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Teaching & Learning: Resources T&L

Test Scanning

CIT provides Calvin faculty a comprehensive exam-scoring and reporting service, using machine-readable "bubble" forms and the NCS examSYSTEM II software. Using this system you can create a variety of detailed, reports, which are provided in both printed and HTML formats , or you can save in a comma delimited data file that you can use to create your own reports.

What: CIT's test grading/scanning services
Where: Digital Studio, in the Hekman Library room 121
When: Monday - Friday from 8:00am - 4:45pm
(The Digital Studio closes at 5:00 so if you are grading your own test please plan accordingly.)
Note on turn-around times:

"Do it yourself" option:

  • Results available immediately

If you drop off your test for the Digital Studio Staff to scan/grade:

  • A 48-hour turn-around-time is guaranteed (weekdays, Monday - Friday 8:00am - 4:45pm) -- although we aim to have your tests graded and returned to you within 24 hours.

If you need the "bubble" forms please come to the Teaching & Learning Digital Studio or call x6-5885.

Administer the exam

Please instruct students to use only #2 pencils, to double-check for (and correct) multiple marks, and to fill in ONLY the "Last Name", "First Name", "Identification #" and question response fields. The "Identification #" field must be filled in, and must be left justified. Use the Student-ID for the Identification #. If any of these fields are filled in incorrectly it may lead to delays in exam scoring.

Test grading options

"Do-it-yourself" Grading

We encourage you, your department's administrative assistant or a student worker from your department to come to the Digital Studio to grade your tests and run your reports. The test scanning software is easy to use. We will show you how to use it and are available to answer any questions you might have. With the "do-it-yourself" option, turn-around time is immediate. Test grading machine is available on a 'walk in' basis.

You need a key-sheet in order to grade the tests.

CIT Grading

If necessary, you can drop your test off at the Digital Studio and our staff will grade your test and run your reports for you. Turn around time is 72 hours - Monday - Friday 8:00 - 4:45.

If you are dropping the test for us to grade please put them in a folder to protect student confidentiality.

PLEASE NOTE: Tests without the following information will be returned to you for completion:

  • Complete a key sheet, which specifies the correct answers for your exam.
  • Complete a report selection sheet, which specifies which reports you wish to receive, their format (paper and/or HTML), and the notification method you prefer.
  • student score sheets that include their student-ID in the Identification # field, left justified

 

If you have questions about the exam-scoring procedure, please call the HelpDesk at 6-8555.

Instructions for completing the Key Sheet and the Report Selection Sheet.

Key Sheet(s)
The key sheet (which uses the same form as the student response sheet) specifies the exam's correct answers. Fill in the "Last Name" grid with "KEY". Fill in the "Identification #" grid with a "1", skip a space, and then fill in the number of questions on the exam. (If you wish, you may skip a further space and then fill in the number of questions needed to achieve "mastery" of the exam. The generated reports will indicate how many students achieved mastery.) Finally, fill in the correct answers to the questions in the response section of the key sheet. Here is an example key sheet: Larger-sized or Smaller-sized.

Report Selection Sheet

Report Format and Delivery Options
This section of the Report Selection Sheet allows you to specify whether you want paper reports, electronic ones, or both. If you choose electronic reports, CIT will send them to you, in HTML format, via e-mail. This saves time and paper, and allows you to store all your reports on your computer for future reference. This section of the sheet also allows you to specify the method by which you would like to be notified when the exam has been scored.

Report Selection
Six reports are available to measure your students' performance on your exam:
Individual Student Results Report This report shows each student's raw score, percentage, and percentile. This report can be sorted by student name, student ID number, or by raw score. The students' names can also be omitted, replaced by their ID numbers, if you desire.
Individual Student Response Items Report This report shows, clearly and concisely, each student's complete set of responses to the questions. Correct responses are shown as periods (.) and incorrect responses are shown as the number of the correct response. This report can be sorted in the same three ways as the previous report, and omission of students' names is also possible. In addition, each student's responses can be printed on a separate page, allowing for easy distribution of the reports to the students.
Item Analysis Report This report shows a number of statistics for each question on your exam, including the number of students scoring in the upper quartile, the number in the lower quartile, the total number of responses, the discrimination index, and the difficulty factor. This report also shows the Kuder Richardson 20 and 21 scores for the entire exam.
Relative Frequency Distribution This report shows the distribution of scores, using a horizontal graph. For each possible score, each asterisk shown represents two percent of the total number of students.
Absolute Frequency Distribution This report shows the distribution of scores, using a horizontal graph. For each possible score, one asterisk is shown for each student who achieved that score.
Test Score Distribution This report shows, for each possible raw score, the percentile, Z-score, T-score, and stanine of that score. This report also includes the number of questions, the number of students, the average, median, minimum and maximum scores, and the standard deviation of the scores.