CoGrader is an AI grading assistant for teachers who grade writing and quizzes. It helps you deliver timely, personalized, and specific feedback without spending your entire weekend grading. Whether you use Google Classroom, Canvas, Schoology, Blackboard, Brightspace, DMAC or upload files yourself, CoGrader works with your workflow.

Before you begin

Have papers ready to grade. If you don't have a current assignment, use one you've already graded in the past. Comparing CoGrader's suggestions with your own grading is the fastest way to see how it works.

Step 1: Import Student Work

Click + Grade new in the left sidebar (or Essays on the dashboard), then pick Create manually or your platform under or import from LMS. See How to Import your first assignment.

CoGrader supports a variety of upload methods. Choose the one that matches your classroom:

Google Classroom:
How to Use CoGrader with Google Classroom
Canvas:
[Canvas] How to Use the CoGrader for Canvas Extension
Canvas for School Plans
Schoology:
[Schoology] How to Use the CoGrader for Schoology Extension
How to Use CoGrader with Schoology
Blackboard:
[Blackboard] How to Use the CoGrader for Blackboard Extension
Brightspace:
[Brightspace] How to Use CoGrader with the Brightspace Integration for School Plans
DMAC:
How to Use CoGrader with DMAC
Manual Upload (PDF/Google Drive):
How to Upload Assignments with Google Drive and Manual Upload
Handwritten Essays (Scans):
How to Import and Grade Handwritten Essays with CoGrader
Google Forms:
How to Use CoGrader to Grade Google Forms
Audio:
How to Grade Audio Assignments with CoGrader

Not sure your files will work? See What file types does CoGrader grade?

Troubleshooting imports:

Step 2: Set Up Your Assignment

Pick the grade level and choose a rubric. Use one from My Rubrics (including your school or district rubrics), pick one from the library, or click Create Rubric and describe your assignment so CoGrader drafts one for you.
Paste the exact prompt you gave students in the prompt field. Don't type instructions for CoGrader there. See How Your Assignment Prompt Influences CoGrader’s feedback.

See:

Troubleshooting rubrics:

Step 3: Grade with CoGrader

Once submissions are uploaded and the rubric is ready:

CoGrader grades each submission automatically in under 2 minutes.
You’ll see:
- Overall grade
- Strengths and areas for growth
- Actionable feedback
- Rubric breakdown

You remain in control. Review and approve before anything is shared.

Step 4: Review and Customize Feedback

You can:

Edit the feedback directly. Your changes save automatically (AutoSave), and you can restore an earlier version from Edit history.
Ask CoGrader to revise it in the instruction box, by typing or with the Dictate microphone button.
Change Grading parameters (Rigor, Reading Level, Length, Tone), Feedback style or the Language in Advanced rules, then regrade once.
Click View and switch to Original to see the document the student submitted.

See: How to Customize Grading Parameters in CoGrader and Feedback Style Options in CoGrader

Step 5: Share Feedback

When grading is done, click Share feedback (on the assignment page or the feedback page). Choose how to share (CoGrader marks the suggested option for how you imported), which feedback sections to include, which students get it, and the font size. A preview shows exactly what students will see.

Sharing options

All sharing options: How to Share Feedback with Students in CoGrader
Canvas, Schoology and Blackboard: send feedback back through the CoGrader extension. Manual uploads: download the feedback and hand it out or upload it yourself.

Troubleshooting sharing

Step 6: View and Share with Students

Feedback appears just like you'd expect:

Clearly formatted
Includes rubric, strengths, and suggested next steps
Visible in Canvas SpeedGrader, in the student's Google Doc for Google Classroom, or as a PDF

See: How to Share Feedback with Students in CoGrader

Step 7: Review Trends and patterns

CoGrader helps you close the feedback loop with class-level data by clicking Trends and patterns on the assignment page:

Track strengths and weaknesses across your students
Use insights to adjust instruction
Spot patterns in learning gaps
Export the report as a PDF report or Spreadsheet (CSV), or click Create teaching slides.

See: Trends and Patterns: CoGrader's Insights and Analytics Dashboard

You stay in control

CoGrader is a powerful assistant, not a replacement for your expertise. Always review its work before students see it:

Human in the loop: you are the final authority on the quality and fairness of the feedback.
Personalization: your knowledge of each student's progress and needs is what makes feedback land.
Accuracy: CoGrader can make mistakes. Your review keeps every grade accurate and fair.

How to Use CoGrader