This handout documents use of the Testing Services for processing exams on the ParScore Testing system. This handout was produced by University Technology Services at USC. Questions about its content should be referred to a University Technology Services Scanning Services contact.

To use Scanning Services to process exams, you must use University of South Carolina Testing Forms (F327-USC (pdf), F-289-PAR (pdf) and F-20713-USC (pdf)) as answer sheets. These forms may be purchased from Forms and Supply or the University Bookstore. You may choose whichever testing form meets your specific needs. These forms may be filled out in pen (black or blue ink) or a #2 pencil. Submit the answer forms, an answer key, and a completed Request for Graded Output (pdf) to Scanning Services for processing. The grading process provides grade listings and other statistics, as well as an item analysis (if requested) after processing. All reports will be sent by email, scanned forms will be held for one week and then sent via campus mail in a sealed manila envelope. Please note that all email addresses must be associated with the University of South Carolina. To have grades sent via email, you must provide a valid SC.EDU email address.

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  |                              Charges                                 |

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  |    Charges  for scanning  the optical  forms  used for  grading      |

  |    are real-money charges:   $.03/sheet,  a minimum      |

  |    $3.00 charge per request.                                         |

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CODING THE ANSWER SHEETS

The following considerations should be noted in coding the answer sheets for Graded Output:

* Please use the same testing forms each set of test.

* All four of the standard testing forms have a block for coding a student identification number. Two of the forms also have a block for entering an alphabetic name. The student identification numbers can be assigned by the instructor. Each one in the group of tests being processed must be unique, and all must be of the same length. Complete SSN's should not be used. Please see the FERPA information site maintained by the Office of the Registrar for details http://registrar.sc.edu/html/ferpa/fast_ferpa(pdf). If the form used has a block for coding a name, students may code their whole name, a partial name or a Blackboard username.

To code the answer key for an exam, the instructor should complete a Testing Form clearly marked KEY.

If multiple forms of a test are administered, a key must be completed for each batch of tests. Please mark the form KEY and bubble in the key code. NOTE: If any sheet does not specify that it is a KEY it will be treated as a student answer sheet.

If you have partial credit for a question, please fill in both answers on the key sheet and you must fill out page 2 of the Request for Graded Output (pdf). Multiple answers per a single question are not allowed.

Before completing the answer key sheet (or sheets), it is advisable to read the remaining sections of this handout for instructions on coding options.

A Request for Graded Output form must be completed in full for each group of forms to be scored. Following are directions for completing the form and examples.

Directions:

Do not code anything in the section marked UTS OFFICIAL USE ONLY.

Department – Enter the department that the grades are for (IE: Biology, Math, etc…)

UTS Account Number - Enter the appropriate University Technology Services manual charge account number (this is not a Department/Fund number). To see a listing of standard account numbers click here.

Instructor - Enter the instructor's name (please print).

Contact Number - Enter the instructor's office telephone number or the person to contact if questions arise.

E-mail Address: Enter the recipients’ email address. Grades will only be emailed to email addresses associated with the University of South Carolina and must end with SC.EDU. We will not send email’s to addresses outside of this domain.

Department PFX Course SFX Sections List the four- letter department abbreviation, the course prefix (if there is one), the course number, the course suffix (if there is one), and the section number. If there is no prefix or suffix, leave the block empty. (IE: BIOL 101E300, MATH 202 001, etc…). You may list multiple sections on one line (IE: PSYC 101 001-010)

Description Use this field to distinguish grades in one report from another. Please keep these descriptions in the format of (IE: Test# 4, Quiz# 3, Exam# 1).

Requesting 3 Types of Reports You may select up to 3 types of reports from this list. Sample reports are available for viewing by clicking on the link below. All reports come in PDF format unless otherwise stated by checking the "text" box by Grades Listing.

• Grades Listing by Name(pdf). (only with use of form F-20713-USC).
• Grades Listing by Number(pdf).
• Grades Listing - Text format(txt)- If you need data in a editable format, please check the box for text format.
• Student Sheets(pdf).
• Item Analysis(pdf).
• Detailed Item Analysis(pdf).

Request for Graded Output - Additional (pdf)

Page 2 only needs to be completed if you have Additional Courses, Weighted Questions, Partial Credit Questions or Bonus Questions.

Course and Section Numbers for Tests Being Graded – If you have more courses than will fit on page 1, you may continue them on page 2.

Weighted Question Option - If the weight option is not used, every question on the exam is weighted equally (each item is weighted as '1') and will be normalized based on 100 percent; if every question on the exam is not to be equally weighted, use page 2 of the Request for Graded Output to make your selections. If you weight one question, you must weight all questions.

Partial Credit Questions – Use this section if you have partial credits for a question(s). List the question number and check mark under each possible answer. If you want these questions worth certain points, please indicate so under Weighted Question Information. Multiple answers per a question are not allowed.

Bonus Questions - If you have a question(s) that are worth extra points, please indicate the question number and the bonus points to be given.

When forms are submitted to the Information Desk for processing with Scanning Services, they should be stacked face-up and aligned in the same direction. These forms should never be folded, paper-clipped or stapled. The answer key sheet should be placed on top of the bundle (if the first sheet scanned is not a key, program execution stops). If different forms of the exam were administered, each key sheet should be positioned on top of its corresponding set of answer sheets. The forms and the Request for Graded Output (pdf) should be turned in together at the Information Desk. After processing has been completed, the forms should also be picked up at the Information Desk. Email results, if requested will be routed to the email address provided on the request form. Should any problems be encountered in processing a Request for Graded output, the person identified on the request sheet will be notified.