---
title: "Creating Total Calculations in Ultra"
canonical: "https://kb.uconn.edu/space/TL/27490156559/Creating%20Total%20Calculations%20in%20Ultra"
format: markdown
---
This article is intended for instructors looking to create Total Calculation columns in Ultra Course View. 

# **Overview**

- In Ultra, Total Calculations are the primary tool for instructors to calculate grades that incorporate grade data from other Gradebook columns and/or Categories.
- Total Calculation columns can perform either:
  - A Points Calculation
  - A Weighted Calculation

<details>
<summary>What's the difference between a Weighted and Points System?</summary>

**Weighted:**

When using a weighted calculation, percentages are assigned to assessment categories or individual assessments adding up to 100%.

- The calculation page is organized around gradebook categories. ([What’s a category?](https://uconn.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/TL/pages/26057965918))
- Your gradebook will take a category and calculate what its weight is in regard to the overall grade.

Example: If you have 7 assignments but want them to be worth 30% of the grade, in this case these assignments would have a weight of 30% on the overall grade.

**Points:**

When using a points system, your grade book will match the points that coincide with the value for each individual assignment.

This will be added together to form a total point value score with no weights.

Example: If you have two assignments worth 50pts. each, and four tests worth 100pts. your gradebook will look like this:

![image-20250212-180625.png](media://7f6e3598-b105-463b-bf73-a5c369c7798e)

![image-20250212-180944.png](media://9ee08b6c-0410-4bbd-98a4-953ad56138f7)

![image-20250212-181106.png](media://4d4f9b4b-8098-4ac0-91a2-1752f952b71b)
</details>

---

# **Creating a Total Calculation Column**

1. From within your Ultra course, click the **Gradebook **tab** **from the top navigation menu.
2. A Total Calculation column can be created from either the **Grid** or **List **view.
  
  1. From*** ***the **Grid **view **:**
    1. Hover over any grey line between columns, then click the :plus:.  Then select **Add Total Calculation**.
      
  2. From*** ***the **List **view **:**
    1. Hover over any grey line between gradable items, then click the :plus:.  Then select **Add Total Calculation**.
      
3. This will open a Total Calculation window where you can adjust the following settings (pictured below):
  1. Change the name
  2. Set the visibility status
  3. Select the calculation type: Points or Weighted
  4. Specify how the calculation will be displayed to students.
    

---

<details>
<summary>Setting up a Points/Weighted Calculation</summary>

1. To view the assessment items included in a category, click the drop-down arrow.

![image](media://bae053de-bd5d-4831-b03d-8fa03447e610)

2. To remove a category or assessment from the calculation, select the **exclude** (null) icon. When an item is excluded, the **exclude **icon will be highlighted purple. Click the icon again to re-include it.

![image](media://c7350358-2da2-46ca-b332-8a8557d073b9)

3. Click the **unlink** icon to remove an assessment from it’s category. This removes the assessment from the category drop-down so it can be given its own separate percentage. (Click the unlink icon again to add it back to its categpru).

![image](media://acf46874-8167-4acd-a315-a087271a661b)

4. **For weighted ONLY: **Use the % text field to input the weight of a given category or assessment. Click the **lock** icon to lock the percentage value while you are adjusting the other percentages.

![image](media://c203ebfd-7c35-4277-95b6-d0e78a0d3c8a)

5. **For weighted ONLY: **The total weight will be displayed below the assessments.   
⚠️ **Please note:* The total must add up to **100%** to save your progress.

![image](media://90d1641c-5a25-4a65-92a4-b0c922797e60)

### **Editing Calculation Rules for Categories**

To drop grades in a certain category, follow the instructions found here: [Dropping Grades in Ultra Course View](https://uconn.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/TL/pages/26057506882).
</details>

<details>
<summary>Grade Display for Students</summary>

From the grade schema drop-down menu, instructors can select the grade format that students will see displayed.

![image-20250610-181930.png](media://262fb4c2-5417-4fae-9e42-772444fec910)


- **HuskyCT Default Letter** displays the grade as a Letter Grade. To review/adjust the percentage ranges used for each letter, follow the instructions here: [Letter Grade Schemas](https://uconn.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/TL/pages/26056687814)
- **Points** displays the grade in a Points earned out of Points possible (i.e., 372/425).  This display should only be used for Total Points calculations.
- **Percentage** displays the grade as the percentage of Points earned out of Points possible (i.e., 83.72%)
- **Complete/Incomplete** displays the grade as a dash or check mark.
</details>




> ℹ️ For more information or assistance with HuskyCT, please contact the** Educational Technology Office** at [edtech@uconn.edu](mailto:edtech@uconn.edu) or **(860) 486-5052 **