How to grade a learner's video assessment — webcam recording, screen recording, or video coaching — using grading criteria or an overall score.
Video assessments always require manual grading. Unlike text assessments, there's no auto-scored option — every submission goes to a grader to watch, evaluate, and score against a rubric or overall point value.
Manual video grading takes more time per submission than text grading. To keep grading consistent and on-time, work from a defined rubric (see Setting up Grading Criteria for Video Assessments) and stick to a defined SLA (see Assessment Grader Settings).
How You'll Know There's Grading to Do
Email, Teams and Slack notifications. If your organization has notifications enabled, graders get an email (and/or a Slack message) when an assessment is ready to grade. The notification includes a link straight to the submission.
Reports. All assessments awaiting grading are accessible from the Manager > Grading section. Use this as the central queue for video grading work.
How to Grade a Video Assessment
1. Play the submission. Click the Play button to watch the learner's video. Pay attention to both what they demonstrate and how they articulate their thinking.
2. Score against the criteria. If the assessment has a rubric (Grading Criteria), each criterion shows next to the video with a sliding scale. Score each one. If there's no rubric, you'll score an overall point value instead. For rubric design, see Setting up Grading Criteria for Video Assessments.
3. Add written feedback. Click the Feedback icon next to a criterion to leave a comment. Specific feedback ("Strong on discovery, missed the value prop") is more useful than generic ("Good job"). Click Save to attach the feedback.
4. Submit when complete. Once you've scored every criterion (or set the overall point value), click Submit. The learner is notified that their assessment has been graded and can see both the scores and the feedback.
What Makes Good Video Grading
Apply the rubric consistently. If you're grading on "communication clarity" for one learner, apply the same standard to the next learner. Inconsistent application across the cohort undermines the assessment.
Calibrate with other graders. Before grading at scale, score 2–3 sample videos with the other graders on the program. Compare scores and discuss differences. Calibration is what makes multi-grader programs fair.
Use the criterion-level feedback. The learner gets feedback per criterion, not just a final score. Use that channel to point to specifics — "Restated the customer's concern (criterion 1) but didn't propose a resolution (criterion 3)."
Watch the full submission. It's tempting to scrub through long submissions, but key moments often happen mid-recording. Watch enough to score fairly — that's part of the time investment video grading carries.
Grade promptly. Video submissions that sit for weeks while the learner waits for feedback erode the program. A defined SLA — and a grader pool sized to meet it — matters more for video than for text.
Configuration Pitfalls
Grading Without a Rubric. A video assessment with only an overall point value depends entirely on grader judgment. For anything beyond practice or low-stakes, define the rubric before grading.
Generic Feedback. "Needs work" leaves the learner with no direction. Tie feedback to the specific criterion and the specific moment in the video.
Submitting Without Review. Once submitted, the learner sees the score and feedback. Double-check before clicking Submit — fixes after submission require admin coordination.
Solo Grading on a Multi-Grader Program. If you're one of several graders, your scores are part of a shared pool. Calibration before launch and periodic sync mid-program keep the team aligned.
Backlog Buildup. Video grading queues grow fast when the grader pool is undersized. If the queue is consistently behind, raise it — the grader pool needs more capacity, or the assignment volume needs to be staged.
Where This Fits
You're here because a learner's video assessment is waiting on your grade. The rubric framework lives in Setting up Grading Criteria for Video Assessments. The grader pool design lives in Assessment Grader Settings.
See Also
- Setting up Grading Criteria for Video Assessments — rubric design.
- Assessment Grader Settings — grader pool and SLA design.
- Grade a Text Assessment — for text submission grading.
- View Assessment Responses — for admin-level review across a cohort.