What is an Assignment Factor

An assignment factor controls how much a single assignment contributes to a student’s grade.

Instead of weighting an entire assignment type category (such as Quizzes or Tests), assignment factors let you adjust the impact of an individual assignment.

Factor of 1: Standard weight (no change).

Factor greater than 1: Increases the assignment’s impact.

Factor less than 1: Decreases the assignment’s impact.

Why Use Assignment Factors

Use assignment factors when you want to:

  • Emphasize important assignments (for example, final projects or major tests)

  • Reduce the impact of lower-priority work (for example, practice assignments)

  • Adjust grading without changing assignment categories

  • Apply flexible weighting at the assignment level

Assignment factors allow you to fine-tune grading calculations based on instructional priorities.

How Assignment Factors Affect Grades

An assignment factor multiplies the value of the assignment when calculating grades.

  • A factor of 2 counts the assignment twice

  • A factor of 0.5 counts the assignment as half

For example:

An assignment worth 10 points with a factor of 2 contributes 20 points to the grade calculation.

The assignment has twice the influence than with a factor of 1.

Gradebook Calculations with Factors

The gradebook uses factors differently depending on the grading method.

For more information on gradebook calculations, formulas, and example calculations, see Gradebook Calculations.

Total Points-based Gradebook Calculations

When using Total points or Total points with weight:

  • Both points earned and max points are multiplied by the factor.

    • Example: 8/10 points with a factor of 2 becomes 16/20 in total points-based calculations.

Percentages Gradebook Calculation

When using Percentages, the system calculates assignment type grades:

Sum ((Points earned / Maximum points) × Assignment factor) / Sum (Assignment factor)

Example:

Assignment 1: 86/100, factor = 1

Assignment 2: 45/50, factor = 0.5

  1. Convert to percentage :

    86/100 = 86%

    45/50 = 90%

  2. Apply factors:

    1 × 86 = 86

    0.5 × 90 = 45

  3. Sum of grades:

    86 + 45 = 131

  4. Sum of factors:

    1 + 0.5 = 1.5

  5. Divide totals:

    131 / 1.5 = 87.33

Result: 87.33%

If both assignments had a factor of 1:

  1. Convert to percentage :

    86/100 = 86%

    45/50 = 90%

  2. Apply factors:

    1 × 86 = 86

    1 × 90 = 90

  3. Sum of grades:

    86 + 90 = 176

  4. Sum of factors:

    1 + 1 = 2

  5. Divide totals:

    176 / 2 = 88.0

Result: 88%

Best practices

  • Use factors consistently across similar assignments

  • Avoid extreme factor values

  • Communicate factor usage to students clearly

  • Review grade outcomes after applying factors