Blackboard Ultra (Faculty) - Tests, Forms, and Pools: Allow Negative Scoring on Tests

Enabling Negative Scoring

Blackboard Ultra allows instructors to permit negative scores on assessments. This can be useful for discouraging guessing or penalizing incorrect answers. With this setting enabled, students can receive a negative score for an individual question if they answer incorrectly and the point deduction exceeds the points earned on the question so far. The overall test score can also be negative if the total deductions exceed the total points earned.

Steps to Allow Negative Scoring

1. Locate the test you want to edit.
2. Click the test title.
3. On the left side of the question, click the ellipsis (...) and select "Edit/Regrade" from the drop-down menu.
   
   
   
   
4. Use the toggle to allow partial or negative credit. 
   
   
   
   
5. You can use negative percentages to subtract points from incorrect answers. Set the percentages to the percentage you want deducted for a wrong answer. To deduct points, make sure to use the minus (-) sign before the percent.
   
   
   
   
6. Click Save.

Important Considerations

• Review your test questions and point values carefully before enabling negative scoring to ensure fair and appropriate penalties for incorrect answers.
• Communicate your negative scoring policy clearly to students so they understand how it will affect their grades.
• Consider the potential impact of negative scoring on student motivation and performance.

Need Additional Support?

This guide aims to provide useful information, but as technology changes, interfaces or steps might vary. Please use the Comment button to let us know if anything differs from your experience. Your feedback helps us keep this information accurate. Thank you!