assignment calculator u of t

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Main navigation, assignment planner.

The Assignment Planner breaks down various projects into manageable steps based on your due dates. Each step includes hints and "how-to" links.  You can also add each step to your calendar using button "Add to Calendar" .   

Any interim due dates provided by your professor  (for working thesis, bibliography, first draft, etc.)  take precedence  over dates suggested by the Assignment Planner.

If you have any questions or comments about this tool, please contact us.

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U of T is a big place and sometimes it is hard to find the gems that help make learning a little easier.

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For further group supports from the Centre for Learning Strategy Support, check out the Learning How to Learn workshop series !

• Assignment Planner
• GPA Calculator This new application readily calculates sessional, cumulative and annual Grade Point Averages (GPAs).

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Grad Productivity Group:  Actually Work from Home is a supportive online environment where you can work in company with grad school peers.

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Experiment with learning strategies in person and get guidance from a learning strategist and peer mentors.

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Resources & Tools

Academic calendar.

The Academic Calendar is a comprehensive publication that outlines the rules, regulations, academic dates and deadlines, degree requirements and programs and courses for the academic year.     

Visit the Faculty of Arts & Science calendar to find out more .

ACORN Tutorials

A step-by-step guide with simple instructions to help you navigate your way around ACORN.       

Visit the ACORN How-to Help Guide for more information .

Assignment Planner

UTSC (University of Toronto Scarborough) offers a useful tri-campus tool called the Assignment Planner. The purpose of the tool is to help you break down your assignment or project into manageable steps.   

Visit the Assignment Planner.

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Search the Career Learning Network (CLN) for jobs, events and services across all three University of Toronto career centres .

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The Co-Curricular Record is designed to help students find opportunities at U of T  beyond the classroom and to have their skills and experiences captured on an official document.     

Visit the Career and Co-Curricular Learning Network for more information .

Course Timetable

The timetable provides course meeting information (day, time, location, enrolment conditions for the current session).  

Visit the Faculty of Arts & Science website for access to the timetable.

Dates and Deadlines

Visit the Faculty of Arts & Science website for important academic dates and deadlines .

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Degree Explorer is the University of Toronto’s degree planning tool. Review your academic history, degree requirements or use the planner to determine how future course selections might meet your requirements.  

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Use the financial planning calculator to plan your budget and see how much money you will need for the upcoming academic year.  

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GPA Calculator

The GPA calculator is a tool that allows you to estimate your GPA (Grade Point Average) for the current or upcoming academic sessions. This tool is for planning purposes only.

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Navi: Your U of T Resource Finder  is an online chat tool that will help you find mental health and other services on the St. George Campus. 

Transfer Credit Explorer

Current U of T students who wish to take courses at other Canadian post-secondary institutions or internationally through the Centre for International Experience’s Student Exchange program may use transfer explorer as a guideline to see if and how such courses will transfer back to U of T for degree credit.  

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UC Registrar's Office

Final Grade Calculator (University of Toronto)

University of Toronto

Marks so far:

How to Use this GPA Calculator

This Final Grade Calculator allows you to easily compute the mark you need to earn on the remaining assignments or exam in order to achieve the desired final grade. Follow the instructions below to use the calculator:

Enter Earned Marks:

• For each completed assignment, enter the weight or percent value and the corresponding grade received.

Enter Course Description (Optional):

• Check the "Show Description fields" box if you want to enter descriptions for your assignments. This can help you keep track of your grades more easily.

Add More Assignments (If Needed):

• Click on the "Add Row" button to add additional rows for more assignments. You can add up to 50 rows if needed.

Enter Remaining Assignment Details:

• Input the weight or percent for the remaining assignments or exam.

Enter the Desired Grade:

• Provide the desired final grade.

Calculate Final Grade:

• After entering all the necessary information, press the "Calculate" button. This will display the mark that must be achieved on the remaining assignments in order to attain the desired final grade.

Save Calculation:

• The calculator saves your calculated results in your browser's cookies. Alternatively, you can use the "Get Link" button to generate a permanent short URL for this page with all your entered data. The link is shortened using the Bitly service. Keep in mind that the shortened links are public yet anonymous. Make sure to save the QR code or bookmark the short link if you want to return to your calculation later.

This undergraduate grading system is used at the University of Toronto (U of T).

Information Source: University of Toronto - Grades

This tool is intended to be used as a guide only. Contact your school or institution for an exact grade determination.

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Sidney Smith Commons

Online resource for A & S students

Home > My School Work > Grades > How can I calculate my final grade?

How can I calculate my final grade?

It is possible for you to predict your final grade going into a final exam or assignment for a particular course. This can also help you to prioritize your studies for each course and estimate the mark you will need on your final paper(s) or exam(s) to get the overall grade you desire in the course.

To calculate your final grade, you could use an online application like  Ben Eggleston—Grade Calculator or Grade Calc . Here’s how they work:

• Input the assignment/exam weight, which is outlined on your course syllabus, and the mark that you received on that particular assignment or exam,
• Repeat that step for every assignment that you’ve received thus far,
• Input the weight of the final exam/assignment,
• Input the final grade you hope to achieve in the course, and voila!

Of course, these are just predictions and ways of goal setting. Your marks are not official until they are posted on ACORN .

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AIMS for Students

All students registered with Accessibility Services and who are approved for test/exam accommodations must submit their test/exam requests using the Accessibility Information Management System (AIMS)

Accessibility Information Management System (AIMS)

Upcoming DEADLINE: Winter 2024 Final Exams Registration Students are now able to login to AIMS  and book their undergraduate final examinations for the Winter 2024   exam period. The deadline to enter your final examination requests is by  Friday, March 22, 2024 at 4:30 PM. For more information about AIMS, please refer to the Accessibility Student Handbook. 2023-2024 Accessibility Student Handbook (Acrobat PDF File)

How to Register with Accessibility Services

• Step 1:  Go to AIMS  https://aims.utm.utoronto.ca/custom/misc/home.aspx
• Step 2:  Review Documentation Requirements  https://www.utm.utoronto.ca/accessibility/future-uoft-students/documentation-requirements
• Step 3:  Click on Register and login in with UTORID
• Step 4:  Complete the information form (Emergency Contact, OSAP, etc.)
• Step 5:  Upload scanned documentation to the bottom of the form.
• Step 6:  Await email confirmation of online submission. Accessibility Staff will correspond once submission has been reviewed.

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Student Learning Services

Assignment calculator.

* The Assignment Calculator is based on the University of Toronto and Seneca College Assignment Calculators which are based on the original assignment calculator from the University of Minnesota Libraries. The assignment calculator is a tool to help you stay organized and view your assignments as a series of manageable steps. Always refer to your course syllabus for assignment guidelines and address any questions with your course instructor

• Library Catalogue

Assignment Calculator: A time management tool for use with writing assignments

Break your assignment into steps

Use the Assignment Calculator to break down your writing assignments into a series of manageable steps -- each with a separate due date.

All you need to know is the date you will start working on the assignment (be realistic!) and your due date. 

Read through your assignment guidelines and note requirements such as citation style and page limits.

If your topic is broad (e.g. "write an essay about healthcare") then narrow or focus your topic before you start researching. .

For more about narrowing your topic, try:

• Developing a Topic for a Research Paper: Narrowing Your Topic , a quick video (3 minutes) plus tips, from University of Regina's Archer Library.
• University of Nevada Las Vegas's Topic Narrowing tool , for a mind mapping approach. 

Gather research from credible sources to develop your topic. There are many places to search for credible information, including the SFU Library or Google Scholar.

Review the information you find to understand your topic. You will want to pay attention to relevant beliefs, trends, thoughts, and facts, giving more emphasis to the kinds of information your assignment asks you to focus on. 

For more on finding and evaluating sources, see:

• What is a scholarly journal ?: For how to identify and evaluate scholarly journals, magazines, and trade publications -- both print and online.
• Finding and evaluating resources : Tips for finding and evaluating the reliability of publications, whether you find them on the open web, in the Library Catalogue, using Google Scholar, or elsewhere. 
• Search the SFU Library for tips for books, and journal articles, and tips from subject expert librarians.

Create an overall statement that both summarizes your research and indicates the significance of your main claim or argument.

Not every research paper needs an argumentative thesis statement, but if you’re asked to take a position on a topic, then your thesis statement should also be debatable.

Remember that an effective thesis statement presents both your main claim and your central reasons for making that claim. 

You can always adjust your thesis statement as you draft your paper.

Looking for more?

• Try these tips on constructing a thesis statement from Walden University.
• You can also review these  templates for argumentation , from the SFU Student Learning Commons. 

Outline the main sections and/or paragraphs you plan to write about in your paper. 

Each section or paragraph should tie in with your thesis statement.  In your outline, make notes about how each section of your paper relates to your thesis statement. 

Also note which facts, articles, and/or evidence you will use to support your claims.

• Try these suggestions for the essential sections of an outline  from Walden University
• The University of Toronto's  guide to organizing an essay has some good outlining examples

Refer to your outline and expand your ideas into complete sentences and paragraphs.

The writing doesn't need to be perfect -- just focus on getting your ideas written and solidifying the key points of your paper.

Note the research sources you think you will write about and/or use as evidence in your paper in your outline. Be sure to include where you found the information, who the author is, and when the source was published. 

• Review these tips for writing a first draft from Berkeley
• Stuck? See these tips for overcoming writer's block: Writers Block (from Walden University) and Symptoms and Cures for Writer's Block (from Purdue University)

Revision takes time.

In this step, look again at your thesis and make sure your paper advances your argument. At this point you might need to make structural changes.

Where revision asks you to look at the structure, organization, and overall argument in your paper, editing is about taking a close look at your sentence structures, transitions, and the concision of your writing. 

For more detailed tips and examples:

• Check out  Revising the Draft  from the Harvard College Writing Center
• To ensure your paper meets the assignment guidelines, and to check for cohesion, try  Reverse Outlines: A Writer's Technique for Examining Organization (University of Wisconsin - Madison).

Make sure that all your sources are properly integrated and cited. This step is important for ensuring academic integrity.

• Review the guidelines of the citation style you have been asked to use (e.g. APA, MLA, Chicago).
• When do you need to cite? Test your knowledge with the  SFU plagiarism tutorial .
• Need more help? Ask a Librarian your citation question.

Review the style, clarity and flow of your writing. Focus on individual sentences and look for common errors in sentence structure, punctuation, grammar, or usage. Read your work out loud to help you catch mistakes. Printing out and checking a hard copy can also help you to notice typos that you might miss on the screen. 

Finally, format your paper to fit all your assignment guidelines.

• Try these techniques for sentence clarity from Purdue University.
• Review these Top 10 Self-Help Editing Tips from the Student Learning Commons

Submit your assignment, and you're done!

Remember that your instructor will provide you with helpful feedback on your assignment that can help you to improve both your writing and your writing process for future work. 

If you ever get feedback that is unclear to you, you can  bring it into the Student Learning Commons  for discussion with one of our Peers or Graduate Writing Facilitators. 

Book a consultation with the Student Learning Commons  at any of these stages to get more support. 

About this tool

These general steps will guide you through the process of writing most research-based essay assignments.

However every assignment is a little different -- so always refer to the your specific assignment guidelines, check with your TA or instructor if you have questions, and use your best judgement about which steps are necessary for you!

Further resources and more information

Looking for more types of assignments?

The University of Toronto Scarborough's Assignment Calculator  includes steps for literature reviews, annotated bibliographies, lab reports, poster presentations, and more.

Attribution:

• Our Assignment Calculator is based on the Assignment Calculator by the University of Minnesota Libraries.
• The image at the top of this page is a cropped version of  one created by Morten Oddvik  ( CC BY 2.0 ).

Assignment Calculator

The Assignment Calculator is a guide to help you plan and schedule your assignments. Start by entering the due date of your assignment. The calculator will then break down your assignment into manageable steps, which include tips and online resources to help you complete your assignment by the due date. Please keep in mind that the Assignment Calculator is a guide only and you may work at a different pace.

Print this page Start again

Things to check:

• Assessment due date
• Referencing style
• Formatting instructions
• Submission details

Things to note:

• Word limit referencing
• Style formatting
• Instructions

Strategies:

• Examine the requirements, expectations, and methods used by your department, program, and advisor.
• Review completed dissertations in your field, those done by students in your program, with your advisor, and on similar topics.
• Set up a system for organizing your search results, citations, PDFs, primary sources, notes etc. using citation management tools (e.g. Zotero, Mendeley, EndNote) or other strategies. You can use these tools to create "in-text" citations and bibliographies or works cited lists as you write.
• Do a preliminary study of the literature related to your topics to understand previous research, key themes, issues, variables, methodologies, limitations, terminology, controversies, and gaps in the current research. Identify significant researchers and scholars working in the area. Consult a variety of sources such as websites, research blogs, books, journal articles, conferences, organizations, and other sources.
• Narrow your ideas to 2 or 3 possible research questions. Evaluate your question using criteria like feasibility, scope (too narrow or too broad), your level of interest, and future benefit to your career.
• The Library has many print and ebooks on the process of writing dissertations. Search for: dissertations, academic; academic writing dissertations and report writing dissertations.

Helpful Links:

Read and understand the assessment task by:

• Identifying key words (direction, limiting and content words)
• Generating ideas
• Making a plan or concept map
• Identifying keywords (direction, limiting and content words).
• Generating ideas on how you would like to answer the question.
• Making a plan or concept map of your ideas.
• Identifying keywords (direction, limiting and content words)
• For groups: allocate roles or tasks and plan meeting times now.

The research design is the strategy or blueprint for the collection, measurement, and analysis of your data. Generally, the design is the overall logical structure for your project and the methodology refers to the detailed steps for data collection and analysis. The type of design and method used is determined by the nature of your research question. Certain research designs and methods are core to specific fields of study or programs. Your design needs to be consistent with the requirements and expectations of your advisor, committee, and program.

• Understand that your choice of design and methods will influence the niche you develop for yourself within your department, your discipline, and the wider academic community.
• Read and review information about design and methodology (e.g such as books on methodology) and study examples of how these strategies have been applied in research similar to yours (e.g. other dissertations, articles, etc.).
• Consider any philosophical and practical factors. Identify the theoretical approaches inherent in your design and methods.

Tips from the Library:

• Search Library for books and articles on research theory, design, methods, and analysis.
• Read about specific statistical techniques and software packages, for example, SPSS or SAS. For example, Lynda.com offers online tutorials.
• Review dissertations with similar designs and methods to learn about what worked well and what obstacles occurred.

On the library homepage:

• Go to Library Guides and find your Subject Guide
• Use the SEARCH box on the Library homepage for text books and peer-reviewed articles
• While searching, evaluate each source and determine if it is relevant to your assessment task.
• Save the full citation for referencing.
• Need more help? Ask a Librarian
• Use the SEARCH box on the Library homepage to locate textbooks and peer-reviewed articles
• Go to Library Guides and find your Subject Guide.
• Use the SEARCH box on the Library homepage to locate textbooks and peer-reviewed articles.
• Need more help? Ask a Librarian.
• For groups: Consider using Google Drive or another online platform to share your ideas as you research.
• Introduction-Use the introduction to establish the context of the research being conducted and to summarize the current and historical understanding about the topic, your rationale, theoretical perspective, and proposed design and methodology. Explain the significance of your question and potential outcomes.
• Develop an in-depth understanding of your topic and clarify why your research is significant
• Ensure that your research is a unique contribution.
• Explore important methodologies, controversies, and research issues.
• Identify the names of key researchers, core journals, other research centres, possible sources of funding.
• Explain your rationale for the research design and methodology and your plan to use and describe why it is appropriate for your research.
• The written literature review is selective and does not include every article or source you find on your topic.
• Build a workflow or system so you can keep track of sources (e.g. citation, PDF, etc.) including notes/rationale for sources you are using and for those you choose not to include (with your rationale for excluding them in case your advisor or committee have questions later).
• Meet with your Faculty librarians to learn about useful library databases, keywords, citation tools, and specialized services for researchers.
• Go to workshops or watch recorded workshops.
• Use the Student Writing Support resources, especially for graduate writers resources.
• Review other dissertations both for ideas on how the literature review can be organized and for useful articles and other sources.
• Review what you already have written and presented for your course work and other projects.
• Search article databases outside your discipline. Explore interdisciplinary databases such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus etc.
• Browse and search in the core journals in your field.

Remember to:

• Paraphrase and summarise the most relevant information.
• Look for patterns within your notes.
• Organise your notes and link them to your plan.
• Paraphrase and summarise the most relevant information
• Look for patterns
• Organise your notes and link them to your plan
• Look for patterns within your notes
• Obtain any needed human subject or animal care approval from the University of Wollongong.
• Create a strategy to organize your files, contacts, observations, field notes, and bibliographic information.
• Implement a small pilot study before proceeding with the full data collection. This will help you to test your approach to ensure you are collecting data that reflects your research question. Document details such as time involved and issues in the study for either you or the participants. Determine if any modifications to your study need to occur before proceeding.
• Identify and test a strategy for transforming and analysing the data (e.g., coding data, transcribing interviews, running statistics, etc.).
• Test your analysis method with the small pilot study or sample of your data.
• Create graphs, tables, images, and other outputs that illustrate your results.
• Meet regularly with your supervisor to discuss and resolve any questions.
• Investigate your Research Method to learn more about design and implementation.
• Search the Library for books and articles on data visualization, data mining, data processing, methods, and analysis.
• Try Lynda.com for online tutorials on data visualization, Excel, charts, graphs, etc.

Make sure you keep on task when writing... don't get distracted or off topic.

• Write paragraphs that respond to the task, using the information you found
• Follow the structure and format required
• Don't forget to reference each source
• Demonstrate your critical thinking in your writing

Make sure you keep on task when writing...don't get distracted or off topic.

• Write paragraphs that respond to the essay question, using the information you found.
• Draft one paragraph for each main point, with an explanation and evidence for the point you are making.
• Then write your introduction and conclusion last.
• Don't forget to reference each source you use in your essay.
• Demonstrate your critical thinking in your writing.
• Follow the structure and format required.
• Write paragraphs that respond to the report question, using the information and sources you found.
• The specific sections and headings of a report depend on the type of report: business report; lab report etc.
• You might also want to ask your lecturer or course coordinator what would be the most appropriate report structure that they prefer for that task.
• Don't forget to reference each source you refer to in your report.
• Develop your main argument and design a structure to present your argument.
• Design your visual aids.
• Decide on whether you will use visual aids, and if so, what kind of visual aids you will use. You might use a PowerPoint, whiteboard, artefacts/props, or handouts.
• Think about what would be most appropriate for the presentation task you have been assigned and the audience you will be addressing.
• If using a PowerPoint, design your slides with text and images.
• Make notes for what to say about each slide, and how long you will spend on each slide.
• Consider academic integrity and copyright issues when you use images or videos. Ensure you acknowledge all your sources - for both text and images.
• For groups: consider using an online presentation platform such as MS PowerPoint Online, Google Slides, or Prezi, so you can continue working on your slides collaboratively even when you’re not together in person.
• You might also want to ask your lecturer or course coordinator what would be the most appropriate presentation options.
• Don't forget to reference each source.
• Tip: In preparing your talk, only write as much as you can say in the allocated time schedule. A good guide is 125 words per minute (e.g. approx. 1,250 words if you are speaking for 10 minutes).
• If possible, practise your presentation in the room you will present in to identify any visual issues (colour, word size, etc.)

Results Section:

The results section of your dissertation is the place to report your findings based on the data you gathered. This section should appear in a logical sequence based on your methodology. State your findings without interpretation.

• Use non-text objects to illustrate your results including tables, figures, images and visualizations. Illustrative objects should be placed either within the dissertation text or at the end of your dissertation.
• Summarize all your results whether they are statistically significant or not.
• Put raw data, survey instruments, and release forms, etc. into appendices if appropriate and required.

Discussion Section:

The discussion section is often considered the core of your dissertation. It gives context to your research, explains what your results mean, and the relevance. As part of the discussion, incorporate elements of your literature review and describe the significance and implications of what you found.

• Include your research questions identified in the introduction. Describe how you have moved the field forward. Explain how your research enhances or fills a gap in existing research. Identify any unexpected or contradictory findings.
• Explain how your results relate to existing literature and if they are consistent with previous research.
• Describe how your results can be applied. This could take a variety of forms such as real world application, best practices or recommendations.

Update the Introduction and Literature Review.

• Review and update your introduction and literature review sections to ensure that they are accurate and current.

Write the Conclusion.

• Share the conclusion you have reached because of your research.
• Explain limitations in your research and possibilities for future research on your topic.
• Meet with a Faculty Librarian to do precise searching if you need to find additional sources.
• Meet with Learning Development for support with your writing process.

Use a checklist to make sure you have

• Answered the assessment task and stayed on topic
• Covered all parts and identified any gaps
• Used the correct referencing style
• Aligned to the marking criteria
• Formatted and referenced correctly
• Checked for grammatical and stylistic errors
• Answered the essay question and stayed on topic
• Covered all parts required in the report and identified any gaps
• Formatted the report and referenced correctly
• Answered the essay question and stayed on topic.
• Covered all parts and identified any gaps.
• Practise without an audience to check that the organisation and timing of your content works well. It can be helpful to video yourself (e.g. using your phone) or practise in front of a mirror so you can see what the audience sees.
• What worked well?
• What didn’t work so well?
• At what points were there problems in the flow?
• How did you feel?
• Make changes to your presentation based on your reflections. Think of questions the audience might ask and prepare some answers.
• For groups: If you take turns to speak, you could offer constructive feedback to each other. Make sure you think of ways to encourage each other as well as suggesting ways to improve.
• If you have time practice in front on someone and ask for constructive feedback.
• Ensure you use the correct referencing style.
• Check your assignment aligns to the marking criteria and is formatted and referenced correctly.
• Lastly check for grammatical and stylistic errors.

Although editing and revising occurs throughout the writing process, budget sufficient time to return to your draft for full-scale revision. Seeking feedback, reviewing, and editing your document helps you to:

• See your text from a reader's perspective.
• Examine the overall organisation and identify what is no longer relevant and what sections need further development. Bring together parts written at different times to create a coherent, connected whole.
• Make your ideas clear to others, which in turn, will result in better reader comments.
• Plan and negotiate your progress in consultation with your advisor and committee members.
• Separate large-scale revision from small-scale editing and proofreading, making sure to make large changes in organisation and content first rather than spending hours smoothing out a sentence you will end up cutting.
• Help your readers help you by giving them a direction, for example in a cover letter, in which you explain what you want to accomplish in the draft and list your specific questions and concerns.
• Identify potential readers' expertise and skills when deciding which parts of your dissertation you want them to review. For example, perhaps only people working in your lab can constructively comment on your "methods," while friends in other disciplines would give useful feedback on the "introduction."
• Respond to all comments even though you may decide to not incorporate a suggestion.
• Negotiate with your advisor and committee members to establish a process for submitting drafts for their feedback.
• Check all calculations, visual details, and citations for accuracy and validity and remove sources you are no longer citing or add new ones.
• Prepare the bibliography, appendix, title page, and acknowledgements.
• Be sure you are formatting your document to meet the University requirements.

Prepare for defence:

Your defence is your final opportunity to present your dissertation as a coherent, intelligent product to the committee members who will read and evaluate it. Moreover, although the defence is a challenging prospect, remember it is your chance to share your work with interested colleagues, who will give you valuable feedback.

• You may or may not be expected to give a brief presentation at the beginning.
• Focus on the needs of your primary audience (your advisor and committee), either by consulting them directly or considering their feedback to your initial draft.
• Review your notes and rationale for making the decisions you made in your draft for example, including or excluding certain seminal theories, authors, and research methodologies.
• Remind yourself that at this point you are now the "expert" on your research and the goal of the defence is to present and share your expertise and seek feedback from interested readers.

Note: Check deadlines for commencement and submission of the dissertation.

Make sure you include all parts of your assessment when you submit it. There are no second chances!

• Do you need to print off a hardcopy or upload to Moodle?
• Do you need an assessment cover sheet?
• Have you checked your assessment through Turnitin and made the necessary changes? It can take up to 24 hours to generate an originality report.
• Do you need to print off a hardcopy or upload to Moodle? Or do you need to do both?
• Have you checked your assessment through Turnitin and made the necessary changes?
• Ensure you have all your materials ready to present. Gather your slideshow files, handouts, or props.
• If using Powerpoint, load your presentation onto a portable data storage device, e.g. USB stick, or ensure it is stored in a 'cloud' storage platform that you can access from the room you will present in. It's good to have multiple copies of it in case one version becomes inaccessible for some reason.
• If you’re planning to present from your own computer or device, ensure you also bring any necessary adaptors so that you can connect your computer or device to the projector.
• For groups: Ensure that each of you has the most recent version of the presentation. Make sure you know who is responsible for bringing a computer and adaptor, if necessary, or any other props.

Your dissertation defence committee will have informed you that you passed your defence, or passed with minor revisions needed. In some cases, substantial revisions are needed before the committee members agree to pass the dissertation. The procedures, requirements, and timelines for completing the dissertation process may vary depending on the department with which you are affiliated and the type of doctorate you will receive. Once any needed revisions have been completed and approved, you are ready to finish the dissertation and submit the final version to the Graduate School.

• When submitting your dissertation consider your rights as an author. For example, you may want to retain your legal rights to the copyright for your work.

CONGRATULATIONS you have completed your dissertation!

Grade Calculator

Use this calculator to find out the grade of a course based on weighted averages. This calculator accepts both numerical as well as letter grades. It also can calculate the grade needed for the remaining assignments in order to get a desired grade for an ongoing course.

Final Grade Calculator

Use this calculator to find out the grade needed on the final exam in order to get a desired grade in a course. It accepts letter grades, percentage grades, and other numerical inputs.

Related GPA Calculator

The calculators above use the following letter grades and their typical corresponding numerical equivalents based on grade points.

Brief history of different grading systems

In 1785, students at Yale were ranked based on "optimi" being the highest rank, followed by second optimi, inferiore (lower), and pejores (worse). At William and Mary, students were ranked as either No. 1, or No. 2, where No. 1 represented students that were first in their class, while No. 2 represented those who were "orderly, correct and attentive." Meanwhile at Harvard, students were graded based on a numerical system from 1-200 (except for math and philosophy where 1-100 was used). Later, shortly after 1883, Harvard used a system of "Classes" where students were either Class I, II, III, IV, or V, with V representing a failing grade. All of these examples show the subjective, arbitrary, and inconsistent nature with which different institutions graded their students, demonstrating the need for a more standardized, albeit equally arbitrary grading system.

In 1887, Mount Holyoke College became the first college to use letter grades similar to those commonly used today. The college used a grading scale with the letters A, B, C, D, and E, where E represented a failing grade. This grading system however, was far stricter than those commonly used today, with a failing grade being defined as anything below 75%. The college later re-defined their grading system, adding the letter F for a failing grade (still below 75%). This system of using a letter grading scale became increasingly popular within colleges and high schools, eventually leading to the letter grading systems typically used today. However, there is still significant variation regarding what may constitute an A, or whether a system uses plusses or minuses (i.e. A+ or B-), among other differences.

An alternative to the letter grading system

Letter grades provide an easy means to generalize a student's performance. They can be more effective than qualitative evaluations in situations where "right" or "wrong" answers can be easily quantified, such as an algebra exam, but alone may not provide a student with enough feedback in regards to an assessment like a written paper (which is much more subjective).

Although a written analysis of each individual student's work may be a more effective form of feedback, there exists the argument that students and parents are unlikely to read the feedback, and that teachers do not have the time to write such an analysis. There is precedence for this type of evaluation system however, in Saint Ann's School in New York City, an arts-oriented private school that does not have a letter grading system. Instead, teachers write anecdotal reports for each student. This method of evaluation focuses on promoting learning and improvement, rather than the pursuit of a certain letter grade in a course. For better or for worse however, these types of programs constitute a minority in the United States, and though the experience may be better for the student, most institutions still use a fairly standard letter grading system that students will have to adjust to. The time investment that this type of evaluation method requires of teachers/professors is likely not viable on university campuses with hundreds of students per course. As such, although there are other high schools such as Sanborn High School that approach grading in a more qualitative way, it remains to be seen whether such grading methods can be scalable. Until then, more generalized forms of grading like the letter grading system are unlikely to be entirely replaced. However, many educators already try to create an environment that limits the role that grades play in motivating students. One could argue that a combination of these two systems would likely be the most realistic, and effective way to provide a more standardized evaluation of students, while promoting learning.

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Studiosity's assignment calculator

Start early and stay calm - you've got this..

Uh oh, due on the same day?

Due tomorrow?

Save your plan for this assignment:

• Read your assignment instructions, check the word count and marking criteria, double check the due date and the format.
• Circle keywords in your assignment question that tell you what to do. For instance, is it asking you to 'evaluate' or 'describe' or 'assess'?
• Try writing out the question in your own words, or explain the assignment to a family member or friend.
• Circle or make note of any keywords that are related to your subject or course specifically (in Nursing, this might be \"human structure\" or \"misconduct\"; in Business it might be \"ethics\".)
• If you have any questions on how to understand your assignment question or keywords, log into your free Studiosity account to get 24/7 help from a study coach specialist.
• Use the right structure for your assignment type: is it an essay , report, personal reflection, persuasive or narrative, or scientific paper? Your assignment sheet or instructions from your teacher will tell you this.
• What do you already know? Spend a few minutes writing it down.
• Where will you look? Think about the tools you will use (perhaps your library databases, Google Scholar, others). Journals might be good for evidence, a credible online source or search might be good for general information.
• Get creative: When searching, think of other, related keywords that could give you new results and perspectives (for example the different keywords: Sport; Soccer; World Cup might give you different sources.)
• When taking notes, consider paraphrasing as you go - this means using your own words to describe someone else's idea. Paraphrasing can help you understand the idea yourself. (Remember, you still need to reference someone else's' idea even if you use your own words.) You might also choose to use a direct quote - \"exact words in a reference\" - or you might summarise, which is describing the findings of an entire source or section in your own words. If you take notes this way while researching, it will help you form your ideas, sentences, and paragraphs when you write your first draft.
• Save yourself some time - if you read something relevant, make a note right away . You might keep it in a \"research journal\" book or digital document, with correctly formatted references, dates accessed, and a brief note on what it relates to. This will save you a lot of time later!
• Remember those notes you took while reading? Now you can put them in an order that makes sense.
• Take notes to suit the type of structure you need to follow.
• Whether you are typing or writing, one method is to start with headlines - for example, by argument, by topic, by idea - and group the notes you made this way.
• Use your own words, using language that your teacher expects.
• Use evidence, properly.
• A draft isn't perfect! Try to write everything down first. Then, try to focus on developing those notes into organised paragraphs, based on the structure you need to follow.
• If you're not sure where to start, you can always connect to an English Subject Specialist who can help guide you on how to start your assignment
• Get trusted AI-powered feedback on what you have written so far. Studiosity is free for many students, so find your service to &nbsp; upload your document and get fast, personalsied feedback to help improve your draft, in just minutes.
• Always check with your teacher or lecturer if you are unsure, or want feedback on the content or even referencing of your draft.
• You've got feedback, great! Now you need to do something with it. This is where you can critically think for yourself about the strength of your argument (if you're arguing), your references, and structure. Decide what feedback to use, and how you want to make changes if you want to.
• Make sure your assignment is formatted correctly for the task type and your teacher’s requirements.
• Do a proofread and last edit ( what's the difference? ).
• Use Studiosity to get a last round of writing feedback, before you hand your work in. You only need a few minutes to get your review, then you can take your feedback and make any necessary edits, before submitting your work.

Got a first draft? Get free writing feedback, in minutes.

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Students : Think about your own workload, commitments, and choices. Leave enough extra time - especially if you usually procrastinate - and start your assignment as soon as you can. Always ask your own teacher for help.

Find your free access from your university, college, or school.

Educators and staff : This assignment calculator is inspired by advances in Transition Pedagogy and built using the knowledge gained from almost 20 years of experience helping students with time management, assignment skills and study skills, in order to build confidence, reduce anxiety, and increase capacity to succeed. 

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"Will this assignment calculator do my assignment?"

No. It will give you ideas about how to start, which might make it easier. When you do have something written, upload it in your free Studiosity service. You'll get personalised feedback in just minutes, so you can improve your own work before submitting.

"My assignment is due really soon!"

Don't stress, and always speak to your own teacher. You can choose to get a last moment review with our AI-powered writing feedback service, or get instant  study support through "Connect Live" in your free Studiosity service.

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Research paper

Assignment start and due dates.

Enter the date you plan to start work and the due date of your assignment.

Required. Example: 12 31 2020

Assignment steps

Understand the assignment and select a topic.

• Read through and understand your assignment  (from UNC).
• Email or visit your instructor's office hours with questions.
• Choosing and refining topics  (from Colorado State). 
• Try a specialized online encyclopedia . 
• Get background on current topics using online tools like  CQ Researcher  or  Opposing Viewpoints in Context .
• Write down 5-10 keywords about your topic including terms, jargon, events, people, places, etc. to use as keywords or search terms when you do more searching for sources.

Percent time spent on this step: 8

Draft your thesis or research question

• Move from topic to develop a thesis statement  (from Harvard).
• Moving from Topic to Thesis  (from York University)
• Thesis Statement Creator
• Get online writing support at the U of M's Center for Writing
• Have questions?  Ask us! Chat 24/7, email, online consultations from librarians

Percent time spent on this step: 7

Find/evaluate evidence and sources

• Design your research strategy and try different keywords until you get results that are useful. 
• As background or to provide a context?
• To introduce and situate your thesis within existing conversation on topic?
• To demonstrate the value of your working research question?
• To support or counter an argument?
• Search subject-specific databases  to find articles in a specific discipline or subject (e.g. Business journals, film studies journals, health sciences journals, etc.).
• How do I find articles?
• What does it mean to be a scholarly source?  (video, 2 mins)
• How to read and comprehend scientific research articles  (video, 5 mins)
• Finding online newspaper articles
• Can you believe what you'll do after watching this video? Assessing sources of information
• Specialized sources such as h istorical or primary documents and archives ,  facts or statistics  or  government publications and websites
• Consider using Zotero or tools to save PDFs and create in-text citations and bibliography .
• Watch  Citation: A (Very) Brief Introduction  (from UNC) (video, 2 mins)

Percent time spent on this step: 20

Critically read & evaluate sources

• Evaluate sources based on your research question or working thesis.
• How to read and comprehend scientific reserch articles  (video, 5 mins)
• Take notes on readings while reading. Make notes on margins. Use tools to comment or highlight PDFs. 
• Try  close reading  (from Harvard) and  read to write  strategies (from UNC).
• Conduct more research to fill in gaps as needed (see step 3).
• As you read your sources, think about how the sources talk to each other or could talk to each other. Watch  what is the scholarly conversation  (video, 2 mins) and  the rules of the scholarly conversation  (video, 2 mins).

Percent time spent on this step: 25

Develop structure. Draft citations.

• Polish or refine your arguments  as a response to your research question (from Wisconsin). Read  Developing a thesis  (from Harvard).
• Outlines  (from Indiana).
• Diagram such as  brainstorming  (from UNC), concept mapping, idea trees or quadrants. 
• Talk out your structure. Record yourself talking about your topic and ideas. Transcribe your thoughts to the computer.
• Become familiar with the  academic essay structure  from U of M's Center for Writing (PDF)
• If you are ready to start writing, begin with segments or chunks, not necessarily the introduction or beginning. As you write you will discover more of what you want to say and then you can fit the chunks or segments together. 
• Watch  Citation: A (Very) Brief Introduction (from UNC)  (video, 2 mins)

Percent time spent on this step: 5

Write first draft

Keep in mind there are many ways to approach writing your first draft.  You do not have to start at the beginning. Instead begin drafting segments or chunks. Concentrate on writing your rough ideas and not on revising.

• Draft additional segments. Develop connections between segments.
• Take breaks. Use breaks as a way to keep your brain and your writing fresh.
• Use strategies to avoid plagiarism   (from UNC).
• Quote and paraphrase sources  (from Wisconsin).
• Integrating quotations from sources from U of M's Center for Writing  (PDF).
• Get online writing support at the U of M's Center for Writing.
• In light of your draft, you might need to revise your thesis.
• Revising drafts  (from UNC).
• Draft your bibliography or works cited page.  Consider using Zotero or other tools to create your bibliography.  Be sure to double check the citations.

Polish & put paper in final form

• Style ,  grammar  and  punctuation  Quicktips from U of M's Center for Writing.
• Editing and proofreading your essay  (from UNC).
• Writing an effective title from U of M's Center for Writing  (PDF).
• Resources for multilingual writers  from the U of M's Center for Writing.
• What are citations?  (from Libraries)
• Consider using Zotero or other tools to create your bibliography.  Be sure to double check the citations.

Assignment Calculators: Home

Why use an assignment calculator.

Have you ever had difficulty breaking down large assignments into manageable tasks? These free tools can be a great help!

Assignment Calculators

• University of Wollongong's Assignment Calculator Allows the user to select from 5 different types of assignments.
• University of Minnesota's Assignment Calculator The original.
• University of Arkansas' Research Paper Wizard
• Rochester Institute of Technology's Assignment Calculator Allows the user to select the subject area of the assignment.

Additional Virginia Tech Resources

• Cook Counseling Center Cook Counseling Center seeks to provide a safe, welcoming, and affirming environment for all persons who seek our services.
• Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) is here to serve students who have or think they may have disabilities. The department provides numerous accommodations, services, and resources for students with disabilities and temporary injuries or illnesses.
• The Student Success Center The Student Success Center offers free academic support, such as tutoring and study skills seminars to undergraduate students at Virginia Tech. We also have programs and activities for students who are already succeeding academically, and simply want to enrich their educational experiences at Virginia Tech.
• The Virginia Tech Writing Center The Virginia Tech Writing Center aims to support all writers within our community and foster an environment in which students' learning differences are respected and addressed. They employ a diverse group of graduate and undergraduate writing coaches working in multiple disciplines across campus.

Ask a Librarian

• Last Updated: Jul 14, 2021 5:11 PM
• URL: https://guides.lib.vt.edu/AssignmentCalculators