How-to

Set up your grade scale

A grade scale is the list of letters an evaluator is allowed to award on one course, each with the score that earns it. Alva Courses keeps it per course, so a foundation programme and a professional certificate can be marked on completely different terms.

Build the scale

1. Open the course in Alva Courses, then select the Settings tab.
2. Scroll to Grade scale in the Certificates card.
3. Select Use recommended A–F scale to start from A, B, C, D and F, or select Add grade band to build your own.
4. Give every band a Grade letter and a Minimum score (%).
5. Save the course.

How a score becomes a letter

Bands are stored highest threshold first, and a score takes the first band it reaches. On the recommended scale, 84 is a B and 90 is an A. When an evaluator types a final score between 0 and 100 on a submission, the matching letter is filled in for them.

Every letter and every threshold must be unique

Two bands cannot share a letter, and two bands cannot share a minimum score. If they do, the course refuses to save with "Each grade needs a unique letter and a unique minimum score from 0 to 100." Thresholds run from 0 to 100.

Editing the scale later

Changes apply only to evaluations you close from that point on. A grade already awarded keeps the letter it was given, even if you rename the band, move its threshold or delete it entirely — the scale that was in force at the time is stored with the grade. On an older submission the evaluator simply sees that letter marked as a stored grade that is not in the current scale.

Grading without a scale

A scale is optional. With none configured, evaluators can still record feedback and a pass-or-revise outcome without a letter grade, which is all a pass/fail course needs.

See also

Award the letters in the Evaluations queue, print one on a completion certificate, or start at turning evaluation on.

Last updated 2026-09-07