OIT Support Lines 8:00AM - 5:00PM Monday-Friday
Phone: (865) 974-9900
Walk-in Consulting in The Commons - Helpdesk Contact Form
Test Scanning and Scoring
A fast and accurate way to score tests or enter survey data is to use optical mark recognition forms. These familiar darken-the-circle forms require the use of a number 2 pencil.
Our scanner is an NCS OpScan 7, Model 35, with a bar-code reader and score printer. Under ideal conditions, it is capable of scanning 3,500 double-sided forms per hour.
General-purpose answer sheets are standard forms that you can use to record the answers to tests or surveys. Several types of answer sheets are available at the UT Book and Supply Store from both NCS and Scantron. Since we have an NCS scanner, we recommend using NCS brand forms. You can purchase forms in packs of 500 directly from NCS at 1-800-735-2566. We can also scan custom forms (see Custom Scan Forms below.)
If you need a large number of forms for a University project, remember that the purchasing process can take many weeks.
We can save the data from your scan forms in an Excel file that most packages can read. We also offer file conversion services that can translate the data into formats usable by almost any spreadsheet, database, or statistics package.
Scanning Costs
The cost of scanning is 6 cents per page. It is the same for single- and double-sided forms. This price includes one Excel file containing your data, if you request it. For tests, we also provide item analysis.
Answer reports of each student's answers and the correct answers for each item are available for a $3 fee plus 5 cents per page. We will provide you with the program to create answer reports yourself at no charge.
We charge a form-processing fee of $20 per hour if the forms require unfolding, copying or stacking into a consistent face-up orientation. We reserve the right to reject forms that are in poor condition.
You must pay using a departmental account. We cannot scan without this billing number. Students who need to use the service must handle billing through their department.
Dropping Off Scan Forms
To have standard forms scanned, take them to the receptionist on the second floor of Stokely Management Center, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. The minimum turn-around time for scan form processing is 24 hours except on Fridays and weekends. Those will be ready on the following Monday. On the last day of exams, we scan frequently to give you time to get your grades in.
If you have special needs such as scanning custom forms, extended hours or scheduling quicker turnaround time, contact Mike O’Neil at 974-8333 or Cary Springer at 974-1579 a few days in advance to make the arrangements. The Operations staff at the Input/Output window does not provide consultation or programming services.
Test Scoring
We can automatically score tests consisting of correct/incorrect items, as opposed to surveys regarding opinions.
To score a test, you create an answer key by filling in the correct answers on a form and entering “Key” in the field for last name. To have the scanner give everyone credit for an item, fill in all of the answer circles for that item on the key. To have an item completely dropped from the scoring process, leave all answers for that item on the key blank.
Place the appropriate key on the top of each set of tests you have to score. Each set of tests must have its own key on top, even if the same key might apply to different sets. When we are processing many sets, separating keys from their forms is a recipe for disaster. You can have your students enter their section numbers in the Special Code section of their forms that will allow you to score them in a single batch and separate them afterwards.
The scanner will print the score on each form. We can also save the scores and the responses to each item in an Excel file as described above.
Item analysis can be particularly helpful in improving the quality of your tests. This analysis includes the number and percent of people who chose each answer as well as overall statistics such as mean score and test reliability. We provide item analysis with all test-scoring projects at no cost.
Custom Scan Forms
A custom form can put your questions right on the scan form itself giving it a professional appearance. You can even create multi-page booklets and separate the pages later for scanning. The staff of the Statistical Consulting Center can review your project with you and help you decide if you will need a custom form. There is no charge for the advice, but should you decide to create a custom form, we charge $70 per hour. Simple forms take around four hours per page.
Optical Scanning Software
To design custom scan forms, we use two packages, NCS Design Expert and Scantools. These products are rather complex and are not available on a site license. As a result, we use these tools internally and do not provide consulting support for their use on campus. However, you can purchase Design Expert from NCS and we will perform the Scantool programming necessary to make your design work. You can also have NCS design your form and send it to us for scanning.
Summary of Scanning Steps
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Take forms to the receptionist on the 2nd floor of Stokely Management Center, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Mon.-Fri.
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Minimum turnaround for scanning is 24 hours, Friday or weekend jobs will be ready Monday
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Forms must be the proper type, preferably NCS brand
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Forms must be in good condition
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Forms must be stacked face-up, flat and in proper order
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Each set of tests must have its own key with a single answer per item
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On the key, if you fill in all the answers for an item then students will receive credit for that item regardless of their answers.
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On the key, if you fill in no answer for an item, then that item will no longer be part of the test.
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Departmental accounts must be entered on the scan submission form
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You must schedule the use of custom forms or custom data analyses