How do I set a default grade for an assignment in the Gradebook?
If you want to set a default grade for a certain assignment, use the assignment drop-down menu. Default grades can either be applied to all students or only students who have not yet received a grade.
Notes:
- When Multiple Grading Periods are enabled in a course, you cannot set a default grade for any assignment that has at least one student in a closed grading period.
- When Moderated Grading is enabled for an assignment, the Set Default Grade option is not available before grades are released.
- Submission status is not factored into default grade application.
Open Grades
![Open Grades](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/767/050/original/8f5b7b39-c250-49bb-9738-44a47d3769ef.png)
In Course Navigation, click the Grades link.
Open Assignment Menu
![Open Assignment Drop-down Menu](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/615/611/original/ae2ee01f-35f7-4540-8d5a-0b675b3f2f51.png)
Hover over the assignment column header and click the Options icon.
Set Default Grade
![Set Default Grade](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/003/305/710/original/ad1ccc62-a8e3-4f64-9229-ff8bdde89de9.png)
Click the Set Default Grade link.
Create Default Grades
![Create Default Grades](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/615/609/original/42225968-4924-4ea1-a0fb-42cf1ce3f2cc.png)
Type the default grade value in the Grade Value field [1]. If you would like to overwrite existing grades for the assignment, select the Overwrite already-entered grades checkbox [2].
Click the Set Default Grade button [3].
Notes:
- If the Grade Value field is left empty and the Overwrite already-entered grades checkbox is checked, all assignment grades will be removed.
- A default grade will be assigned to students regardless of submission status.
- To have all assignments default grade set as missing, enter mi into the grade value field.
Verify Default Grades
![Verify Default Grades](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/000/767/968/original/aa1a607a-d1cd-48f4-a8b7-e95d5441234d.png)
Click the OK button.
View New Grades
![View New Grades](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/615/607/original/7095b6ce-0488-416d-a293-7c057ca5be1b.png)
Default grades are automatically entered for all students who have no grade and who never had a grade. However, if the student had a grade and it was deleted, the default grade is not applied, unless you selected the Overwrite checkbox.
To change a grade, click the default grade and enter in an updated score.