Grade Multiple Attempts
You can allow students to submit more than one attempt for an assessment.
Multiple attempts can help students stay on track, raise the quality of their work, and ultimately improve student success and retention. For assignments, students can submit drafts and earn credit on improvements. Inform students which assignments allow multiple attempts, and what the expectations and grading policies are for each attempt.
Note
To allow multiple attempts for an assessment, enter the number of attempts allowed in the Attempts allowed setting in assessment settings.
In one assignment with four attempts, a student can submit file attachments for these items:
Outline
Bibliography
Rough draft
Final paper
You can provide feedback at each stage. You can assign grades as each attempt is submitted but only use the grade for the final paper as the assignment's grade.
Alternatively, if you want to provide four grades—one for each portion of the research paper process—you can create separate assignments for each. Next, set up a calculated column in the gradebook. Add the points for each assignment to produce a final score for the research paper.
You can also allow groups to submit their assignments more than once and receive feedback and a grade for each submission.
Grade calculations and selection for multiple attempts
Multiple attempts change how the assessment's final grade is automatically calculated.
When you select multiple attempts in assessment settings, you can choose how you want to calculate the final grade:
Average of all attempts
First attempt with a grade
Attempt with highest grade
Last attempt with a grade
Attempt with lowest grade
By default, the grading page displays the most appropriate attempt based on the Grade attempts setting and the grading completion status:
Grade Attempts setting | Grading completion status | Default attempt displayed |
Last attempt with a grade | Any | Most recent attempt |
First attempt with a grade | Any | First attempt |
Attempt with the highest grade | All attempts are graded | Attempt with the highest grade |
Attempt with the lowest grade | All attempts are graded | Attempt with the lowest grade |
Average of all attempts | All attempts are graded | Most recent attempt |
Attempt with the highest grade | There are ungraded attempts | Oldest ungraded attempt |
Attempt with the lowest grade | There are ungraded attempts | Oldest ungraded attempt |
Average of all attempts | There are ungraded attempts | Oldest ungraded attempt |
Grade assessments with multiple attempts
When you select a student's name in the gradebook, a panel appears that displays each attempt, along with the dates they were submitted. Select an attempt to view the submission.
To view only the attempt that needs grading, from the Submissions page, select Needs Grading for the Grading status filter.
Reminder: When you post grades, students can view them and any feedback you provided. All feedback for all attempts, even ungraded attempts, shows to students.
If you used a rubric or questions that are scored automatically, the grade may already exist for the attempt.
Tip
The attempt logs report provides detailed information about an assessment including the date and time of the start and answers to each question, submission receipt number, final grade, attempt grade, and more. Attempt logs can validate if students have encountered issues while taking an assessment and help identify signs of academic dishonesty.
Give feedback on submission attempts
To provide feedback, select the feedback button next to the attempt to open the feedback panel. You can scroll through the assessment and add overall feedback and a grade.
From the feedback panel, select Add to attach additional content to your feedback. Students can watch or listen to your feedback alongside any text you include. NOTE: This feature isn't supported on all browsers. For the best experience, use Chrome or Firefox.
Important
When you post grades, students can view them and any feedback you provided. All feedback for all attempts, even ungraded attempts, shows to students.
Final grades
In the panel that lists a student's attempts, the final grade appears when attempts are graded, based on the Grade Attempts setting you chose in the settings panel for the assessment. For example, if the final grade is calculated based on the highest graded attempt, the final grade appears immediately after at least one attempt is graded. The grade may change as you continue grading more attempts.
After you finish grading attempts, you can post the final grade for the student to see.
Student view
Assessments with multiple attempts list the number of attempts allowed, as well as how the final grade is calculated. Students view this information on the Details & Information page before they begin. When grades are posted, students can view grades for each of their attempts, as well as the final grade. If you decide to override the final grade, a message appears to let the student know.