Grade objective test portions with a key. Multiple-choice, along with fill-in-the-blank, questions can be graded quickly with a key as there is in most cases only one right answer for each. Tend to these questions first before moving onto the more complex portions of assessment grading.
Use a rubric to grade subjective portions of the assessment. Create this rubric before you begin grading your assessment, preferably when you are preparing the assessment. If you make the rubric at this time, you can share it with students prior to their taking the assessment so they know what is expected of them.
List the points possible. Place the total points that students could possibly earn, including both multiple-choice and extended-response questions, on the top of the test.
Calculate how many points the student earned. Add up points earned in all categories. Place this number over the number of points possible.
Divide the points earned by the total possible points to determine the percentage score. Write the percentage score, along with the corresponding grade, next to this points fraction you created to allow students to understand what their score means and to make ranking the assessments easier for you as a teacher. For example, you can divide assessments into three piles, placing scores 100 to 80 percent in one, 80 to 60 percent in another and 60 and below in a third.