What is my average across several assessments?

Add each assessment's earned and possible points, then choose how to average them: treating each assessment as equally weighted, or combining every point together.

Need your next decision? Points-Based Course Grade

How we calculated this

Equal-value averaging computes each assessment's own percentage first, then averages those percentages, so a 10-point quiz counts the same as an 80-point quiz. Points averaging instead adds every earned and possible point together first, so a higher-point assessment naturally counts for more. Using the example values above (8/10 and 40/80), equal-value averaging gives 70.00% (the average of 80% and 50%); points averaging gives 53.33% (48 total earned over 90 total possible), since the second, larger quiz pulls the combined result down more than a simple average of percentages would.

Limitations

Which method is correct depends entirely on your course's own policy; this tool computes both faithfully but does not decide which one applies to you. If your syllabus does not say, ask your instructor rather than guessing.

Common mistakes

A frequent error is mixing the two methods without realizing it, for example averaging each quiz's percentage by hand and then treating that average as if it already accounted for point volume. Decide on one method before combining assessments, and use the same method consistently across a whole category.

Frequently asked

Why do the two methods give such different answers?: Because points averaging lets a bigger assessment outweigh a smaller one, while equal-value averaging treats every assessment the same regardless of size. The bigger the gap in assessment sizes, the bigger the gap between the two methods.
Which method do most courses use?: Both are common; this varies by instructor and department, which is exactly why this tool asks rather than assumes.
What if all my assessments are the same point value?: Then the two methods produce identical results, since equal point values make equal-value and points averaging mathematically the same calculation.
Can I mix quizzes and tests in one average?: Yes, as long as they belong to the same grading category in your syllabus; if they belong to different weighted categories, average them separately instead.

Next decision

Once you have an average, see Points-Based Course Grade or Current Weighted Course Grade to fold it into your overall course result.