Every teacher has heard it: "I did all the work and got the same grade as the kid who did nothing." Sometimes it's true. That's the problem with one shared grade.
Group projects are worth doing. Students learn to plan, split work, and hold each other accountable. But the grade has to reflect what each student actually learned and did.
Split the grade
A model that's easy to explain to parents:
Group product (about 40%): the final project, scored with a rubric everyone saw at the start.
Individual piece (about 40%): something each student owns. A section they wrote, a short quiz on the content, or a one-page reflection on the topic.
Process (about 20%): check-ins, role sheets, and peer feedback.
The exact numbers matter less than the principle. Every student has a big chunk of their grade they control alone.
Give every student a real role
Roles like "researcher," "editor," and "presenter" only work if each role has its own deliverable. If the "materials manager" just carries the poster board, that's not a role.
Check in before the end
Short daily or every-other-day check-ins catch problems early. A quick form works: What did you finish? What's next? Is anyone stuck? You'll find out about the student doing nothing on day two instead of on presentation day.
Use peer evaluations carefully
Peer scores are useful information, but don't let them decide the grade by themselves. Use them to start a conversation, then look at the work.
Free tools
How to Grade Group Projects Fairly on Elevate the Norm has the full model.
Group Work Roles for Students covers which roles hold up and which ones don't.
Assessment for Project Based Learning goes deeper on grading longer projects.
Want it ready to print
Everything above is free. If you'd rather skip the prep, my TPT store, Teacher Emergency Toolkit, has print-ready packs for grades 6–12, including a free resources shelf and teacher forms and templates.
Need a warm-up for tomorrow? A new set of free bell ringers goes up every morning at Daily Bell Ringers.