Detailed Explanation: Maximum Points vs Points (in Review Options)
? 1. What Are Maximum Points?
Definition:
Maximum Points refers to the total number of points an assessment (quiz, test, assignment) is worth.
It’s the maximum possible score a student can earn on that activity.
Purpose:
To define the value of the assessment in the gradebook.
To determine how much weight the assessment carries toward the final grade.
Where It’s Set:
In the assessment setup area when creating the quiz or test.
Visible To:
Faculty (always).
Students (usually as “out of X points” when seeing their final score).
Impacts:
Directly affects the grade a student earns.
Determines how scores are calculated and scaled.
Example:
You create a quiz with 10 questions worth 2 points each.
Maximum Points = 20
If a student gets 15/20, that’s a 75% score.
? 2. What Are Points (in Review Options)?
Definition:
Points in Review Options refers to whether students can see the number of points earned or lost on each individual question after submitting their attempt.
It’s a display setting, not a grading setting.
Purpose:
To control how much feedback the student gets about their performance per question.
Useful for managing test security or staged feedback (e.g., during ongoing assessments).
Where It’s Set:
In the Review Options or Results settings for the test/quiz.
Often under labels like: “Show points earned per question” or “Show scores”.
Visible To:
Students (if enabled).
Faculty (always see the detailed breakdown regardless of settings).
Impacts:
Does NOT affect the actual grade.
Only affects visibility — what the student sees during their review.
Example:
A student answers 5/10 questions correctly.
Total score: 50/100 (based on max points).
If Points is enabled, the student sees:
“Question 1: 10/10”
“Question 2: 0/10”
etc.
If Points is disabled, the student may see:
Just the total score (50/100) — or even nothing, depending on other settings