Choosing Between Automatic and Manual Scoring for Rubrics

Overview

When creating Scoring Rubrics in Learn Amp, you have the option to choose between automatic and manual scoring. Each method determines how point values are applied to the different quality levels within your rubric.

This article outlines the key differences between the two options, with examples to help you decide which best suits your assessment style.

Functionality Breakdown

Automatic Scoring

With automatic scoring:

You define a minimum and maximum total score for the rubric.
The system evenly distributes the points across each quality level for each topic area.
The lowest score is assigned to the first column (e.g. Poor), and the highest to the last column (e.g. Excellent).

Example:
If you set the range from 2 to 20 points:

The first level will receive 2 points
The last level will receive 20 points
All levels in between are spaced evenly

This method ensures consistent scaling across all criteria and removes the need for manual input during setup.

Manual Scoring

With manual scoring:

You assign specific point values to each cell in the rubric grid.
You are not required to set a minimum or maximum total score.
Each quality level per topic can have its own custom score.

Example:
You might set:

First column: 1 point
Last column: 1 point
Or any other variation depending on what performance you want to reward

Manual scoring gives you full flexibility but requires more granular setup.

How Scores Are Calculated

Understanding how scores are calculated helps you design rubrics that accurately reflect learner performance.

Total Score Calculation

The total score for a learner's submission is calculated as follows:

For each topic area (row), the reviewer selects a quality level (column)
Each selected quality level has a point value
The total score = sum of all selected quality level points

Formula: Total Score = Σ (points per selected quality level)

Points Per Quality Level

In automatic scoring, points per quality level are determined by:

Points = (column position × base increment)
Where the base increment distributes evenly between min and max score

In manual scoring, you explicitly set each column's point value.

Maximum Possible Score

The maximum score a learner can achieve is:

Max Score = highest column points × number of topic areas

Example: A rubric with 4 topic areas and a maximum of 5 points per column allows a maximum total score of 20 points.

Score Clamping

The system ensures scores stay within valid ranges:

Scores below the minimum are clamped to the minimum
Scores above the maximum are clamped to the maximum

This prevents data anomalies if rubric configuration changes after scoring begins.

When to Use Each

Scenario	Recommended Scoring Type

Scenario	Recommended Scoring Type
You want consistent, evenly distributed scoring	Automatic
You need full control over how each level is weighted	Manual
Simpler setup for multiple topic areas	Automatic
Complex assessments with variable scoring importance	Manual
Certain criteria are more important than others	Manual
Quick setup with predictable score ranges	Automatic

Tip: Use manual scoring when certain criteria are more important than others and should carry more weight.

Practical Examples

Example 1: Automatic Scoring

Scenario: You're assessing presentation skills with 3 topic areas.

Setup:

Min score: 3
Max score: 15
Quality levels: Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent, Outstanding (5 levels)

Result:

Each column gets points: 3, 6, 9, 12, 15
For 3 topic areas, the possible total score range is 9–45 points
Points are evenly distributed

Example 2: Manual Scoring

Scenario: You're assessing a project where creativity matters more than formatting.

Setup:

Topic 1 (Creativity): columns worth 1, 3, 6, 10 points
Topic 2 (Content): columns worth 1, 2, 3, 5 points
Topic 3 (Formatting): columns worth 0, 1, 1, 2 points

Result:

Total possible score: 10 + 5 + 2 = 17 points
Creativity contributes up to 59% of the total score
Formatting contributes only up to 12%

FAQs

Q: Can I switch between automatic and manual after setup?
Not directly. You'll need to recreate the rubric or adjust scoring manually depending on your new preference.

Q: Do both types support pass/fail calculation?
Yes, both methods allow you to define thresholds for pass/fail status on the linked exercise.

Q: Is there a recommended default?
If you're unsure, start with automatic for simplicity. You can always refine later with manual scoring.

Q: How do I know what scores learners are getting?
Use the View Report feature on your Scoring Rubric to see average scores and score distribution.

Q: Can I see the calculated points before publishing?
Yes, use the Preview feature when creating your rubric to see how points will be distributed.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Solution

Issue	Solution
Scores not appearing correctly	Review whether scoring type is set and values are defined for all levels.
Uneven point distribution	This is expected for manual scoring—double-check cell entries.
Can't adjust point boxes	You may be using automatic scoring—switch to manual for customisation.
Total score seems wrong	Check that all topic areas have been scored and verify the calculation formula above.
Pass/fail not triggering	Ensure the exercise has a pass score set and uses the "Pass Score" completion type.