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Points Adjustment

Use automatic points adjustment to provide incentives that encourage or discourage student behaviors—for example, guessing or procrastination. You can also make specific assignment questions count as extra credit.

Note This information describes how to use the new Assignment Editor.

If needed, click Try the New Assignment Editor in the original Assignment Editor to enable this improved experience now.

Settings at the assignment level apply to all assignment questions except questions whose settings you specifically change in Questions. Question-level settings override assignment or template settings.

Note Poll question types do not receive automatic bonus or penalty points; answered poll questions always receive the full point value.

Deduct based on number of submissions (penalize guessing)

Encourage your students to focus on completing problems correctly the first time.

This is best for free-response questions like chemPad, mathPad, or NumberLine.

For multiple-choice questions, limit the number of submissions instead.

  1. Go to the points adjustment setting for the assignment or the question.
    • For the assignment: Expand Settings > Scoring.
    • For a specific question: Expand Questions and expand the question.
  2. For Points adjustment, select Deduct based on number of submissions.
  3. Set Start deducting on submission number.
  4. Set the Amount to deduct for each additional submission.
  5. Optional: To change all questions on the assignment, click Adjust All Questions.

    This is available only when setting automatic points adjustments for a specific question.

  6. Click Save at the top of the assignment.

Example

Start deducting on submission number: 3

Amount to deduct: 25%

Available credit for each submission:

  1. 100%
  2. 100%
  3. 75%
  4. 50%

Regardless of the amount you choose to deduct, point adjustments will not result in scores less than 0.

Add based on early submission (discourage procrastination)

Encourage your students to start working on the assignment right away so they have sufficient time to ask for help if they need it.

  1. Go to the points adjustment setting for the assignment or the question.
    • For the assignment: Expand Settings > Scoring.
    • For a specific question: Expand Questions and expand the question.
  2. For Points adjustment, select Add based on early submission.
  3. Set the Number of hours before due date before which to grant the bonus.
  4. Set the Amount to add as a bonus.
  5. Optional: To change all questions on the assignment, click Adjust All Questions.

    This is available only when setting automatic points adjustments for a specific question.

  6. Click Save at the top of the assignment.

Example

Number of hours before due date: 48

Amount to add: 10%

Available credit based on when the submission is made:

  • More than 48 hours before the due date: 110%
  • Less than 48 hours before the due date: 100%
Important Because granting an extension changes the student's due date, automatic point adjustments are based on each student's due date with any granted extensions. If needed, manually adjust the student's assignment score after the extension period ends.

Assign question for extra credit

Award extra credit for specific questions that challenge your students to go beyond the minimum requirements of the class.

  1. In the Assignment Editor, expand the Questions section.
  2. Set the question points to 0.
  3. Expand the question.
  4. Click Points adjustment.
  5. Under Points adjustment, select Assign for extra credit
  6. Set the Extra points for correct answer.
  7. Optional: To change all questions on the assignment, click Adjust All Questions.

    This is available only when setting automatic points adjustments for a specific question.

  8. Click Save at the top of the assignment.

Example

Question Points: 0

Extra points for correct answer: 2

Awarded points:

  • Correct answer: 2/0
  • Incorrect answer: 0/0

Award credit to everyone

Award full or partial credit for incorrect answers to encourage students to attempt specific questions that might require more effort.

  1. In the Assignment Editor, expand the Questions section, then expand the question.
  2. Click Points adjustment.
  3. Under Points adjustment, select Award credit to everyone.
  4. Set the Amount to credit.

    100% (default) awards full credit for any answer.

  5. Optional: To change all questions on the assignment, click Adjust All Questions.

    This is available only when setting automatic points adjustments for a specific question.

  6. Click Save at the top of the assignment.

Example

Question Points: 4

Amount to credit: 25%

Awarded points:

  • No answer: 0
  • Incorrect answer: 1
  • Correct answer: 4

Remove points adjustment

  1. Go to the points adjustment setting for the assignment or the question.
    • For the assignment: Expand Settings > Scoring.
    • For a specific question: Expand Questions and expand the question.
  2. For Points adjustment, select None.
  3. Optional: To change all questions on the assignment, click Adjust All Questions.

    This is available only when setting automatic points adjustments for a specific question.

  4. Click Save at the top of the assignment.

Points adjustments are removed from the assignment or questions.