How to Create and Include Extra Credit in Weighted Overall Grades in Ultra

Example Scenario 

Let’s say your course uses the following weighted breakdown:

• 40% — Total Tests (including 1 Extra Credit Test) 
• 40% — Total Assignments (including 1 Extra Credit Assignment)  
• 20% — Discussions  

And you want to award extra credit for both:  

• One Extra Credit Assignment  
• One Extra Credit Test  

Ultra can calculate this correctly only when extra credit items are included inside category Total Calculations, not when weighting categories directly.  

Step 1: Create Your Extra Credit Assessment  

Create the extra credit item the same way you create any assessment:  

1. Create the item (Assignment or Test).  
2. Set Maximum Points = 0.  
3. Assign the item to the correct category.  
   • Example:  
     • Extra Credit Assignment → Assignment category  
     • Extra Credit Test → Test category  

Important: Extra credit items must still belong to a category for Ultra to calculate them correctly.

Step 2: Create Total Calculations for Each Category 

You will create separate Total Calculation columns for each category you want to weight. 

Example: Create “Tests Total” (includes extra credit test) 

1. Go to Gradebook → Grades 
2. select the plus (+) button where you want to place the column.  
3. Select Add Total Calculation.  
4. In the panel, provide a name (example: Tests Total). 
5. Under Included Items, select the Test category. 
6. Select Save. 

 Repeat the steps to create a Total Calculation for each category used in your Overall Grade.  

Step 3: Edit the Weighted Overall Grade  

1. Go to Gradebook → Grades  

2. Click on Overall Grade icon → Edit → Weighted.

3. Find the categories you have created total for. (For this scenario: Assignment, Test, and Discussion)

4. Select the 🚫 icon to exclude these categories from the weighted calculation.

   • This prevents double-counting since you will use the Total columns instead.

Step 4: Add the Total Columns to the Weighting 

1. Scroll down and expand Calculation. 
2. Locate your Total Calculations. (For this scenario Tests Total, Assignments Total, Discussions Total) 
3. Select the unlink icon so each Total column moves outside the Calculation group.  
4. Apply your course weights. For this Scenario:  
   • Tests Total – 40%  
   • Assignments Total – 40%  
   • Discussions Total – 20%  
5. Click Save.  

Ultra will now calculate extra credit correctly because it is added inside each Total column rather than at the category level.