If you have multiple, similar grade items (e.g., a series of quizzes, homework assignments, or labs worksheets), you may want to drop the lowest one (or several) grades. The BEST way to do this is to SAVE the highest grades (i.e., in a series of 12, save the highest 11). The reason is that this gives students credit for the work they have done and doesn't deduct a grade until the cut-off point is reached. NOTE: all of the grade items must have the same maximum point value.

1. In the Settings block, select Gradebook Setup.
   
   
   
   
2. If you do not already have the series of grade items in a category, you must create one. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click "Add Category." Name the category and under "Keep the highest," enter the number of grades you want to keep. [NOTE: If you already created a category, click "Edit/Edit settings to the right and under "Keep the highest," enter the number of grades you want to keep.]
3. 
   Add the grade items to the category. Check the checkboxes to the right of the items and then scroll to the bottom and select the category from the dropdown menu under "Move selected items to." [NOTE: if you already had the items in the category, you can ignore this step.]
   
   
   
   
4. You should now see all of the grade items in the category and a note by the category total indicating the number of grades that will be kept.
   

(keywords: moodle, drop, grade)