# Set Up Category Average Calculations

Specify for which assignment categories the GradeBook should calculate averages and whether each assignment is weighted equally or by its point value.

1. In Category Averages to Calculate, select the categories for which you want GradeBook to calculate averages, then click Next.

For each selected category, the GradeBook calculates each student's average and includes it as a part of the final grade.

Important Even if your GradeBook is based on points, you must either calculate or manually enter category averages for each student in order for the category to be included in final grade calculations.
2. For each assignment category, select how you want to weight assignments when calculating the category average.
Equally
The point value of each assignment is normalized so each assignment in the category has equal weight.
By Point Values
The unadjusted point value of each assignment is used as its weight.

For example, the Homework category average is different depending on how assignments are weighted:

Weighting

HW1
Score

HW2
Score

HW3
Score

Category Average
Equally 6/10 35/50 80/100 $\left(\frac{6}{10}+\frac{35}{50}+\frac{80}{100}\right)÷3=70%$
By Point Values 6/10 35/50 80/100 $\frac{6+35+80}{10+50+100}=75.625%$

You can also adjust the relative weights of individual assignments in the GradeBook settings.

3. Click Next.
4. Optional: Select the number of low-scoring assignments to drop for each category.
Assignments with the lowest scores will be dropped and not count toward the category average or final score.
Note The lowest assignment scores are not dropped if that would result in dropping all scores in the assignment category.

For example, if you choose to drop the two lowest homework scores, no homework scores will be dropped until at least three homework assignments are recorded in the GradeBook.

You can also drop individual assignments in the GradeBook settings.

5. Click Next.