Grade Vault User Guide
Track your academic progress with a GPA calculator and course-management tools.
Table of Contents
Getting Started
How do I add a new course?
Tap "Add Course" from the main screen. Enter the required details: course name, credits (typically 1-6), term, and teacher. Optionally, enable weighted grades or set custom grade thresholds.
How do I set up my first term?
Tap "Settings" (gear icon), select "Academic Terms", then tap "Add Term". Enter term details including name (for example, "Fall 2024"), type (Semester, Quarter, or Trimester), start and end dates, institution name (optional), and status (Current, Upcoming, or Completed).
Managing Assignments
How do I add assignments to a course?
There are two ways: tap "Add Grade" in the top toolbar, or open a course and tap "Add Assignment". Then enter the assignment name, earned points, total points (defaults to 100), and due date (optional).
How do I handle weighted grades?
Enable weighted grades when creating the course. Set each assignment's weight percentage. Ensure total weights don't exceed 100%.
How do I add extra credit?
Create a new assignment, name it "Extra Credit" or similar, set earned points to the extra credit value (for example, 5), and set total points to 1.
Key Terms
What is an Academic Term?
A period of study such as a semester, quarter, or trimester. Each term can contain multiple courses and has specific start and end dates.
What is a Course/Class?
An individual subject or class taken during a term. Each course has its own assignments, grade calculations, and credit value that contributes to your GPA.
What is GPA (Grade Point Average)?
A numerical representation of academic performance, typically on a 4.0 scale. GPA is calculated by converting letter grades to grade points and weighing them by course credits.
What are Credits?
A numerical value assigned to courses indicating their weight in GPA calculations and typically reflecting the hours of instruction per week. More credits mean the course has more impact on your GPA.
Grade Calculations
How is the default grade calculated?
Default Grade Formula: (sum of earned points) / (sum of total points) × 100. Example: If you earned 85 points out of 100 total points, your grade would be 85%.
How are weighted grades calculated?
Weighted Grade Formula: sum((assignment weight × earned points) / (total points)). Example: For a quiz worth 20% where you earned 18/20 points, it contributes (20 × 18/20) = 18 percentage points to your final grade.
What are the weighted grade options?
Use Only Graded: Calculates weighted grades using only graded assignments, redistributing weights proportionally. Include Ungraded: Treats ungraded assignments as 0 points earned while maintaining their assigned weights.
GPA Calculations
How is Term GPA calculated?
Term GPA = (sum of (course grade points × credits)) / (sum of credits). Example: An A (4.0) in a 3-credit course and a B (3.0) in a 4-credit course gives: (4.0 × 3 + 3.0 × 4) / (3 + 4) = 3.43 GPA.
What are the grade point values?
A/A+ = 4.0, A- = 3.7, B+ = 3.3, B = 3.0, B- = 2.7, C+ = 2.3, C = 2.0, C- = 1.7, D+ = 1.3, D = 1.0, D- = 0.7, F = 0.0.
Can I customize the grade scale?
Yes, go to Settings, select "Grade Scale", and adjust minimum percentages for each grade. Changes apply to all courses.
What's the difference between Term GPA and Cumulative GPA?
Term GPA only includes courses in the current term and shows performance for a specific semester/quarter. Cumulative GPA includes all courses across all terms and shows overall academic performance.
Data Management
How do I sync my data across devices?
Open your device's Settings, tap your name, select iCloud, and enable Grade Vault sync. All data will automatically sync to devices using your Apple Account.
How do I export my grades?
Open the course you want to export, tap the share icon, and select "Export to PDF". The PDF includes course and term information, all assignments and grades, final grade calculation, and grade distribution chart.
How do I delete items?
Courses: Swipe left on the course in the main list. Assignments: Swipe left on the assignment in the course view. Terms: Go to Settings > Academic Terms > Swipe left on term.
Advanced Features
How can I analyze my potential grades?
Open a course, go to "Grade Analysis", and enter estimated points for remaining work. View calculations for possible final grades, required scores on remaining work, and minimum scores needed for each letter grade.
Troubleshooting
Why isn't my data syncing?
Check your iCloud connection, verify internet connectivity, and check sync status in About view.
Why aren't my grades updating correctly?
Verify all assignment points are entered correctly, check if course uses weighted grades, and ensure total weights don't exceed 100%.