Create a Gradebook Tutorial
Microsoft Excel
Objective: To create a gradebook using Microsoft Excel

---

Introduction: Gradebooks are frequently used by educators to record and chart the academic achievement of students. Excel, Microsoft's popular spreadsheet software, has a variety of statistical functions that can simplify the grade calculation process for educators. Excel can also be used to organize, manipulate, and chart student data.

---

Skill Practice: Create a class gradebook using Microsoft Excel

Step 1: Open . Go to File > New, and choose to create a new workbook.

Step 2: In the first spreadsheet row (Row 1), insert field names in single cells (i.e. - name, quiz, exam).



Step 3: In the second spreadsheet row (Row 2), list the possible points for each assignment in brackets.



Step 4: Enter hypothetical student data in the rows that follow (i.e. - data for 20 students).

Step 5: To program Excel to automatically sum total points, enter an appropriate "Sum" formula in the Total Points column cell for each student, such as . Excel formulas must always begin with an "=". In this example, B4 = the first row cell that includes assignment scores. H4 = the last row cell that includes assignment scores.

*Alternative Method* - "left click and drag" over the cells you want to sum, release the mouse button, and left click on the AutoSum button . The summed total will appear in the next row cell.

Step 6: To program Excel to automatically calculate percentage, add a Percent column next to the Total Points column , and enter an appropriate "percentage" formula in the Percent column cells for each student. An example formula for the spreadsheet in use would be . H4 = total points earned, and 275 = total possible points.