"Can Exceed" Grade Item + Bonus Quiz Question(s)

Using 'Can Exceed' for a Quiz in the Gradebook


It is possible to set up a quiz to be automatically graded and automatically posted to a gradebook item which can exceed the point value of the quiz.  The method for achieving this outcome varies depending upon you are using a WEIGHTED or POINTS gradebook.


In a WEIGHTED Gradebook,  the instructor must mark individual questions in the quiz itself as 'bonus.' Otherwise, the grade item will record the percentage of the quiz score rather than the point total.

For example, for a ten-question quiz worth 10 points (where no individual questions are designated as "bonus"), when the quiz is automatically graded and sent to a gradebook item worth 9 points (even with 'can exceed' marked), the highest score that will be recorded in the gradebook is 9.  In this scenario, the gradebook will register that the quiz attempt was marked 100%, rather than 10 points.

To allow the attempt to register as more than 100% in the gradebook, at least one question or questions must be identified as "bonus." To do this, click the [Layout/Questions] area of the quiz, click on [Edit Values] and mark the question(s) that are bonus.


In a POINTS Gradebook, it is not necessary to mark any of the quiz questions as "bonus."  The Instructor must simply be sure that the grade book Category is not marked to "distribute points evenly."  This will allow the grade points to be exported from the quiz into the gradebook accurately, so that the grade item accurately exceeds both the allotted points (e.g., 22 vs. 20) and percentage (e.g., 22/20 points gets a percentage of 110%).

D2L 9.2.1 SP3 – September 2011

Viewing Quiz Results

To view the results for quizzes completed by students in the course:

-From the D2L course home page, click on [Quizzes].
-In the "Quiz List," click on [Grade Quiz] (yellow ruler) to the right of the correct quiz.
-Scroll down the next screen to view the users (i.e., students' names).
-Click on the [attempt] link to view the quiz results for a particular student.

The "Quiz Results" section shows the questions, as well as the individual student's correct and incorrect responses.

Add a Point to a Grade Item

Sometimes, an instructor has reason to add a point to every student's grade on a Quiz or assignment.  


Click this link to see instructions for changing the scoring for a particular Quiz Question.  


Another way to add a point to every student's score is to export the scores for the grade item and make the addition in Excel.  Here's how:

1. Log into D2L, go to your course, and click on [Grades]
2. Click on [Export Grades]
3. Select 'Both' in Key Field, 'Points Grade' in Grade Values, and 'First Name'  & 'Last Name' in User Details
4. Under "Grades to Export," check the grade item for the quiz or assignment that needs attention
5. Click [Export to CSV]
6. (If it doesn't open automatically, you'll need to open the .csv file in Excel)
7. *In the spreadsheet that shows up, write the following formula in the cell at the end of the row for the first student: =if(XY
8. Hit [Enter]
9. Copy the formula down the column for all students
10. Copy all the new scores and paste them in the same column using the 'paste special' function so that the formula calculations become actual numbers
11. Copy the new scores again, and this time paste them into the column with the orgiinal scores (thus replacing them)
12. Delete all columns except Username, the new scores column and the End-of-Line Indicator column with all the pound signs
13. Make sure that cell B1 text ends after the phrase 'Points Grade'
14. Save the file as a csv file and re-import the scores into D2L

*In case you are not familiar with writing formulas in Excel, here's a real formula example where the original scores are in column e in my spreadsheet:
 =if(e2<100,(e2+1),e2).  This means "if the score in cell e2 is less than 100, add one point, otherwise just copy the score in e2".


Many thanks to the LTC's Gerry Bergtrom for these instructions!

Method for Specifying Quiz Question Weights has changed

Method for Specifying Quiz Question Weights has changed

As of January, 2010, the method of specifying quiz question weights for several questions was changed. Instead of a dropdown box with some percentage choices (0,20,25,33.33,40,50,60,66.67,75,80,100), weights are specified in a text box on a scale of 0 (no credit) to 100 (full credit).

This offers more flexibility, but has been a source of confusion for some instructors. The quizzing interface does not make it clear that weights are percentages ranging from 0 to 100 with up to 2 decimal places allowed. All instructors see is "Weight" and a blank box.

On behalf of the UW campuses using D2L, our hosting Utility has submited the following feature request:
1. Provide a heading of "Weight (%)," or to put a "%" sign after each weight box.
2. If possible, bring the drop down back with an "other" option that opens a blank text box where the user can enter a custom percent.

Source: [Learn@UW Utility] Service Announcements (02/12/2010)

Note: D2L Version 8.4.2

Quizzing: See student responses

Question: How can an instructor see an individual student's quiz answers on D2L?

1. In the Quiz List, click on the [ruler-&-checkmark] icon to the right of the quiz in question.
2. In the list of students that appears, click on [attempt 1] under the name of the appropriate student.
3. Scroll down on the next page to see the student's quiz with their responses.

FAQ: How do I change the grading of a quiz question (e.g. after the question is changed)?

To update the grading of a question when it is changed:

1. click on the grading icon for the quiz (yellow ruler with green check mark),
2. click on the questions tab, 
3. click on "Update all attempts" (as of June 2011)
4. click on the question that needs to be changed,
5. click again on the grading icon on the right (yellow ruler with green check mark).
6. Check the box "Give to attempts with the following answer [1] points" and
7. insert 1 or the correct value of the item in the box.

You will get a modification report looking like this:

Date: Sep 14, 2009 9:46 PM
Modified By: Tanya Joosten
Action: Attempts with the answer below received 1 points

http://kb.doit.wisc.edu/luwmad/page.php?id=3220