How to Create a Grade Book Using Microsoft Excel

1. Open a new spreadsheet in Excel. Save it using a name such as 'Gradebook template.xls.'
2. Type in a column name in the top left cell of your spreadsheet. This column will serve as the identification column for your students. For instance, the column name could be 'Student Name' or 'Student ID.'
3. Type in brief descriptions of all the assignments for the semester in the cells of the top row, starting with the second column. For example, the column headers could have titles like 'Exam 1,' 'Term Paper 1,' 'Group Project,' 'Exam 2' and so on.
4. Type 'Sum' into the top row of the column immediately following the assignment columns.
5. In the cell immediately below where you typed 'Sum,' type the formula '=sum('. In the second row of your spreadsheet, click the second cell and then drag the cursor all the way to the last assignment cell in the second row. This will select all of the class assignment cells on this row, and you will see the range of selected cells in your formula cell as well. For instance, if you selected cells B2 through G2 in the second row, the formula cell will now read '=sum(B2:G2'. Now type ')' in that cell to complete the formula, so that the formula cell reads '=sum(B2:G2)'. This cell will now contain the sum of all the grades for that row.
6. Save the grade book template spreadsheet, and create a copy for the current semester by clicking on 'File' on the upper left of your spreadsheet, then choosing 'Save As' and then giving it a new name such as 'History Grade Book Fall 2010.' Save the original template for future use.
7. Enter the names or other identification information of your students in the first column.
8. Click on the cell below 'Sum' in the last column, right-click on it, and choose 'Copy' from the next menu.
9. Highlight all the cells in the last column, starting with the third row and going all the way down to the last student row, by clicking and dragging your cursor over the relevant cells.
10. Place your mouse anywhere over the highlighted cells and right-click. Choose 'Paste' from this menu. Now all the cells in the last column will contain the total grade of all the assignments of each student. Every time you enter a new grade for a student, the total will be updated accordingly.
11. Manually assign letter grades for students at the end of the semester based on their total points, or use other formulas in Excel to do this task for you.