Submitting Work
This page explains how work is recorded in ILS and what the different submission statuses mean.
Illustration Placeholder - Submission Page (P0)
- Placement: directly under page introduction
- Asset type: screenshot with callouts
- Filename suggestion:
student-submissions-page.png - Caption draft: Submission page showing file upload area and status labels.
How submission works
Uploading a file and submitting your work are two separate actions.
- Uploading files saves your files to the server. Your submission stays in draft status. The teacher's grading queue does not change. You can add, remove, or replace files as many times as you need.
- Clicking "Submit Assignment" changes the status to submitted. Only at this point does the teacher see your work as ready to grade.
Think of it as: uploading is preparing, submitting is handing in.
When the teacher does grade your work, the platform creates a submission record that stores your files, scores, and feedback.
The student submissions page groups assignments by enrolled class and course. For each assignment, it shows the current submission status, grade summary, and a link to open or edit the work.
What the status labels mean
- Pending: your work has been submitted and is waiting for teacher review.
- Graded: the teacher has completed the review and assigned a score.
- Returned: the teacher has completed grading and returned the assignment for your review.
- Needs revision: the teacher has requested changes before the work can be fully graded.
- Not graded: the teacher has not yet started grading the submission.
Submit button states
The button you use to hand in work changes depending on where you are in the submission lifecycle.
| State | Button label | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Draft (first attempt) | Submit Assignment | You have files ready but have not submitted yet. Upload at least one file to enable this button. |
| Graded (already marked) | Submit New Attempt | Your previous attempt was graded. You can upload a new file and submit another attempt. |
| Submitted (awaiting grade) | (disabled) | Your work is with the teacher. Nothing to do until grading is complete. |
| Attempts exhausted | (disabled) | You have used all allowed attempts. No further submissions are accepted. |
Note: If the button is disabled and you are not sure why, check whether you have already submitted and are waiting for grading, or whether your attempts are exhausted.
Submission timeline
| Step | Status | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Submit assignment | Pending | Wait for teacher review |
| Teacher opens the submission | Not graded / Pending | No action yet |
| Teacher completes grading | Graded | Review feedback and outcome updates |
| Teacher asks for changes | Needs revision | Revise the work and resubmit |
What students should do
- Upload your files first. You can add, remove, or replace files freely in draft status — the teacher will not see them as submitted yet.
- When your work is ready, click Submit Assignment to hand it in.
- Check your submission status regularly.
- If you receive a Graded result and want to improve it, upload a new file and click Submit New Attempt.
- If the teacher requests revision, update the work, upload it, and resubmit.
- Review any comments or rubric feedback carefully.
- Ask the teacher for clarification if you do not understand the requested changes.
Practical tips
- Use clear filenames for your uploads.
- Keep a copy of your original submission until the grade is final.
- Treat rubric feedback as guidance for the next assignment.
Why this matters
A clear submission workflow helps you know whether your work is waiting for review, has been graded, or needs a revision. That makes it easier to respond quickly and improve your learning outcomes.