> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.pawtograder.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Gradebook

> View your released grades and simulate hypothetical scores with What-If calculations

# Gradebook

The gradebook shows your released grades and lets you explore hypothetical scenarios with What-If calculations. Your instructor controls which grades are visible by releasing individual gradebook columns; unreleased columns do not appear here at all.

## Viewing Your Grades

Open the **Gradebook** page from the course menu. Grades are organized by category. Use **Expand All** / **Collapse All** to show or hide grouped columns at once.

Each grade card shows:

* **Column name** (e.g., "Homework 1", "Final Grade")
* **Your score** out of the maximum points
* **Percentage earned**
* **Status indicators** for missing, excused, incomplete, or calculated values
* **Magic wand icon** when a What-If simulation is active
* **View Submission** link, if the column is linked to an assignment

For calculated columns (those using expressions), the displayed value reflects only the grades that have been released to you. For example, a "Homework Average" column will average only the released homework assignments.

### Expand and Collapse Groups

When related columns are grouped together (e.g., "Homework 1", "Homework 2", "Homework 3"), the gradebook can collapse them to show only the most recent or relevant column per group. Use **Expand All** to see every individual column.

## Understanding Incomplete Values

Some calculated grades show warnings about incomplete or unreleased dependencies:

* **Missing dependencies**: Grades that feed into the calculation haven't been entered yet
* **Unreleased dependencies**: Grades that feed into the calculation haven't been released

These warnings explain why a calculated grade might be lower than expected, or why it might change once more grades are released.

## What-If Simulations

<Note>
  What-If must be enabled by your instructor. If it's disabled, the gradebook is view-only and a notice appears at the top of the page.
</Note>

What-If mode lets you plug in hypothetical scores to see how they would change your calculated grades and overall course grade — useful for understanding the impact of upcoming work or for planning where to focus.

### Using What-If Mode

<Steps>
  <Step title="Click a grade card">
    Tap any released, editable grade card to open it for simulation.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter a hypothetical score">
    Type the score you want to test in the input field.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Press Enter">
    The simulated score is applied and shown with a magic wand icon.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check dependent columns">
    Any calculated columns that depend on the grade you changed update automatically.
  </Step>
</Steps>

### Clearing Simulations

To return to your actual grade for a card:

1. Click the grade card with the simulation
2. Clear the input field
3. Press Enter

Dependent calculated columns automatically revert to their actual values.

### Limitations

* You can only simulate grades for **manual columns** and **assignment-linked grades**
* **Calculated columns** (averages, weighted totals, final grades) are read-only — they update automatically based on your simulations
* **Released columns only**: you can't simulate unreleased columns
* **Columns with instructor overrides** can't be simulated
* What-If values are **local to your browser** and not saved between sessions
* Simulations are not visible to your instructor and don't affect your actual grades

<Note>
  What-If is a planning tool. It does not change your real grades or notify anyone.
</Note>