---
title: "Understand what Fiveable grades automatically"
description: "Know which work receives an automatic score and where your review is still required."
canonical: "https://fiveable.me/help/teachers/assignments/what-fiveable-grades"
type: "teacher-help"
lastUpdated: "2026-09-03"
---

# Understand what Fiveable grades automatically

## Quick answer

MCQs score from the selected answer. Supported FRQs and short responses can receive an AI first score and feedback. You can change an FRQ score and add Overall feedback before results are handed back; your professional judgment controls the final grade.

## What to do

1. **Check the assignment settings**: Open Settings and review Auto grade and Release grades. The available choices depend on the assignment sections.

2. **Open Responses**: A numeric score is available for completed auto-graded work. Needs review marks a response that still requires your attention.

   ![Responses summary with Turned in, Need your review, Average score, and Average time.](/img/teachers/responses-summary.jpg)

   *Need your review shows how many responses still require a teacher decision.*

3. **Review free response**: Open the student row. Read the prompt, response, AI score, and available rubric detail before entering or adjusting the score.

   ![Teacher review panel showing a student SAQ response, AI score, and final Score out of 3 field.](/img/teachers/review-score.jpg)

   *Compare the response with the first score before entering the teacher's final score.*

4. **Save your decision**: Enter the final Score out of the available points, add Overall feedback when useful, and select Save review.

   ![Teacher review controls with the score field, Overall feedback box, and Save review button.](/img/teachers/review-feedback.jpg)

   *Add the clearest useful feedback, then select Save review to keep the final decision.*

## Good to know

- A first score can reduce repetitive work, but it does not replace teacher review. Check the reasoning, context, and course expectations before releasing results.

## If something is not working

### A response says Needs review.

Open it and save the required score or feedback. The queue clears after the review is complete.

### The automatic score does not match my judgment.

Change the score in Review, explain the decision in Overall feedback if helpful, and select Save review. The teacher score is the final score used for the result.

## Related guides

- [Review a response, adjust the score, and leave feedback](/help/teachers/assignments/review-grade-response): Make the final grading decision for one student's response.
- [Hand grades back to students](/help/teachers/assignments/hand-back-grades): Make saved grades and feedback viewable after you finish reviewing the class set.

## About This Document

Canonical Fiveable pages are available as Markdown at the same path plus `.md`.

- [llms.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms.txt): index of Fiveable's sections and URL patterns
- [llms-full.txt](https://fiveable.me/llms-full.txt): complete subject and unit listing
- [MCP server](https://fiveable.me/mcp): call Fiveable as tools instead of fetching pages (`https://fiveable.me/api/mcp`)