Scoring Services

Machine Scoring Services
Job Cover Sheet View/Print [PDF]

Test Scoring Services

To have classroom tests scored, instructors must assemble a packet including:

• answer sheets;
• answer key;
• cover sheet;

Answer Sheet Protocols

• Use standard WWU Enrollment Sheet/Answer Sheets (AKA "Scantrons"), which are generally available for faculty in their respective departmental offices.

• Answer sheets must be marked with a dark #2 pencil, with marks so solid that the number or letter printed in the space cannot be read through the mark. Students must supply both their name and student number, correctly gridded, on the first test taken in a course, and their student number on every subsequent test.

• Before bringing the sheets to OM 120 for scoring, please check them over for complete information (name, student number, and test version, if required) and arrange them so that they all face in the same direction.

• INSTRUCTOR TIPS FOR RAPID AND ACCURATE SCORING:
  Checking and correcting errors, omissions, and poor scantron markings currently accounts for 25% to 50% of the time consumed in the scoring process. To assure prompt scoring of your tests, please acquaint yourself and your students with proper scantron marking techniques, and encourage students to double-check gridding of student number, name, and test version (when applicable). See the reverse (page two) side of your cover sheet for details.

Answer Keys

• To prepare an answer key, fill in the correct answers on a standard answer sheet. Use a #2 pencil and make dark marks. If more than one answer is correct for any item, mark all possible correct responses. Leave omitted items blank.

• Label the sheet clearly as a "key", including your name and class information.

• If you are administering only one version of test, mark "A" in the TEST FORM field.

• If you are administering more than one version, mark the appropriate letter: A, B, C, or D, in the TEST FORM field. You must make a separate key for each version. Instruct students to mark the TEST FORM field for the version they are taking. If students do not mark the version, their answer sheets will be returned unscored. It is not necessary to sort the answer sheets by version.

Cover Sheets

• Each job to be scored must be accompanied by a cover sheet. You can get a cover sheet form from the Scoring Services office, from your department secretary, or by opening, filling out online, and then printing the new online pdf version of the form.

• The first two lines identify your class; please fill them in completely.

• Fill in today's date.

• "Exam number:" "Exam" is the default label. If you want your reports to have columns labelled to show scores as, say, two quizzes, one lab, and a final, be sure to let scoring services staff know with your FIRST test. (You can use the box labelled "special instructions" at the lower right of the cover sheet to note that). Circle the number of the machine-scored exam (or quiz, etc.) with each scoring request. (note: items requiring "circling" must be done by hand after printing form)

• "Version:" Circle A, B, C, or D, as many as are appropriate.

• "Disability Resources:" If you are having tests delivered to us from DRS and wish to have them scored with the other exams, please tell us how many we are to wait for. Please note that "stragglers" (answer sheets received after the main body of the test is scored) will not be included on hard-copy reports.

• "TEST KEY SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:" If there is one correct answer only for each item, and each item is worth one point, you can skip this box.

  "OMIT items:" If there are items you'd like omitted from the exam, erase them from the key, then note the item numbers on the cover sheet. "Items with more than one correct answer:" If there are items for which more than one response is correct, mark all correct responses on the key, then note the item numbers on the cover sheet. If only one of those possible responses should be allowed, that is, EITHER but not both, circle OR. If all are marked responses are required, that is, ALL, circle AND. "WEIGHT items:" Default weight is one point per item. If you wish to change the weight for ALL items, note that weight here. If you wish to weight different items by different amounts, indicate item numbers and corresponding weights. Decimal fractions to two points on either side of the decimal point are allowed.

• "Essay points:" Note the 3-digit field in the upper right corner of the answer sheet labelled "Essay." Here you may enter additional points that can either be included with a multiple test score (short answer questions, for example) or scanned separately as another score (lab, paper scores, or extra credit, for example).
  • Indicate the total number of essay points possible in the blank provided.

  • On the student answer sheets, fill in ALL THREE SPACES, so that a score of 23 would be marked as O23 in the essay field.

• Please print your e-mail address in the space provided. You will receive an Excel format student roster as soon as your exam has been scored. Hard Copy reports and scantrons will be delivered to your departmental office (usually within 24 hours) or may be held in our office for pickup, if so specified.

• "Reports:" Check the reports you wish to receive for each administration. If you have questions about any of the reports, please call ext. 3081 or inquire by e-mail for more details.

• Note that not all options are listed on the cover sheet. Inquiries are invited about additional scoring options, such as machine-assigned letter grades, dropping one or more low scores, weighting rosters, etc.

• "Special Instructions." Use the box provided for any additional notes that might clarify your scoring preferences.