Entering Zeros for Missing Assignments in Canvas Gradebook

Why Entering Zeros Is Important

When using the Canvas Gradebook, it's very important to enter zeros for any missing assignment because any assignments that do not have a score in the gradebook will not be included in the final grade calculation.

Screenshot of Gradebook column showing dashes indicating missing assignments that aren't being calculated in the final grade — Dashes in the Gradebook indicate missing scores that aren't calculated in the total

If you see a dash "-" in a Gradebook column that indicates that the corresponding student has not yet received a score for the assignment. In this case, the Gradebook will skip the assignment when calculating the student's total score. This is why you want to be sure to enter a zero for any missing assignments that you want to be counted.

The Gradebook has two features that make this process easier for you:

Two Methods for Entering Zeros

1. Missing Submission Policy

If you click the gear menu button in the upper right of the Gradebook, a window will open with two tabs: Late Policies and Grade Posting Policy. (More information about these policy options is available in the Grade Policy Settings guide.)

Screenshot of the Missing Submission Policy settings in Gradebook showing the option to automatically apply a grade for missing submissions — Missing Submission Policy settings in Gradebook

The first option on the Late Policies tab allows you to automatically apply a grade from missing submissions. A missing submission would be defined as any assignment where the due date has passed, but a student does not have a submission. So, using this feature requires that you use a Due Date, and also that it is an Online Submission assignment. If this is an assignment you are entering scores for manually, the second option might work better for you.

2. Set Default Grade

If you click the ellipsis menu button at the top of a Gradebook column, one of the options for the assignment is "Set Default Grade."

Screenshot of assignment column dropdown menu in Gradebook with the Set Default Grade option highlighted — Assignment column menu with Set Default Grade option

Using this option, you can make 0 the default score for any missing submissions for the assignment.

Screenshot of the Default Grade entry window showing where to enter zero and the overwrite checkbox — Default Grade entry window

Warning: DO NOT check the box that says "Overwrite already-entered grades" or the Gradebook will do exactly that and turn all of your existing scores into zeros for the assignment.

Click on the Next button below to learn about Using Assignment Groups and Weighted Grades.