Computing Technologies Center Optical Scanning for Tests

OPTICAL MARK READING SERVICE

PLEASE INFORM YOUR STUDENTS NOT TO USE THEIR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER IN THE IDENTIFICATION AREA OF THE OPSCAN FORM.

  1. Location of Optical Scanning Equipment
    • The NCS Pearson OpScan 10 Model 40 Scanner is located in the Computing Technologies Center.
  2. Equipment Configuration
    • The NCS Pearson equipment consists of a scanning unit, microcomputer, and printer.  The scanning unit will interpret pencil marked forms and print the results on the form.  The scanned information is also read to a disk file.  This disk file can be used as input to analysis and grading programs on the mainframe computer.
    • The scanning unit will read forms at the rate of 4,000 sheets per hour.
  3. Forms
    • For test scoring purposes there is a supply of "Standard Answer Sheets" designed for use by our installation.  The sheets can be secured at the Central Warehouse.  These forms are not available at the CTC.
    • For tasks of a special nature where the standard answer sheets are not suitable, consultation at the CTC on form design is necessary; otherwise, the forms may not be readable by the scanner.
  4. Marking Responses on Answer Sheets
    • Please inform your students NOT to use their social security number OR ANY PART OF IT in the Identification Area of the Opscan form.
    • All forms are to be marked by a #2 pencil only.  All other marking media are not suitable for scanning.
    • Care should be taken to mark all forms with a uniform dark density of the #2 pencil.  The response area must be completely filled.  Be careful not to put marks between rows.
    • All erasures must be cleanly done.  A double response will be treated as a wrong answer, unless multiple responses are allowed.
    • Student name area should be filled in; the identification area can be used, but do not use the student's social security number.
    •  Immediately following a testing session the instructor must make a cursory examination of the recorded information to be sure all marks are recorded properly, and all forms in the stack are in the same orientation.
    • Do not staple, tape or fold any sheets together; doing so will jam the scanner.  Extra care in handling forms will insure a good scan of the responses.
  5. Submission Standards 
    • For all scanning of forms the user is to take the forms to the CTC computer lab, MCT 054. Forms can be dropped off any time and results should be ready within 24 to 48 hours.  Opscan test scoring will occur between 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. – Monday through Friday.   Please put your last name on the outside of the envelope.
    • A "Computer Center Scanning Request Form" is to be completed by all users.  This is simply a check list indicating what you want done.  The completed request form, correct answer key and student answer sheets are to be placed in an envelope (provided) and put in the mail slot in the MCT 060 door from MCT 054.
  6. Policy
    • It will be the sole responsibility of the user to submit a request as outlined in the submission standards in #5 above.
    • The user will deliver forms to mail slot in MCT 060 door located in the CTC computer lab (MCT 054) and pick-up output of all scanning service from the mailbox slots located next to MCT 052 (CTC Mailroom) in the CTC office corridor.
    • Every effort will be made to preserve testing security, but submission procedures must be followed.

NCS Scanning Programs

Student Answer Sheets:  Unless otherwise instructed the ONLY part of the answer sheet that should have any marks filled in are the name, unique identifier (not required) and answer areas.  All other areas should be left blank.

Correct Answer Key:  Unless otherwise instructed the ONLY part of the correct answer key that should have any marks filled in are the faculty's name and correct answers. All other areas should be left blank.

GPAS Score

  • Option 1: 1 Correct Answer
      • Key: Year Field - Fill in the 1 in the first column.
        Student Sheets:  Nothing special has to be filled in.
  • Option 2: 1 Correct Answer and Previous # of Points to be Added
      • Key:   Year Field - Fill in the 1 in the first column. 
        Special Codes N, O, P - 3 digit possible points to add.
        Sex Field - Fill in the F.
        Student Sheets:  Special Codes N, O, P - 3 digit previous points.
  • Option 3: 1 Correct Answer and Base Point Adjustment
      • Key: Year Field - Fill in the 1 in the first column.
        Special Codes K - fill in 9.
        Special Codes N, O, P - fill in 3 digit base points
        Student Sheets:  Nothing special has to be filled in.
  • Option 4: 1 Correct Answer and All Questions Worth 2 to 9 Points
      • Key: Year Field - Fill in the 1 in the first column.
        Special Codes K - fill in 1.
        Special Codes L - fill in point value.
        Student Sheets:  Nothing special has to be filled in.


Printed Report Output Options:

Score Only (Printed on Student Form Only)

  •   The score will be printed only on the student form.

PR - Printed List of Scores (NCS01)

  • This program prints a list of students and their scores in the order they were scanned and this program also prints an alphabetical listing.  It should be run only if scanning was done using GPAS Score, Option 1.  The other scoring options do not produce a true score.  To get a true score one of the NCS programs on the mainframe needs to be run. Data files can NOT be created if the SSN is found on any of the opscan forms submitted.

Item Analysis (NCS20)

  • This report can be run with files scanned using GPAS Score. 
    Prints a report that shows for each question the number of responses for each answer.  The responses are divided into quarters (lower, lower middle, upper middle, and upper).  Total percent and point bi-serial correlation is also shown for each question.

Grade Report (NCS30)

  • This report can be run with files scanned using GPAS Score.
    Prints three lists - name order, unique identifier order (if used), grade order.  Lists show total points, percent achievement, rank, letter grade, z-score and t-score.  The grade assumes a normal distribution.

Mini Item Analysis (NCS32)

  • This report can be run with files scanned using GPAS Score.
    Prints a report that shows for each question the correct answer, number of responses and percentage for each answer, and point bi-serial.

Individual Student Response Report

  • This reports can be run with files scanned using GPAS Score.
    Prints a report that shows for each student their response to each question and the correct answer if their response was incorrect.
  • NCS33 - prints on printer as many students have possible per sheet.


CTC SCANNING REQUEST FORM 

  • The person requesting service will fill out the left side of the form.
  • The information under TYPE OF TEST TO BE SCORED OR FORMS TO BE SCANNED will indicate to the CTC operator what NCS Pearson Scanning Programs are to be run.
  • The information under PRINTED OUTPUT DESIRED will tell the CTC operator what computer printouts are requested.
  • A CTC operator will fill out the information on the right side of the form.

Click below to view and/or save the Information and Computing Technology Center Scanning Request Form to your computer.

 REV: 4/12/06   C Alleman