---
title: "Set up grade calculations"
slug: "set-up-grade-calculations"
tags: ["Totara Learn", "Content Creator", "How-to"]
updated: 2026-08-13T16:01:25Z
published: 2026-08-13T16:01:25Z
canonical: "totara.help/set-up-grade-calculations"
---

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

# Set up grade calculations

Grade totals can be calculated using manually entered formulas to ensure you get exactly the calculation you want. Although grade totals are normally calculated automatically in Totara Learn, you may want to set your own calculations as well. If you have a specific calculation you wish to perform then this can be [entered as a formula](/totara-20/docs/grade-calculation-functions) on any manually added grade item or grade category in the gradebook.

If you do not wish to add a manual calculation then you may want to consider how you might utilise features such as [grade aggregation](/totara-20/docs/grade-aggregation-methods) and [grade weighting](/totara-20/docs/change-weighting-of-graded-activities) within the system.

## Adding a calculation

Anyone with editing rights on a course can add a grade calculation. Before you can add a calculation you need to make sure you have set up a [manual grade item](/totara-20/docs/manually-grade-a-course) or [grade category](/totara-20/docs/set-up-grade-categories), then follow these steps:

1. On the course go to *Administration >* *Grade > Setup > Gradebook setup*.
2. Alongside the grade item or category you wish to set the calculation for click **Edit**, then **Edit calculation**.
3. Enter the calculation you wish to use in the **Calculation** box.
4. When you are done, click **Save changes**.

## **ID numbers**

To perform a calculation you will need to give the items you wish to include in the calculation an **ID number**. This can either be done in the [grade items settings](/totara-20/docs/grade-item-settings) or when adding the calculation, by adding an ID number in the box alongside the item and then clicking **Add ID numbers**.

## Editing a calculation

If you wish to make a change to an existing calculation follow these steps:

1. On the course go to *Administration >* *Grade > Setup > Gradebook setup*.
2. Alongside the grade item or category you wish to edit the calculation for click **Edit**, then **Edit calculation**.
3. Edit the existing calculation in the **Calculation** box.
4. When you are done click **Save changes**.

![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=2026-11-03T20%3A34%3A00Z&se=2026-11-03T21%3A34%3A00Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=L6WJvBBrb4bws2bt3eMspE5susHoocdrQWua0HOGgUE%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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