Create custom Grade schemes in D2L Brightspace

Grading scheme samples

A grade scheme enables you to organize students’ performances on grade items into levels of achievement.  A grade scheme can include any number of achievement levels.  Each achievement level has its own range of acceptable grades and a symbol, such as a numeric value, letter, or text description, to represent it.  You can create your own grade schemes or use schemes set up by your organization.

Create a custom course grade scheme

1. Navigate to the Grades tool.
2. Navigate to the Schemes screen.
3. On the Schemes page, click New Scheme.
4. Enter a Name for the scheme.
5. In the Ranges area, enter your scheme details:
   • Enter the symbol you want to display for the grade range in the Symbol column (e.g., “F” or “Below Expectations”).
   • Enter the lowest grade to include in the range in the Start % column. 
     Note:  The first range starts at 0% and the Assigned Value% must be less than the next range’s Start %.
   • Select the color you want associated with the range in the Color column.
   • Enter the numeric grade you want users to achieve when they are evaluated using the grade scheme in the Assigned Value % field. 
6. Repeat step 4 to enter the other ranges for the scheme.  For the highest range, enter the symbol you want to display in the Symbol column (e.g., “A” or “Exceeds Expectations”).
7. Click Save and Close.
8. On the Schemes List page, the new grade scheme is listed under the Course Schemes heading.
9. Under the Set as Default column, click the checkmark for the grade scheme to enable it for the entire course. 
10. Click Yes in the confirmation window.

Create a Pass/Fail grade scheme

1. Navigate to the Grades tool.
2. Navigate to the Schemes screen.
3. On the Schemes page, click New Scheme.
4. Enter a name for the scheme, such as “Pass/Fail”.
5. Remove the #3 range by clicking on the delete (trash can) icon.
6. In the #1 range, enter “Fail” (or a similar word) in the symbol field.  Select a color (optional).
7. Enter a number threshold in the Assigned Value % field.  For example, we can enter 70% to indicate that students with a grade of 0-70% have failed the graded item.
8. In the #2 range, enter “Pass” (or a similar word) in the symbol field.  Select a color (optional).
9. Enter a number threshold in the Start % field that is higher than the #1 Assigned Value.  In the previous example, we could enter 71% to indicate that students with a grade of 71% -100% have passed the graded item.
10. Enter a number threshold in the Assigned Value % field, such as 100%, which means that students with a grade of 71-100% will pass the course.
11. Click Save and Close.
12. On the Schemes List page, the Pass/Fail grade scheme is listed under the Course Schemes heading.
13. Under the Set as Default column, click the checkmark for the grade scheme to enable it for the entire course. 
14. Click Yes in the confirmation window.