FAQ - Assessment builds explored - Grades, stated terms, formulas, and calculated scales

MySchool offers a totally customisable integrated assessment package which covers a wide variety of assessment types. In this article, we will showcase a few examples of how to set these up for your school. 

Grades and formulas

One of the most commonly used configurations uses a numeric grade, which is applied in a formula and then possibly translated into an achievement scale for the assessment report. Let's start with a single term using the following assessment types;

• 3-grade entries
  • 2-grade entries with a max out of 50. (Assessment 1/2)
  • 1-grade entry with a max out of 100. (Term exam)
• 1 formula with an override to allow for Teachers to enter an additional value (Abs,Exc,N/A etc) (Total term grade)
  • The three grades will be calculated to show a weighted sum of the three grades, with the output being normalised out of 100.

Let's look at the configuration of the grade types;

We apply it to one term, which means it will show only on that term assess grid and term report. Later we will use a stated term grade to pull it for the final end of year report. Note as well that we have reduced the scale to 'out of 50'. We have also unchecked the 'is required field'. This will be useful for the formula build in the next step. We have added our additional values with no space between the comma. 

In the third grade entry, we will increase this scale to be 'out of 100'. Educators will not be able to enter a grade above the max scale on the assess grid. They can also choose to enter one of the additional values. 

We now use a formula to give a final grade primary grade for this assessment period. In the build, we have chosen a formula with override. This will allow the Educator to override the calculated value with either another numeric value or one of the additional values available. 

This formula will only show in the Autumn term. It has a 'scale-out of 100' and no decimal places. The calculation will be rounded up or down as appropriate. 

The method in this example is Sum fields (not strict), which allows the calculation to provide an output even if one of the grade fields is empty or missing a numeric entry. 

When using a formula, the weights need to be calculated as % out of the scale of the formula. In the example, it is a simple scenario but the calculation works on a more complex build.

So in the example, two grades with 25 weight, and 1 of 50 = 100 for the formula.

Top tip: If you want to use formulas, then look at how decimal places can affect the final calculation. If you allow decimals in the initial grades but not in the formula you may have some divergence based on rounding values.

Top tip: If you use formula then make sure that Educators understand the calculations and weights. If needed this can be shown to students and guardians in a text section or subject intro on the assessment report.

Let's introduce a stated term grade

A stated term grade allows users to pull grades entered from outside of the assessment term or build. For this example, we want to use the formula with override (Total term exam) created in the autumn term to be used in the end of year summary report. First, let's build an assessment period for the end of the term. We will then apply;

• 1 Stated term grade pulling information from the autumn term.
• 1 normal grade entry for the final term.
• 1 formula to calculate a final year grade based on both scores.

In this build, we are going to make the grade from the Total term grade in autumn using the stated term grade assessment type.

Note that you need to choose the source term, from which the assessment type has been created, then choose the numeric source field from which you would like to pull into your final end of year calculation. This field cannot be edited in the target assessment grid and will show as grey. 

Your grade from the autumn term can now be used in the end of term formula to calculate a final year grade from multiple assessment types.

Can we show the grade as a non-numerical achievement scale?

Yes, that is possible. An achievement scale has higher/lower values, the system will determine which scale to attribute to the numerical grade.

In this example, we take the final year grade and calculate it on the above-grade scale so the first student gets a 48(C). You have an option to show the original numeric grade or not.

Top Tip: Why not create a simple Pass/Fail achievement scale which will calculate if a student has achieved a specific value in their grades in order to be promoted or pass the subject.