Weighting semester grades by grading period

Whether or not you use PowerGrade as a gradebook, the software can be used to calculate the semester grade based. For example:
-PowerGrade can calculate a semester grade where the final exam grade (E1) is 15% of the overall grade.
-PowerGrade can weight each grading period so that Q1 and Q2 are each 40% of the semester grade and the final exam grade (E1) is 20% of the semester grade.

This handout assumes that your semester grade will be calculated in this manner:

Do you calculate your grades differently? Then replace your percentages in the steps below and choose your own path.

1. Open a class in PowerGrade. 2. Click on the S1 column heading. 3. The Final Grade Setup window will appear. It will default to a Total Points setting which calculates your grades cumulatively. If this makes you happy, stop reading and you are done. 4. Click on the drop down menu next to the phrase Total Points. 5. Select "% from another final grade." 6. Choose Q1 from the list that appears. If you use an R1, R2, R3 system then choose R1. 7. Click the OK button. 8. Change the weight to 40.00 (see example below). Now you will add Q2 to the calculation. 10. Click on the + symbol () to add Q2 to your grading scheme. 11. A new line will appear with Total Points in the factor type column. Click on the drop down as you did in step 4. 12. Select "% from another final grade" from the drop down window. Choose Q2 from the list that appears and click the OK button. 13. Repeat these steps for the Final Exam Grade (E1). When you are done your final exam grade should look like the example below.

Make sure that your Total Weight is equal to 100. PowerGrade will not let you exit the Final Grade Setup window until the Total Weight is equal to 100. If you wish to remove a line item from the Final Grade Setup window highlight the line and click on the minus button (). When you are done with the Final Grade Setup click on the Accept button to establish your Final Grade Setup. Repeat this process for each class as needed or use the Copy Class Info feature.