Brightspace by D2L Tips: Change Assignment Points to Fix Grades

If you need to change the maximum points on an assignment that you have already graded in D2L, you will need to edit the assignment rather than just the grade item in order for grades to be accurate. In most cases, you will need to check Can Exceed on the grade item in the grade book first to ensure that correct grades are being sent between the assignment tool and the grade book.

When changing points, there may be a pop-message advising you to unpublish (i.e. retract) feedback, change points, and then re-publish the grades. Unlike quizzes, there is currently no bulk retract feedback option for assignments in D2L. It will be faster to follow the steps below rather than clicking retract on each submission, even though students' grades will be temporarily wrong during this process. Additionally, retracting and re-publishing grades will only ensure that percentages match between the assignment and grade book, whereas the steps below will ensure that both percentages and points match.

Note that if you change maximum points on an assignment, the maximum points on the grade item WILL change, and students' grades will match exactly between the assignment and the grade book (but students' grades will be incorrect unless you are decreasing maximum points to account for extra credit). However, if you change maximum points on the grade item, the maximum points on the assignment will NOT change, yet the students' earned points on the assignment will be updated based on the new percentages from the grade book. This will result in only the percentages, and not the points, matching between the assignment and the grade book. Once again, students' grades will be incorrect unless you are decreasing maximum points to account for extra credit.

Change Maximum Points for an Assignment

Scenario: I want to change the maximum points on an assignment that I already graded from 20 points to 10 points (or vice versa) in order to match what is on my course syllabus.

Instructions:

1. Go to Assessments -> Grades -> Enter Grades and click the Export button. Download a backup of all the grades in your grade book (just in case!).
2. After downloading the backup, click Cancel on the Export Grades screen and go to the Manage Grades tab. Edit the associated grade item and check the Can Exceed box so that the grades will transfer properly in the following steps.
3. Go to Assessments -> Assignments and edit the assignment. Change the points in the Grade Out Of box to the new maximum points and click Save. Click yes on the pop-up message. This also changes the maximum points in the grade item, but all students' earned points will remain the same. Students' grades will be temporarily wrong at this point.
4. Return to Assessments -> Grades and edit the associated grade item again. Change the newly updated maximum points back to the original maximum points. This will send correct percentages back to the assignment, which will be applied to the new maximum points.
5. Return to Assessments -> Assignments and edit the assignment again. Click In Grade Book and Edit or Link to Existing. Choose Create and link to a new grade item, which will indicate the new maximum points. Click Ok and then Save and the students' correct grades will be sent to the new grade item in the grade book.
6. Return to Assessments -> Grades and delete the old grade item that is no longer associated with the assignment.

Add Extra Credit Points to an Assignment

Scenario: I want to change the maximum points on an assignment that I already graded from 20 points to 15 points so that students can get up to 5 extra credit points.

Instructions:

1. Go to Assessments -> Grades and edit the associated grade item. Check the Can Exceed box if you want students to be able to receive more than 100% for this grade item. Click yes on the pop-up message after clicking Save.
2. Check Can Exceed on the category (if the grade item belongs to a category) and Final Calculated Grade if you want students to be able to receive more than 100% for the category and final grade.
3. Return to Assessments -> Assignments and edit the assignment. Change the points in the Grade Out Of box to the new maximum points and click Save.

Note: This is also a workaround for not being able to add bonus points to a rubric.