How to Test Scantrons

Teachers have used Scantron forms since the 1970s to grade multiple-choice and true-or-false tests. These forms consist of rows of bubbles that correspond to numbered test questions. Students use a #2 pencil to color the correct answer bubble -- typically A, B, C, D or E or True or False. To grade the tests, teachers feed the forms into a Scantron machine, which detects the presence of these marks and grades the tests with less error than hand-grading. If your Scantron machine is sensitive to erasures or stray marks, it will not be able to grade your students' tests accurately. Test the machine to make sure it is only picking up the desired marks.

Instructions

    • 1

      Enter the correct answers on a blank Scantron form with a #2 pencil. Fill out the bubble on the answer key form marked "Key."

    • 2

      Fill in the bubble marked "%" if you want your graded tests to include the percent correct. Otherwise, your tests will include the raw score (number correct) only.

    • 3

      Fill in the bubble marked "2" if you want the tests to show the correct answers. This helps your students see the correct answers to the questions they got wrong. Otherwise, the tests show only a red bar next to incorrect answers.

    • 4

      Turn on the machine and feed your answer key, right side up. Arrows on the form indicate the correct direction to feed the form. Leave the machine on.

    • 5

      Fill out another Scantron sheet with the correct answers, as though you are a student. Do not mark "Key."

    • 6

      Feed this test into the machine. If the machine is working correctly, this test will be graded with a perfect score.

    • 7

      Fill out another Scantron test sheet. Color bubbles corresponding to wrong answers. Erase the marks and color bubbles that correspond to correct answers.

    • 8

      Feed this test into the machine. If it is working correctly, it won't "scan" the eraser marks and the test will show a perfect grade.

    • 9

      Fill out another Scantron sheet. Color the correct answers but make some marks lighter and some darker. Replicate a realistic range of heavy and light marks that students might make.

    • 10

      Feed this test into the machine. The output should reflect a perfect grade; the machine should "scan" light and heavy marks.

      Your test is complete and you are ready to grade your students' tests.

Learnify Hub © www.0685.com All Rights Reserved