---
title: "Rubric grade calculation"
slug: "grade-calculation"
tags: ["Totara Learn", "Content Creator", "Explainer"]
updated: 2026-08-13T16:01:25Z
published: 2026-08-13T16:01:25Z
canonical: "totara.help/grade-calculation"
---

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

# Rubric grade calculation

The rubric normalised score (i.e. basically a percentage grade) is calculated by adding all of the scores given (minus the minimum score possible) over the maximum grades (minus the minimum grades to achieve a fraction which is then converted into a percentage.

For example, if you had an assessment form with two criteria, which both have four levels. The Trainer chooses the level with 2 points for the first criterion and 3 points for the second criterion. Then the normalised score is:

![((2-1)+(3-1))/((4-1)+(4-1)) = 3/6 = 50%](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1634658332275.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-03T14%3A43%3A07Z&se=2026-11-03T15%3A43%3A07Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=W%2FZAbVMDquUFPQKtg8lhtGKOWC7MHMWVoR9mDZ3fpEM%3D)

This calculation may be different from how you intuitively use rubric. For example, if the Trainer in the example chose both levels with 1 point, the plain sum would be 2 points. But that is actually the lowest possible score so it maps to the grade 0 in Totara. To avoid confusion, it is recommended to always include a level with 0 points in the rubric definition.

So based on the above, let's consider the rubric with two criteria broken down:

- **Criterion 1**: Levels scored at 1, 2, 3, 4 points
- **Criterion 2**: Levels scored at 1, 2, 3, 4 points

Suppose the trainer marks the rubric and a learner receives:

- **2 points** for Criterion 1
- **3 points** for Criterion 2

**Calculation:**

- **Adjusted Scores:**
  - Criterion 1: 2 (awarded) - 1 (minimum) = 1
  - Criterion 2: 3 (awarded) - 1 (minimum) = 2
- **Sum of Adjusted Scores**: 1 + 2 = 3
- **Total Possible Above Minimum**:
  - Criterion 1: 4 (maximum) - 1 (minimum) = 3
  - Criterion 2: 4 (maximum) - 1 (minimum) = 3
  - Sum: 3 + 3 = 6
- **Normalized Score**: 3 / 6 = 0.5
- **Final Grade**: 0.5 × 100 = 50%

**Important Considerations**

- **Minimum Score Awareness**: If a learner receives the minimum score for all criteria, their normalized score will be 0%, regardless of the sum of points.
- **Include Zero-Point Levels**: To accurately reflect performance, ensure each criterion includes a level with 0 points. This allows the rubric to capture the full range of possible performances.
- **Consistency in Level Scoring**: Maintain consistent point intervals between levels to ensure fairness and clarity in grading.

![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=2026-11-03T14%3A43%3A07Z&se=2026-11-03T15%3A43%3A07Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=W%2FZAbVMDquUFPQKtg8lhtGKOWC7MHMWVoR9mDZ3fpEM%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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