An instructor can issue grades for a Forum post as well as any reply posts by using the Ratings function
1. Go to the Edit Settings menu for the Forum that needs to be graded. Click the 3 dots next to Mark as done to view the dropdown menu.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/2043537543582/original/UdTaI3byxH_dM5-qGCHed1nRacfbIcaXaw.png?1716484156)
2. Locate and click on the Ratings heading.
3. In the Aggregate Type dropdown menu, select how you would like the rating grades to be combined in the gradebook.
- Select any choice other than No Ratings.
- If you plan on issuing one rating for an initial post and another for a reply post, consider Sum of Ratings.
![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/2043537545195/original/toZP6wDdCeTINhmjmgatKL01X6ADUwEV5g.png?1716484572)
4. In the Scale dropdown menu, select Point.
5. In the Maximum Grade field, type in the maximum number of points that a student can possibly score.
Note, this cannot be easily changed after grades have been issued.
![In Scale setting select Point as the Type and type in a value for the Maximum grade for the forum activity](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/2043199556278/original/9qTgORAEd9Ui-s0KRlbTor-WMu8zqTtSSg.png?1615233829)
13. When done, click the red Save and Return to Course or Save and Display buttons.
![Save and return to course or save and display buttons](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.freshdesk.com/data/helpdesk/attachments/production/2043198133851/original/FIb3bEwIrt9eV3bHnAjWufKdAqO4ltvBBQ.png?1614795625)
Once students have posted to the forum, and you are ready to grade their posts, follow instructions on how to Grade a Forum with Ratings.