[ARCHIVED] How do I globally add points to an exam score (not a quiz)

[elekes_8]

Is it possible to add points to every student's score on an exam? I only see information about quizzes that are set up in Canvas. I do not see any options for manually entered exam scores.  For example, if there was an error in the key or a question, and I want to add points to every student, it would be much faster in a large enrollment course to add the same number of points to every student instead of changing each students grade individually. This is my first semester using Canvas and so far my experience is that Speed grader is not set up for effective or speedy grading in a large enrollment classroom.

[kona · Accepted solution]

Right now what you indicated, download to excel to add the points and then re-upload, is probably the best/easiest way for large classes.

Yet, I checked and the Canvas Studio: Gradebook Enhancements shows that it should include the ability to perform bulk grade adjustments - so adding a few points to everyone who submitted the assignment. My recommendation is to comment on this and follow it so you'll be alerted to any updates.

[rgoneal · Accepted solution]

This should be FAR simpler and I agree the curve option is complicated and ridiculous.  I wish canvas had more interest in this simple yet necessary request.

[elekes_8]

I  also meant to add that exporting the grade book as a CSV file, making changes and then uploading is unwieldy and not speedy. In D2L it was easy to globally add points.

[kona · Accepted solution]

Right now what you indicated, download to excel to add the points and then re-upload, is probably the best/easiest way for large classes.

Yet, I checked and the Canvas Studio: Gradebook Enhancements shows that it should include the ability to perform bulk grade adjustments - so adding a few points to everyone who submitted the assignment. My recommendation is to comment on this and follow it so you'll be alerted to any updates.

[u0061533]

The easiest way to add a set number of points (flat curve) to a test in Canvas is to:

1. Put the test in its own group (likely in there anyway). This isn't totally necessary, but helps make clear what is going on.
2. Add a zero point assignment to that group.
3. From the gradebook, add a default score, like 2 points.
4. The test will have the original score, but the group will show the curved score with 2 points added to each test.

Whatever you do, I would not mess with Canvas' curve tool. It applies a real curve, and that can take away points from high-scoring students. There is also no recovery from the application of this tool. The built-in curve tool is a real nightmare and a really an embarrassment.

For anything more complicated, I do download the gradebook and use Excel to compute an updated score.

[tlainsco]

Does this not also curve people who skipped the exam and got a zero? 

[rgoneal · Accepted solution]

This should be FAR simpler and I agree the curve option is complicated and ridiculous.  I wish canvas had more interest in this simple yet necessary request.

[tcrump · Accepted solution]

I absolutely agree with this and it has been requested numerous times. A method like this of applying a linear curve, instead of the current curve function which provides a predetermined distribution, is much more conducive to the contemporary student population because no one is penalized and everyone receives an equal increase. I believe instructors nowadays are much more attuned to the possibility that they may have included an unfair, poorly worded, or unaddressed question on a quiz, than ascribing to the antiquated theory that their student scores shall reflect a fixed distribution. 

[tlainsco]

People have been asking for this for years and it would be simple to add. 
The answer is that someone at Canvas doesn't agree that we should curve like this and is being a jerk about it. 

[JoshFrederick]

I created a profile just to bring this issue back up. That I cannot simply add a few points to an entire grade is asinine.  How is it that this is STILL not implemented?  It should be an option on day 1, not something people have been complaining about for 5 years now.  Half a decade and we are unable to add a few points to an exam grade?  Really?

I cannot fathom that this would be difficult to add as a function to the (in my opinion) useless "curve" function in Canvas already.