How do I show a total or raw score in my report?

A total score, sometimes called a raw score, is the sum of the points achieved for the answers selected. For example, "You scored 63 out of 90". Brilliant Assessments calculates the Total automatically at assessment, section, subsection and theme level, alongside the percentage score and the average (Likert) score. No Theme or Calculation is required.

How to add the Total to a report

1. Open your report template in Microsoft Word and open the Merge Manager add-in.
2. In the MergeType list, under Scores, select Total Score.
3. In Show, select the level you want: the whole assessment, a section, a subsection or a theme.
4. Insert the merge string into your template.

The Merge Manager writes the merge string for you. For example:

How to show "X out of Y"

The Total returns the points achieved only. To show the maximum alongside it, type the maximum as static text in your template:

Overall score: {RatingScore.Total} out of 90

How to show the Total on a chart

Select your chart merge type in the Merge Manager, then select Total Score from the Display list. This adds the Metric=Total parameter. For example, the following shows the Total for every section as a labeled horizontal bar chart:

{BarHorizontal[SectionNo=ALL Metric=Total Label=Y]}

How the Total works in cohort reports

In a cohort report, the Total is the average of the respondents' totals, not the sum. For example, if four respondents score 8, 26, 14 and 16, the cohort Total is 16. This allows cohorts of different sizes to be compared on the same scale. The Total can be filtered by role with Identifier=, in the same way as the other score metrics.

Using the Total in a calculation

If you need to combine or transform totals, the Calculations query builder includes Assessment Total Score, Section Total Score, Subsection Total Score and Theme Total Score. Each returns points directly, so there is no need to multiply a percentage score by the maximum points. For an example, see Common Calculation Examples.

If you already use a Theme and Calculation for the total

Before the Total was available, a raw score was produced with a Theme and a Calculation. Assessments set up that way continue to work, and there is no need to change them. For new work, use the Total Score merge type instead.

For full details, see Reporting Total Scores, Configuring Assessment Scores and Setting Up Calculations for Assessments.

See also Which merge string parameters do I use for Themes?