* The weight of the assignment: A small quiz worth 5% of your grade will have a much smaller impact than a major project worth 40%.
* Your current grade: If you have a high average, failing one assignment will lower your grade less than if you're already struggling.
* The grading scale: Some classes use different grading scales (e.g., 90% = A, 80% = B, etc.), so the impact of a failing grade will vary.
* Whether there's a possibility of extra credit or make-up work: Some instructors might offer ways to improve your grade.
To know exactly how much your grade will go down, you need to:
1. Find the weight of the assignment in your syllabus or from your instructor.
2. Calculate your current grade in the course.
3. Determine the grade you'll receive on the failed assignment (likely a 0).
4. Use a weighted grade calculator (easily found online) to recalculate your grade.
In short, the impact of a failed assignment is highly contextual. Don't just assume; do the calculations.