Q: Is there a way to allow students more than one attempt on an assessment and control the grading of the attempts?
The Multiple Attempts feature in Blackboard has been expanded to allow instructors to designate the number of attempts allowed on an assessment as well as the scoring options for the assessment (score first attempt, last attempt, average of all attempts, highest score, lowest score, or manual score).
Selecting Multiple Attempts in an Assessment
Assessments may now be set to allow unlimited or multiple attempts:
- Create an assessment in the Test Manager.
- Go to a Content Area (Course Documents, Assignments, etc.) and click Test to add the test. Select the Test from the list and click Submit. Click OK.
- Click Modify the Test Options.
- Check the box next to Multiple Attempts and select the radio button next to either Allow unlimited attempts or Number of attempts. If Number of attempts is selected, please designate the number of attempts allowed in the text box.

- Set the appropriate Self-assessment Options, Test Feedback and Test Presentation.
- Click Submit to update the Assessment.
Note: The gradebook displays all attempts and overall score can be set to last attempt, first attempt, highest score, lowest score, or average of scores. There is also an override field for instructor use.
Selecting Scoring Options in the Gradebook
Instructors are able to set gradebook items for Blackboard Assessments with more than one attempt to calculate the grade for the assessment based on the first attempt, last attempt, highest score, lowest score, or on the average score of all attempts:
Once an assessment with multiple attempts is added to a content area, click on the name of the assessment in the Gradebook.
- Click Modify Gradebook Item.
- Select Grade of last attempt, Grade of first attempt, Highest grade, Lowest grade, or Average of grades.

- Click Submit to update the Gradebook Item.
Back to Blackboard FAQs
Back to Top