Avoid 0 Points on Assignments
It might seem convenient to assign 0 points to an assignment in Canvas if you only want to give a letter grade, such as A-F, without using points. However, this is unfortunately not a safe way to work within the system. Canvas is built to handle grading with points. These points can then be translated into letter grades using a grading scheme. If you assign 0 points to an assignment, you risk undesirable effects in Canvas. The following problems may arise:
- Incorrect summaries in Grades – total points and grades may be inaccurate.
- Export to Excel doesn't work – results from the assignment won't be included.
- Anonymous submissions are re-anonymized – complicating continued grading or management.
- Future Canvas updates may create more unexpected effects.
Recommendation
Always use points when setting up assignments in Canvas. If you want to display a letter grade, attach a grading scheme to the assignment – this will automatically convert the score to the desired grade. It’s a safer, clearer approach for students and ensures long-term compatibility with the Canvas system.
How to set up an assignment:
How gradings schemes work:
https://canvas.education.lu.se/courses/18026/pages/grading-schemes-3?module_item_id=1186621