Gradescope Review - Features, Pricing & Deals

Gradescope is a grading platform that helps teachers assess paper-based, digital, and coding assignments more efficiently. Built by instructors at UC Berkeley, it simplifies the grading process while maintaining consistency across large classes.

The platform works with many common learning management systems like Canvas, making it simple to transfer grades and give students access to feedback. Teachers can grade various types of work, from handwritten math problems to programming assignments, using features like AI-assisted grouping and reusable comment banks.

Students can submit their work in multiple ways, including uploading digital files or using their phones to scan paper assignments. The system supports both individual and team-based grading, which is particularly useful for courses with teaching assistants or multiple sections.

While pricing starts at $1 per student for basic features, more advanced plans are available for teams and institutions. The platform requires some initial setup time to learn, but most users find the efficiency gains worth the effort.

• Diverse Assignment Support: Handles paper-based exams, digital homework, multiple-choice bubble sheets, programming assignments, and online submissions with flexible grading tools that save instructors significant time.
• AI-Powered Grading Assistance: Uses artificial intelligence to batch similar answers, create dynamic rubrics, and apply consistent feedback across large classes and multiple grading staff.
• Comprehensive Performance Insights: Provides detailed student performance analytics, tracks concept weaknesses, and enables item-level regrade requests with transparent communication.
• Learning Management System Integration: Seamlessly connects with platforms like Canvas, allowing easy grade transfer, digital submission, and instant student feedback access.
• Mobile Submission Capabilities: Enables students to scan and upload handwritten assignments directly through the Gradescope mobile app, increasing submission convenience.
• Grading Objectivity Features: Offers anonymous grading modes to minimize instructor bias and ensure fair, consistent assessment across all student submissions.
• Multi-Grader Collaboration: Supports team grading with shared rubrics, comment banks, and synchronized feedback mechanisms for complex course environments.

• Basic pricing starts at $1 per student, including assignment statistics, regrade requests, and basic email support.
• Team and Solo plans are both priced at $3 per student, with Team offering collaborative grading and unlimited course staff, while Solo provides AI-powered grading, code autograder, bubble sheet assignments, and dedicated support.
• Institutional licenses require direct contact with Gradescope for a custom quote, though they offer a trial period before finalizing pricing.
• Multi-instructor versions may be priced at $5 per student per course, but this pricing is not universally confirmed across all plans.

Gradescope saves you tons of time by grouping similar student answers together, letting you grade them all at once. You can build a comment bank with feedback you use often and apply it with just a click. For multiple-choice questions or programming assignments, the system can even grade automatically. Many instructors report cutting their grading time in half or better, especially for large classes where they used to spend hours sorting through stacks of papers.

Yes! Once you're done grading, students can instantly see their scores, rubric items, and any comments you've left. They don't have to wait for paper handbacks in class. This quick feedback helps students learn from their mistakes sooner. If they have questions about their score, they can submit regrade requests directly through the platform instead of tracking you down after class or during office hours.

Not at all. You can use your regular exam papers, and then scan them after students complete them. For digital submissions, students can upload PDFs, images, or even code files. Gradescope is flexible with how you structure your assignments. You can outline answer regions on a template, or students can mark their own answer locations when they upload their work. The system works with what you already have!

Absolutely! Gradescope shines when you have multiple graders. You can assign specific questions to different TAs, and everyone uses the same rubric to keep grading fair and consistent. The system tracks who graded what, and you can monitor progress to see which questions still need attention. This team approach makes managing large courses with multiple sections much smoother.

The Canvas integration is pretty straightforward. You can create Gradescope assignments directly from Canvas, and student rosters sync automatically. After grading, scores transfer back to your Canvas gradebook with one click - no need to download and upload CSV files or manually enter grades. Students can access Gradescope through Canvas too, so they don't need to remember another login. It saves a lot of hassle if you're already using Canvas as your main learning platform.