The Gradebook can be downloaded in a spreadsheet format, allowing you work with marks offline. You can download the Gradebook in .CSV or .XLS format.
Download Gradebook
Downloading the Gradebook allows for a number of different tasks outside of Blackboard, such as:
- Uploading marks directly into RISIS.
- Transferring marks to external marks spreadsheets.
- Applying formulas in order to perform statistical analysis of mark data.
Step 1: Open Gradebook tabs Markable Items, Marks or Students
Each of these tabs show the Gradebook icon (a) in the top right-hand corner.
Click on the Download icon to open the Download Options panel.
Step 2: Select your download options
When the Download Options panel opens complete each section.
Mark records – options are Full Gradebook or Mark History, select Full Gradebook (b), you can specify which columns in the next section.
Record Details – specify which items (columns/assessments) in the Gradebook that you wish to include in the downloaded excel file. The options are:
- Select All Items (c) – will download all columns.
- Select individual assessments – all the columns in the Gradebook are listed – select one or more (d).
- Include feedback fro selected item – on/off
File Type – Select from the options Tab-separated File (.xls) or Comma Separated Values (.csv)
Save Location – Select from the options My Device or Content Collection (we recommend downloading to your device)
Step 3: Click Download
Once all the options have been selected click download.
The file will download immediately to your download folder (unless you have selected content collection).
Upload Gradebook
If you are downloading the Gradebook to add marks, for example, than you will need to upload it once more when you are ready.
To synchronize external data to gradebook data, unique identifiers are necessary for each student and for each column in the gradebook. The unique identifier used for each student is the student’s username. The unique identifier for each column is a column ID number. Column ID numbers are generated by the system and shouldn’t be changed or deleted.
Step 1: Open the Markable items, Marks or Students tab
In the top right-hand corner of the Gradebook select the Upload icon to open the Upload Gradebook panel.
Step 2: In the Upload Gradebook panel select your file to be uploaded.
Use the Drag & drop, Upload Local File or Content Collection options to select your file.
Step 3: Confirm the columns you wish to upload
The Upload Gradebook panel will remain open, the column names of all the columns you have changed, in excel, will appear in a list.
- If you do not want to upload any of these changed columns, de-select them.
- Any column you have added in excel while the file was download will appear on this list.
If any errors to the upload have been found you will be able to view error details to find what the problem is so you can solve it and try again.
Click upload.
The Gradebook will be updated to include the changes you have made in excel.
Any grade additions or changes you made to non-posted grades in the file appear as overrides in your gradebook. In the student list view, you can open a student’s submission and select Undo Override if needed. If you change a posted grade in the file, you’ll need to post the grade again.
Mark History
The alternative to Full Gradebook is to download the Mark History, which will give a list of changes made to the marks, submission made, mark added etc. for each assessment.
Follow the instructions for downloading the Gradebook choosing all or a selection of columns.
- You can choose to include any items which have been deleted from the Gradebook.
- You can select how far back in terms of time you want the mark history to cover using the Last Modified Date option.
The downloaded grade history file includes this information:
- Date
- Type of assessment and grade category
- Last edition user’s details
- Student username
- Submission receipt: The submission receipt number
- Submission attempt: The number of the submitted attempt
- Type: If it was a regular or an override grade
- Obtained value
- Event: Additional details such as if was a group attempt, if it’s not posted or if it needs grading
Guide last updated on July 31, 2025