Spreadsheets take days
Collecting choices on a form is easy. Turning them into balanced classes by hand isn't, and it's easy to miss someone.
Electives
Elective and course selection that keeps every class within its size
Students rank the electives they'd like. You set each class size and who can take what. PickAndRank places the whole year at once, and gives every student a reason for where they landed.
For Secondary schools · Colleges and universities · Enrichment and after-school programmes · Summer schools
The problem
What makes it hard today
Some courses are only for some students
A course might be open to one year group only. Keeping track of that by hand invites mistakes.
Parents ask questions
When a student misses their first choice, you need to be able to show the process was fair.
How it works
From sign-up to final lists
List the courses
Add each elective with its class size. Limit a course to some year groups if it's only for them.
Share the link, or add a roster
Use an open link, or add your students so only they can take part, each with their own personal link.
Students rank
They rank on any phone or laptop, and can change their picks as often as they like until sign-ups close.
Place and publish
One click places everyone. Students look up their own course with their code, and nobody else's.
Example
A typical setup
Pick the Electives template when you create an event. It fills in the options, seats and ranking rules for you to change. Add the year groups, and limit Robotics to them, yourself.
| Option | Places | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Art | 25 seats | – |
| Music | 25 seats | – |
| Robotics | 20 seats | Year 9 and Year 10 only |
| Drama | 25 seats | – |
One round
- Rank your top 3, all 3 required
- Groups: Year 9, Year 10, Year 11
Built in
The rules you need
Eligibility groups
Limit a course to some groups, like one year. Students choose their group when they sign up, or you set it on the roster.
Roster mode
Only the students you add can take part, each with a private link you can print or email.
Priority
Give some students a better chance of a higher choice, such as those who missed out last term. Students never see their level.
Placement modes
Balanced avoids very low choices. Fairness first works hardest to keep anyone from landing far down their list. Most first choices gives as many students as possible their top pick.
FAQ
Questions
Can students tell us which electives they want before we timetable them?
Yes. Run an interest check first. Students rank the electives you're considering, and you see how many put each one 1st and in their top 3, by year group if you like. Keep the ones worth running, add seats, and turn it into the sign-up. Students keep their link and their picks.
Do students need an account or an email?
No account is needed. You choose whether to ask for an email. Each student gets a private code to come back with.
What if there aren't enough places?
Before you place anyone, a seat check compares places with students, so you can add seats first. If anyone still can't be placed, your results show who and why.
Can I export the classes?
Yes. Download class lists as Excel or CSV, or print one page per class.
Ready to try it for electives?
Every event is free for up to 30 people. Set it up in five minutes.