---
title: "Create a marking guide"
slug: "create-a-marking-guide"
tags: ["Totara Learn", "Content Creator", "How-to"]
updated: 2025-07-22T10:52:18Z
published: 2025-07-22T11:18:39Z
canonical: "totara.help/create-a-marking-guide"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://totara.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Create a marking guide

## Creating a marking guide from scratch

To add a new marking guide you will first need to [add an assignment](/19/docs/assignment-activity-settings), then follow these steps:

1. In the **Administration** block select **Advanced grading**.
2. Next, select **Marking guide** in the **Change active grading method to** dropdown.
3. Click on **Define a new marking guide from scratch**.
4. Add a name and description.
5. You can now start adding marking criterion - you can fill out the first one then click **Add criterion** to add more.
  - Add a **Name** e.g. 'Understanding'.
  - Add a **Description for learners** - this will let them know what the criterion means.
  - Add a **Description for markers** - this will help guide them when marking.
  - Add the **Maximum score** (the highest amount that can be given for this criterion).

1. Add **Frequently used comments** - these can then be used to make marking quicker.
2. Configure **Marking guide options**.
3. Click **Save marking guide and make it ready** (or if you want to work more on the marking guide **Save as draft**).

## Adding a marking guide from a template

To add a new marking guide you will first need to [add an assignment](/19/docs/assignment-activity-settings), you will then need to follow these steps:

1. In the **Administration** block select **Advanced grading**.
2. Next, select **Marking guide** in the **Change active grading method to** dropdown.
3. Select **Create new marking guide from a template**.
4. You will be able to browse or search for the marking guide you wish to use.
5. Once you have found the marking guide click **Use this template** underneath it.
6. You will then need to click **Continue** to confirm you wish to use that template.

You can now use the template or edit it to better suit your purposes.

## Next steps

- [Share a marking guide](/19/docs/share-a-marking-guide)
- [Use a marking guide](/19/docs/use-a-marking-guide)
- [Manage marking guides](/19/docs/manage-marking-guides)

![Course badge](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/course-badge_grading-completion-and-certificates.svg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T06%3A55%3A24Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A55%3A24Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=ZKtQAdGS%2Fk6MoSPZHUFlWwAoGtiDHlf9QbetLL39yZ8%3D)The Totara Academy has a whole course dedicated to using [Grading, completion, and certificates](https://totara.community/course/view.php?id=646) in Totara Learn. Here you can learn more on how to use these tools, see best practice, and give it a go yourself.

Join the [Totara Community](https://totara.community/) for more resources to help you get the most out of Totara.

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