> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.timelygrader.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.timelygrader.ai/d2l-support-articles/assignments/importing-or-creating-an-assignment.md).

# Importing or Creating an Assignment

Import an assignment from D2L or create an assignment from scratch.

<figure><img src="https://3711328535-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVTk0635Lo8R5owJx3bPK%2Fuploads%2F2fxvIUk6kO5NV6YbNqZ3%2Farticle-banner.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
TimelyGrader assignments are tied to the **Assignments** (Dropboxes) in D2L. Quizzes are imported separately, from the **Quizzes** page in the sidebar; see [Setting up quizzes](/user-guides-get-started-here/quizzes-guide.md).
{% endhint %}

## Importing an assignment from D2L

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Click Import

On the Assignments page, click the **Import** button in the top right corner.

<figure><img src="https://3711328535-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVTk0635Lo8R5owJx3bPK%2Fuploads%2F0R6saNq0tl7muZI0cBNR%2FScreenshot%202026-10-13%20at%209.22.17%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=e872e6dd-1b65-4740-85e5-e0b35eca8141" alt="The Import and Create buttons on the Assignments page"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Select an assignment

Choose the D2L assignment you want to import, then click **Import**. Its name, description and rubric (if any) come across with the import.

<figure><img src="https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/655ce9ef982243b960228317/6a6b85903e3b19cd898652b8_5aa9b53d.png" alt="Selecting a D2L assignment to import"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Check the mandatory fields

In **Description & Settings**, the only two mandatory items are the **Assignment Description** and the **Rubric**. Both usually will be imported from D2L. If you don't have a rubric on the D2L assignment, we will ask you to add one. You can also tell TimelyGrader what type of submission to expect and change the citation format.

<figure><img src="https://3711328535-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVTk0635Lo8R5owJx3bPK%2Fuploads%2FQ8MR29VUIEl4dFbsynQl%2FScreenshot%202026-10-13%20at%2011.13.30%E2%80%AFAM.png?alt=media&amp;token=7e56721a-0a47-4ea9-bd72-7d30b03cee99" alt="Description and rubric in Description &#x26; Settings"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
If no rubric came over from D2L, create one in TimelyGrader manually, or use our **Rubric Generator**.

D2L doesn’t support rubric passback, so recreate the rubric in D2L and resync the assignment. If you don’t, the pass back will only return each student’s overall grade, without criterion-specific grades.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %} <img src="https://3711328535-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVTk0635Lo8R5owJx3bPK%2Fuploads%2Fms2lmbcFJs7XOGunUDRn%2Fhugo-head.svg?alt=media" alt="Hugo" data-size="line"> **Hugo’s tip:** Already set up a similar assignment? Use **Import Assignment Settings** to bring its description, rubric and settings across. See [Reusing settings from other assignments](/user-guides-get-started-here/reuse-assignment-settings.md).
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Review the setup sections

Everything else is optional. Setup is split into sections, and each starts from your defaults in **Settings → Preferences** (if you already set it up):

* **Description & Settings:** description, rubric, expected submission type and citation format.
* **Grading Settings:** turn Grading Suggestions on or off and add general or criterion-specific instructions. See [Advanced: Calibrating Grading Accuracy](/d2l-support-articles/assignments/customizing-grading.md).
* **Feedback Settings:** the structure, tone and language level of feedback. See [Advanced: Customizing Feedback](/d2l-support-articles/assignments/customizing-feedback.md).
* **Formative Feedback Settings:** whether students can open the assignment and get feedback on their drafts, and how.
* **Inline Comment Settings:** how inline comments on the student’s text are created.

<figure><img src="https://3711328535-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVTk0635Lo8R5owJx3bPK%2Fuploads%2F6lSOGLwcQVYmTubnEbRU%2FScreenshot%202026-10-13%20at%203.00.10%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=6629ebc2-cada-4550-be5e-eec101ec8e93" alt="Assignment setup settings"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
Your institution may have turned off Grading Suggestions. If so, you can’t turn them back on yourself; contact your administrator.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Save or publish

If the setup isn’t final, don't hit **Publish**. Any edits you make will be auto saved. Any un-published assignments will stay as **Drafts**. Once you are ready to publish, hit the button and you are good to go!

<figure><img src="https://3711328535-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVTk0635Lo8R5owJx3bPK%2Fuploads%2F0A9AwcTXUhG4HvXvFKFV%2FScreenshot%202026-10-13%20at%209.18.45%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=10e358c3-2d2f-41cc-9c24-2bc2aa156c19" alt="The Publish button"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

{% hint style="info" %}
You can save a draft without completing every required field. To allow students to see assignments, they must be published. This will be relevant if you enabled Formative Feedback for Students.
{% endhint %}
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Creating an assignment from scratch

This assignment is created in TimelyGrader and isn’t linked to D2L, so submissions are uploaded rather than imported and grades aren’t pushed back.

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Create a new assignment

On the Assignments page, click **Create** in the top right corner.

<figure><img src="https://3711328535-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVTk0635Lo8R5owJx3bPK%2Fuploads%2F0R6saNq0tl7muZI0cBNR%2FScreenshot%202026-10-13%20at%209.22.17%E2%80%AFPM.png?alt=media&amp;token=e872e6dd-1b65-4740-85e5-e0b35eca8141" alt="The Import and Create buttons on the Assignments page"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Add the mandatory items

Add an **Assignment Description** and a **Rubric**. You can write the rubric yourself or have the Rubric Generator create one from your description; see [Creating Rubrics on TimelyGrader](/d2l-support-articles/assignments/creating-rubrics.md).

<figure><img src="https://3711328535-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVTk0635Lo8R5owJx3bPK%2Fuploads%2FQ8MR29VUIEl4dFbsynQl%2FScreenshot%202026-10-13%20at%2011.13.30%E2%80%AFAM.png?alt=media&amp;token=7e56721a-0a47-4ea9-bd72-7d30b03cee99" alt="Description and rubric in Description &#x26; Settings"><figcaption></figcaption></figure>
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Review the setup sections

Grading, Feedback, Formative Feedback and Inline Comment Settings start from your defaults in **Settings → Preferences**.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Save or publish

If the setup isn’t final, don't hit **Publish**. Any edits you make will be auto saved. Any un-published assignments will stay as **Drafts**. Once you are ready to publish, hit the button and you are good to go!
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## After setup

To calibrate grading further for more accurate suggestions, add a content bank and tune your Grading and Feedback Settings:

* [Advanced: Creating a Content Bank](/d2l-support-articles/assignments/content-bank.md)
* [Advanced: Calibrating Grading Accuracy](/d2l-support-articles/assignments/customizing-grading.md)
* [Advanced: Customizing Feedback](/d2l-support-articles/assignments/customizing-feedback.md)

## Related articles

* [How We Handle New Submissions](/d2l-support-articles/assignments/new-submissions.md)
* [How We Handle Unsupported Files](/d2l-support-articles/assignments/unsupported-files.md)
* [Creating Rubrics on TimelyGrader](/d2l-support-articles/assignments/creating-rubrics.md)