Student Answer Sheets

Advise students that a no. 2 pencil and a good clean eraser are needed in order to complete the test. In the Test Scoring report students will be identified by their name and/or their computer user ID. Two formats for the student computer user ID are currently in use. The old form uses first and last initial followed by four or five digits (eg. “ab1234”). The new form consists of last name, first and middle initials, and possibly a digit (eg.”smithab” or “smithab1”).

Students who have the old form of computer user ID (ab1234):

Ask the students to enter their name in the NAME field and the numeric part of their computer user ID in the IDENTIFICATION NUMBER field, RIGHT justified. Also they should enter the alphabetic part of their computer user ID (their first and last initial) in the last two positions of the NAME grid, ie. the RIGHT MOST positions of the NAME grid.

Students who have the new form of computer user ID (smithab or smithab1):

These students will enter their computer user ID in the NAME field, in place of their first and last name. They must leave the IDENTIFICATION NUMBER field blank. If they have a digit at the end of their user ID, they should use the GRADE OR EDUCATION field and bubble in the corresponding digit.  Since there is only one alphabetic field on the blue opscan sheet, it must be used for the students’ computer user ID rather than their name. However, since their user ID contains their last name, the students’ responses should be easy to identify on the report.

*Special Note for WebCT users:  If you have students who have the new form of computer user ID which contains a digit, eg. “smithab1”, you will need to edit these ID’s before bringing them into WebCT.  In the electronic list of grades that you receive (the .csv file) the user ID will contain two digits, eg. “smithab01”, and you will need to use Excel to edit out the zero, to obtain the correct ID, eg. “smithab1”. We apologize for this added inconvenience, but the GRADE OR EDUCATION field was the only numeric field still available on the blue opscan sheet, and this field always generates two digit numbers, from 01 to 16.

Grade Posting Sheet

If you would like to create your own numbering scheme for the grade posting sheet, the SPECIAL CODES field has been reserved for this purpose. This “special code” number can be one you assign each student for use throughout the semester, or it can be simply a number which you place on each test booklet. Use any convenient method to assign each student a unique number, and ask them to enter this number, right justified, in the SPECIAL CODES area of the blue opscan sheet. It is very important that the students RIGHT JUSTIFY the number they enter, since the system reads only the three right-most positions of this SPECIAL CODES field. When you request the posting sheet, you will receive two lists, the first, Part 6-A, will be sorted alphabetically and will list the student’s name, his/her computer username (either new or old form), the “special code” number, and the grade. The second list, Part 6-B, will list only the student’s “special code” number and grade, and it will be sorted by the “special code” number. Use this second list for posting grades.

Give students the instructions necessary for completing the answer sheets, including information similar to the following:

"Read each question and its corresponding possible answers. When you have decided which answer is correct, make heavy black marks that completely fill the circle on the answer sheet. If you change your mind, erase your first mark completely. Make no stray marks. Keep the sheets clean and undamaged."

CAUTION: The NAME and IDENTIFICATION sections are on SIDE TWO. Be sure that students use SIDE ONE to begin their responses.

Inspect the answer sheets to ensure the instructions have been followed. In particular, check that all marks are clear and erasures complete, and that sheets are clean and undamaged. Make sure all forms are turned the same way.

Coding the Test Key

Complete a test key for each set of student responses to be scored. You must have a separate test key for each class report, or for multiple tests within a class, even if the correct responses are identical. Complete the test key by carefully marking each correct answer. If you want to omit some questions from the test, leave them blank on the key.

Complete the test key as follows:

1. In the NAME grid code your name. It will be printed on each page of the report.
2. In the DO NOT WRITE IN THIS SPACE grid, you MUST code two ones.
   Be sure this area is left blank on the students' sheets.
3. In the IDENTIFICATION NUMBER grid, you MUST code the DEPT.,
   COURSE and SECTION numbers for the test. This must be nine digits.
4. Code the correct answer to your test items beginning on SIDE ONE and continuing to SIDE TWO if necessary (up to 240 questions). If you want to omit an item from the test score, leave that item blank on the key. It will NOT be included in the scoring
5. If no permanent file is desired, you must leave the GRADE OR EDUCATION grid blank.
6. Select the parts of the report you would like to obtain. At least one part must be selected.
   1. Exam analysis
   2. Summary of student responses
   3. Student results
   4. Histogram
   5. List of student responses
   6. Posting sheet
7. If you want to receive a spreadsheet file containing the students' grades: Code the number of your test (1-16) in the GRADE or EDUCATION field.

Run Request Form

A Run Request form must be completed for each test to be scored. These forms may be picked up at Dta Control, Information Technology Services, 1st Floor, Raley Hall.  You can make copies of the form and keep a supply on hand.

Deliver the completed run request form, the test key, and the student answer sheets to the Data Control window, Information Technology  Services. Make sure the test key is on top and all forms are turned in the same direction. The results may be picked up at the control window. Every effort will be made to ensure 24 hour or less turnaround time.

Check the test results carefully. Scan the test key printed by the scoring program to be certain the optical scanner transcribed the data properly. The test key answers are printed in parts 1, 2, and 5.  If there were errors in scanning the test key, redo the test key and resubmit the new key and all the student answer sheets, since all further statistics will be incorrect if the key has been misread.

Look for items that all students missed and grades inconsistent with previous performance. In such cases verify that the test key is correct and check the student's opscan sheet against his answers as reported by the test scoring program. Part 5 lists all responses recorded for each student. If an answer is light, the opscan machine might miss it and report the question as unanswered. A stray mark or incomplete erasure could cause the scanner to pick up a response other than the intended one. If the student marks two or more responses to a question, the response will be recorded as an asterisk, "*".

Next: Test Scoring Report