---
title: "Set up grade scales"
slug: "set-up-grade-scales"
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-scales"
---

> ## 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 scales

Scales are a grade type within Totara Learn that offer an alternative to numeric grading. You can share scales across the site (standard scale) or have them be local to a particular course (custom scale). Once a scale is created it will be accessible to use for anyone who has access at that level e.g. a standard scale is available to all editing users as it is site level, a custom scale is only available to others with editing right on that particular course.

You can set **Scale** as the grade type when setting up a [grade item](/totara-20/docs/add-grade-items) or activity on a course.

Anyone with editing rights can create a grade scale on a course and Site Administrators can also create a scale on a site level.

## Creating a scale from a course

It is possible to create a new grade scale from a course by following these steps:

1. On the course go to *Grades > Scales* from the **Administration** block.
2. Click **Add a new scale**.
3. Configure the [settings](/totara-20/docs/grade-scale-settings) to your preferences.
4. If you are a Site Administrator you can enable the **Standard scale** setting to make the scale available to Trainers or other admins on the site.
5. Click **Save changes**.

## Creating a scale at site level

If you are a Site Administrator then you can add a scale at the site level which will be usable by any Trainers or administrators on the site.

1. Go to *Quick-access menu > Grades > Scales*.
2. Click **Add a new scale**.
3. Configure the [settings](/totara-20/docs/grade-scale-settings) to your preferences.
4. Click **Save changes**.

## Editing scales

Editing a scale works in a very similar way for a scale added at a site or course level. You can only edit a scale that you created.

1. Go to *Grades > Scales* from the either **Administration** block (on the course) or the **Administration** menu (on the site).
2. Alongside the scale you wish to edit click the cog icon (![](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1634653724240.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T06%3A31%3A48Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A31%3A48Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=n2h2pEP4lH1ucxjz2chcTyPon5Ad2qwUiCkuSQScd%2Bc%3D)).
3. Configure the [settings](/totara-20/docs/grade-scale-settings) to your preferences.
4. Click **Save changes**.

## Deleting scales

You can only delete a scale that you created. However, it works in a very similar way for both site and course level scales.

1. Go to *Grades > Scales* from the either **Administration** block (on the course) or the **Administration** menu (on the site).
2. Alongside the scale you wish to delete edit click the cross icon (![](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1634653724282.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T06%3A31%3A48Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A31%3A48Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=n2h2pEP4lH1ucxjz2chcTyPon5Ad2qwUiCkuSQScd%2Bc%3D)).

![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%3A31%3A48Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A31%3A48Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=n2h2pEP4lH1ucxjz2chcTyPon5Ad2qwUiCkuSQScd%2Bc%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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