2D Mini-Project: Gradebook
Mini-project: build a small gradebook using a 2D int matrix. Print aligned tables, compute per-student and per-assignment averages, find best performers, curve scores, and output a summary report.
2D Mini-Project: Gradebook is a free Java Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 4 of 6. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the Java Academy learning path, one of 6 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Project Overview
Project goal: Represent a gradebook as a 2D int matrix where each row is a student and each column is a homework/quiz/exam. You will print an aligned table, compute per-student and per-assignment averages, find the top student/assignment, curve scores, and generate a summary report.
Follow the scenes and run each code sample in order. No input is required.
Build & Print
Step 1: Create a small gradebook matrix and print it with aligned columns. We use a helper to compute column widths and a printer that pads each value.
public class Main {
// Join helper for one-dimensional arrays (space-separated)
static String join(int[] a) {
String s = "";
for (int i = 0; i < a.length; i = i + 1) {
s = s + a[i] + (i + 1 < a.length ? " " : "");
}
return s;
}
// Compute column widths for aligned printing (jagged-aware)
static int[] widths(int[][] m) {
int maxCols = 0;
for (int r = 0; r < m.length; r = r + 1) {
if (m[r].length > maxCols) maxCols = m[r].length;
}
int[] w = new int[maxCols];
for (int r = 0; r < m.length; r = r + 1) {
for (int c = 0; c < m[r].length; c = c + 1) {
int len = Integer.toString(m[r][c]).length();
if (len > w[c]) w[c] = len;
}
}
for (int c = 0; c < w.length; c = c + 1) if (w[c] < 1) w[c] = 1;
return w;
}
// Print matrix with aligned columns
static void printAligned(int[][] m) {
int[] w = widths(m);
for (int r = 0; r < m.length; r = r + 1) {
String line = "";
for (int c = 0; c < m[r].length; c = c + 1) {
String s = Integer.toString(m[r][c]);
while (s.length() < w[c]) s = " " + s;
line = line + s + (c + 1 < m[r].length ? " " : "");
}
System.out.println(line);
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
// Create a 4x5 gradebook (4 students, 5 assignments)
int[][] g = {
{78, 85, 90, 88, 92},
{95, 91, 89, 93, 87},
{60, 72, 70, 68, 75},
{88, 84, 79, 85, 90}
};
System.out.println("Gradebook (rows: students, cols: assignments):");
printAligned(g);
}
}
Row/Col Averages
Step 2: Compute per-student (row) and per-assignment (column) averages. Column averages must guard each row's length to be jagged-safe.
public class Main {
// Average of one row (student r)
static double rowAverage(int[][] g, int r) {
int sum = 0;
for (int c = 0; c < g[r].length; c = c + 1) sum = sum + g[r][c];
return (double) sum / g[r].length;
}
// Average of one column (assignment c)
static double colAverage(int[][] g, int c) {
int sum = 0;
int count = 0;
for (int r = 0; r < g.length; r = r + 1) {
if (c < g[r].length) { sum = sum + g[r][c]; count = count + 1; }
}
return (double) sum / count;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
int[][] g = {
{78, 85, 90, 88, 92},
{95, 91, 89, 93, 87},
{60, 72, 70, 68, 75},
{88, 84, 79, 85, 90}
};
// Compute per-student averages
for (int r = 0; r < g.length; r = r + 1) {
double avg = rowAverage(g, r);
System.out.println("student " + r + " avg = " + String.format("%.2f", avg));
}
// Compute per-assignment averages
int assignments = g[0].length;
for (int c = 0; c < assignments; c = c + 1) {
double avg = colAverage(g, c);
System.out.println("assignment " + c + " avg = " + String.format("%.2f", avg));
}
}
}
Best Student/Assignment
Step 3: Find the top student (highest row average) and the top assignment (highest column average).
public class Main {
static double rowAverage(int[][] g, int r) {
int sum = 0;
for (int c = 0; c < g[r].length; c = c + 1) sum = sum + g[r][c];
return (double) sum / g[r].length;
}
static double colAverage(int[][] g, int c) {
int sum = 0;
int count = 0;
for (int r = 0; r < g.length; r = r + 1) { if (c < g[r].length) { sum = sum + g[r][c]; count = count + 1; } }
return (double) sum / count;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
int[][] g = {
{78, 85, 90, 88, 92},
{95, 91, 89, 93, 87},
{60, 72, 70, 68, 75},
{88, 84, 79, 85, 90}
};
// Find top student by average
int bestStudent = -1;
double bestAvg = -1.0;
for (int r = 0; r < g.length; r = r + 1) {
double avg = rowAverage(g, r);
if (avg > bestAvg) { bestAvg = avg; bestStudent = r; }
}
// Find top assignment by average
int assignments = g[0].length;
int bestAssign = -1;
double bestCol = -1.0;
for (int c = 0; c < assignments; c = c + 1) {
double avg = colAverage(g, c);
if (avg > bestCol) { bestCol = avg; bestAssign = c; }
}
System.out.println("top student = " + bestStudent + " (avg=" + String.format("%.2f", bestAvg) + ")");
System.out.println("top assignment = " + bestAssign + " (avg=" + String.format("%.2f", bestCol) + ")");
}
}
Curve Scores
Step 4: Apply a flat curve (e.g., +5 points per score, capped at 100) and print the before/after matrices.
public class Main {
// Add a flat curve of k points (capped at 100)
static void curve(int[][] g, int k) {
for (int r = 0; r < g.length; r = r + 1) {
for (int c = 0; c < g[r].length; c = c + 1) {
int v = g[r][c] + k;
if (v > 100) v = 100;
g[r][c] = v;
}
}
}
static void print(int[][] g) {
for (int r = 0; r < g.length; r = r + 1) {
for (int c = 0; c < g[r].length; c = c + 1) {
System.out.print(g[r][c] + (c + 1 < g[r].length ? " " : ""));
}
System.out.println();
}
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
int[][] g = {
{78, 85, 90, 88, 92},
{95, 91, 89, 93, 87},
{60, 72, 70, 68, 75},
{88, 84, 79, 85, 90}
};
System.out.println("before curve:");
print(g);
curve(g, 5); // +5 points each
System.out.println("after curve (+5, capped at 100):");
print(g);
}
}
Summary Report
Step 5: Generate a simple report: per-student averages and overall class average. (You could extend this to letter grades later.)
public class Main {
static double rowAverage(int[][] g, int r) {
int sum = 0;
for (int c = 0; c < g[r].length; c = c + 1) sum = sum + g[r][c];
return (double) sum / g[r].length;
}
static double overallAverage(int[][] g) {
int sum = 0;
int count = 0;
for (int r = 0; r < g.length; r = r + 1) {
for (int c = 0; c < g[r].length; c = c + 1) { sum = sum + g[r][c]; count = count + 1; }
}
return (double) sum / count;
}
public static void main(String[] args) {
int[][] g = {
{83, 90, 95, 93, 97}, // assume already curved values
{100, 96, 94, 98, 92},
{65, 77, 75, 73, 80},
{93, 89, 84, 90, 95}
};
// Print each student average
for (int r = 0; r < g.length; r = r + 1) {
double avg = rowAverage(g, r);
System.out.println("student " + r + " avg = " + String.format("%.2f", avg));
}
// Print overall average
System.out.println("overall avg = " + String.format("%.2f", overallAverage(g)));
}
}
Student Avg Check
Quick check: Which formula computes the average of student r?
Recap & Next
Recap: You modeled a gradebook with a 2D array, printed aligned tables, computed row/column averages, found top performers, curved scores, and produced a summary report. Next: wrap these utilities into a reusable helper class.
Frequently asked questions
Is the “2D Mini-Project: Gradebook” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “2D Mini-Project: Gradebook” is free to read here on the web, and the Java Academy course includes 6 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the Java Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “2D Mini-Project: Gradebook”?
Mini-project: build a small gradebook using a 2D int matrix. Print aligned tables, compute per-student and per-assignment averages, find best performers, curve scores, and output a summary report. You practise Java Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start Java Academy?
No prior experience is required. Java Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 4 of 6, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “2D Mini-Project: Gradebook” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this Java Academy lesson?
Yes. Every Java Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.