image, grading is based on Assessments, Progress, and Commenting. Similar to progress tracking, the commenting score is structured to provide both a minimum requirement and a full-point threshold:
- 12 comments → Minimum required to earn passing points
- 20+ comments → Full points awarded for commenting
Adjusting Grade Distribution
- Since an additional grading parameter (commenting) has been added, the percentage breakdown of total course points has changed.
- Reminder: No matter what grading setup you choose, the total weight of all grading components must equal 100%.
Example breakdown after adding commenting:
✔ Assessments: 40%
✔ Progress: 40%
✔ Commenting: 20%
This ensures that each element contributes appropriately to the final grade while maintaining a balanced evaluation of knowledge, engagement, and participation.
Grading Based on Assessments, Progress, Comments, and Other Items
This grading method includes all available metrics, plus additional manually graded components such as:
- Presentations
- Case study solutions
- Projects
- Large assignments
- Live or virtual event participation
How to Set Up a Grading Structure with Other Items
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Follow all steps for Assessments, Progress, and Comment-Based Grading.
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Enable "Other Items" in the "Grade consists of" section.
- Note: Other items require manual grading by an instructor or facilitator.
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Establish a submission system for these items:
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Option 1: Use an assessment for tracking submissions.
- Set up a mandatory assessment (without affecting the grade).
- Use the "Upload a file" format so learners can submit their work.
- This allows for easy tracking of submissions.
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Option 2: Create a "Sharing Module."
- Learners upload their work to a course board for peer feedback.
- Note: This method does not allow for automated submission tracking.
- Useful for group-based projects, where one person submits on behalf of the team.
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Option 1: Use an assessment for tracking submissions.
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Define grading values for Other Items:
- Assign a name and a maximum point value for each item.
- Set the minimum passing score required.
- Determine how much the item contributes to the overall grade.
- Example distribution:
- Assessments: 30%
- Progress: 30%
- Commenting: 20%
- Final Project: 20% (calculated based on total points earned).
In the example image, Assessments, Progress, Comments, and Other Items (Assignments) are included. Each Other Item has three parameters:
✔ Max Points – The total score the item is graded out of.
✔ Points to Pass – The minimum score required to pass the item.
✔ % of Overall Grade – How much this item contributes to the final grade.
Example Breakdown:
- Assignment 1 & 2 → 15 points max, 10 points to pass, 5% each of total grade.
- Final Assignment → 25 points max, 18 points to pass, 10% of total grade.
💡 Important: When adding Other Items, adjust the grading breakdown for Assessments, Progress, and Comments to ensure the total remains 100%.
🚨 Reminder: Scores for Other Items must be manually input for each learner by an instructor.
Mix & Match – Customizing Your Grading Structure
Grading in CLANED® is flexible—you can combine metrics in any way to suit your course needs.
✔ Examples of different grading setups:
- Completion-Based Grading: No assessments—grades are based on progress tracking, commenting, and a final project.
- Knowledge & Progress-Based Grading: No commenting—grades are based on assessments, progress, and a final project.
- Engagement-Based Grading: No assessments—grades depend on commenting, progress tracking, and peer interaction.
Each course has different goals, and your grading structure should reflect what matters most for learning success.
Example use cases:
1. Mandatory Knowledge Verification
Best for: Compliance training, certification programs, or any required learning where specific knowledge must be verified.
✔ Why?
- These courses ensure all learners meet a defined knowledge standard.
- There are clear right and wrong answers, leaving little room for interpretation.
✔ How to set it up?
- Use an assessment-based grading structure where quizzes and tests are mandatory and affect the grade.
- If using a Pass/Fail grading scheme, set the passing threshold according to course requirements (often 80% or higher).
- Weight assessments appropriately—final tests should carry more weight than smaller module quizzes.
- Consider adding progress tracking to ensure learners engage with all required materials before taking assessments.
✔ When to include progress tracking?
- If the content is new to learners, tracking progress ensures they complete the material instead of skipping straight to tests.
- For recurring certifications, where learners are already familiar with the content, a purely assessment-based approach may be more efficient.
2. Soft Skills & Interaction-Based Learning
Best for: Customer service training, leadership development, teamwork courses, and any program where discussion and real-world application matter.
✔ Why?
- Learning in these courses is context-dependent—there are no absolute right answers, only strategies and best practices.
- Learners benefit from discussion, shared experiences, and peer feedback.
✔ How to set it up?
- Use assessments (quizzes/tests) to check understanding of core concepts and frameworks.
- Include progress tracking to ensure learners engage with all course materials.
- Commenting should be a key part of grading to encourage peer discussion and reflection.
✔ Why is commenting important?
- Soft skills training often involves scenarios, case studies, and real-world applications.
- Encouraging learners to share experiences and discuss solutions reinforces learning and makes the course more engaging.
3. Comprehensive, Project-Based Learning
Best for: Longer courses that combine quizzes, group assignments, content review, and presentations. Common in professional development and industry-specific skill-building programs.
✔ Why?
- These courses require both theoretical knowledge and practical application.
- Learning happens through a mix of content engagement, assessment, discussion, and real-world exercises.
✔ How to set it up?
- Use assessments to confirm learners understand core concepts.
- Include progress tracking to encourage consistent engagement with course materials.
- Add commenting to foster peer-to-peer learning and collaboration.
- Use "Other Items" for manually graded projects, presentations, or group work.
✔ Example grading breakdown:
- 30% Assessments – Knowledge quizzes, concept reviews
- 30% Progress – Completing required materials
- 20% Commenting – Peer feedback, discussions
- 20% Other Items – Final projects, assignments, or group presentations
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Grading Structure
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to grading. The key is to ask:
1. What does this metric measure?
2. Why is it important to my course?
If you can’t clearly justify a metric, it may not be needed. However, if it directly supports your course’s learning objectives, it’s likely worth including.
✔ General Best Practice:
- Most courses benefit from assessments + progress tracking to balance knowledge verification and course engagement.
- Commenting can enhance social learning and is useful in interaction-based courses.
- For hands-on or project-based learning, consider manual grading components (Other Items) to measure practical application.
By selecting the right grading setup, you can ensure fair assessment, maintain learner motivation, and create a grading structure that truly reflects course success.