# How do I set a default grade for an assignment in the Gradebook?

If you want to set a default grade for a certain assignment, use the assignment drop-down menu. Default grades can either be applied to all students or only students who have not yet received a grade.

**Notes:**

<div id="bkmrk-when-multiple-gradin"><div>- When Multiple Grading Periods are enabled in a course, you cannot set a default grade for any assignment that has at least one student in a closed grading period.
- When Moderated Grading is enabled for an assignment, the Set Default Grade option is not available before grades are released.
- Submission status is not factored into default grade application.

</div></div>## Open Grades

<div data-step-uuid="09F201E0-AAE2-0135-1591-06467EE270FA" id="bkmrk-"><div data-step-uuid="09F201E0-AAE2-0135-1591-06467EE270FA"><div>![Open Grades](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/767/050/original/8f5b7b39-c250-49bb-9738-44a47d3769ef.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>In Course Navigation, click the **Grades** link.

## Open Assignment Menu

<div data-step-uuid="09F23EC0-AAE2-0135-1594-06467EE270FA" id="bkmrk--0"><div data-step-uuid="09F23EC0-AAE2-0135-1594-06467EE270FA"><div>![Open Assignment Drop-down Menu](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/615/611/original/ae2ee01f-35f7-4540-8d5a-0b675b3f2f51.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Hover over the assignment column header and click the **Options** icon.

## Set Default Grade

<div data-step-uuid="09F27ED0-AAE2-0135-1597-06467EE270FA" id="bkmrk--1"><div data-step-uuid="09F27ED0-AAE2-0135-1597-06467EE270FA"><div>![Set Default Grade](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/003/305/710/original/ad1ccc62-a8e3-4f64-9229-ff8bdde89de9.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Click the **Set Default Grade** link.

## Create Default Grades

<div data-step-uuid="09F2B950-AAE2-0135-159A-06467EE270FA" id="bkmrk--2"><div data-step-uuid="09F2B950-AAE2-0135-159A-06467EE270FA"><div>![Create Default Grades](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/009/141/727/original/42225968-4924-4ea1-a0fb-42cf1ce3f2cc.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Type the default grade value in the **Grade Value** field \[1\]. If you would like to overwrite existing grades for the assignment, select the **Overwrite already-entered grades** checkbox \[2\].

Click the **Set Default Grade** button \[3\].

**Notes:**

<div data-step-uuid="09F2B950-AAE2-0135-159A-06467EE270FA" id="bkmrk-if-the-grade-value-f"><div><div>- If the Grade Value field is left empty and the Overwrite already-entered grades checkbox is checked, all assignment grades will be removed.
- A default grade will be assigned to students regardless of submission status.
- To have all assignments default grade set as missing, enter mi into the grade value field.
- The default grade applies only to the selected section.

</div></div></div>## Verify Default Grades

<div data-step-uuid="09F2F680-AAE2-0135-159D-06467EE270FA" id="bkmrk--3"><div data-step-uuid="09F2F680-AAE2-0135-159D-06467EE270FA"><div>![Verify Default Grades](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/009/141/729/original/aa1a607a-d1cd-48f4-a8b7-e95d5441234d.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Click the **OK** button.

## View New Grades

<div data-step-uuid="09F33300-AAE2-0135-15A0-06467EE270FA" id="bkmrk--4"><div data-step-uuid="09F33300-AAE2-0135-15A0-06467EE270FA"><div>![View New Grades](https://media.screensteps.com/image_assets/assets/002/615/607/original/7095b6ce-0488-416d-a293-7c057ca5be1b.png)</div><div><div></div></div></div></div>Default grades are automatically entered for all students who have no grade and who never had a grade. However, if the student had a grade and it was deleted, the default grade is not applied, unless you selected the Overwrite checkbox.

To change a grade, click the default grade and enter in an updated score.

\[Content retrieved from [https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-set-a-default-grade-for-an-assignment-in-the-Gradebook/ta-p/747](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-set-a-default-grade-for-an-assignment-in-the-Gradebook/ta-p/747)\]