Grading is at the crux of educational evaluation. It’s a major factor in designating student success, and it’s a vital skill that every educator needs to have firm hold of. Succinctly, grades represent the extent to which the learner has met the defined objectives. Teachers generally define these objectives at the beginning of the year, aided by benchmarks, such as statewide academic achievement standards. Grading is an emotionally laden procedure that implies more than the degree of compliance with the goals.

Before beginning to teach a class, teachers should think of and choose the grading criteria; students appreciate a grading system that is fair, consistent, and easy to understand. Grades serve the following purposes:

1. Provide feedback to students on their rate of achievement.
2. Help students evaluate their own strengths and weaknesses.
3. Properly used (not inflated), grades serve as a positive motivating factor by rewarding students 
for their progress.
4. Communicate student achievement to others, including potential employers and graduate schools.
5. Select students for special programs (such as remedial or advanced).

You’ll be required to adhere to your school district’s grading policy, which will be provided to you. These policies may also differ from one district to another. You will find out that grading comes with its own set of challenges.

In order to make grading easier, there are several edtech companies that sell online grading tools. These tools will make sure that when you assess your students, you have all of the resources that you need to be successful. We decided to create a list of the 17 best online grading tools for teachers, so you won’t have to do a ton of research to find the one that works for you.

1. ActiveGrade

This app uses standards to measure student success.

2. Formative

Formative hopes to encourage students to learn from feedback and corrections. Educators watch in real time as students answer questions and can jump in and provide help.

3. LearnBoost

A free electronic grading system for teachers.

4. Crowdmark

This shared grading tool is great for assessing group work.

5. Goalbook Toolkit

Allows all of the stakeholders in education to collaborate.

6. JumpRope

Mastery based grading app for the K-12 classrooms.

7. MasteryConnect

Save and share grading data with this easy to use app.

8. FreshGrade

An easy way to record, save, and share student learning.

9. Kaizena

Save lots of time by assessing digital work on Google Drive.

10. Metria Master Teacher Edition

Comprehensive standards planning, assessment tool that supports quality instruction.

11. Gradealyzer

This product is future of the grade book. Gradealyzer offers educators a single space to keep grades across subjects and even school wide.

12. The Answer Pad

Easy to use, assessment product for your classroom.

13. Socrative

Powerful assessments to measure student learning.

14. Kahoot!

Gamified student-response tool that can make assessment fun and competitive.

15. Quizalize

Turn formative assessment into a game show.

16. GoSoapBox

Simple, easy to use web-based clicker tool gives instant feedback.

17. Edulastic

Formative assessment tool that tracks achievement of benchmarks.

Did we miss any? If so, leave their names in the comment box below. These apps will come in handy when you are grading on the curve.