Scantron
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Scantron is the name of a United States company that makes and sells Scantron exam answer sheets and the machines to grade them.
The Scantron system usually takes the form of a "multiple choice, fill-in-the-circle/square/rectangle" form of varying length and width, from single column 50 answer tests, to multiple 8.5" x 11" page forms used in standardized testing such as the SAT and ACT. The forms are sensed optically, using optical mark recognition to detect markings in each place, in a "Scantron Machine" that tabulates and can automatically grade results. Earlier versions were sensed electrically.
Commonly, there are two sides to Scantron answer sheets. They can contain 50 answer blanks, 100 answer blanks, and so on. There is even a smaller form called a "Quiz Strip" that contains only about 20 answer boxes to bubble-in. On the larger sheets, there is a space on the back where answers can be manually written in for separate questions, if a test giver issues them out. The full-sized 8.5" x 11" form may contain a larger area for using it to work on math formulas, write short answers, etc. Answers "A" and "B" are commonly used for "True" and "False" questions.
Almost anyone in the United States who has taken an exam will have experience with Scantron sheets, especially their instructions for use, from "Do not make any stray marks on the answer sheet" and "Fill in each circle/square completely. To change your answer completely erase the mark," to "Please use a number 2 pencil."
Grading of Scantron sheets is performed first by creating an answer key. The answer key is simply a standard Scantron answer sheet with all of the correct answers filled in, along with the "key" rectangle at the top of the sheet.
Once you have your answer key ready the Scantron machine is powered on and the answer key is fed through. This stores the answer key in the memory of the Scantron machine and any further sheets that are fed through will be graded and marked according to the key in memory. Switching off the Scantron machine will stop the paper feed and clear the memory. Incorrect answers are marked with a red dash or the correct answer down the left side of the paper. This way, students can tell which answers they got right, and which they got wrong. The number of correct answers is printed on the form as well.
A photocopied Scantron form will not work - the ink becomes too dark, possibly to prevent such copying. It is, however, possible to print forms that will work in the Scantron machine from a personal computer printer, if a properly made grayscale master is available.
An urban myth holds that application of chapstick down one side of the scantron sheet where the incorrect marking are made by the machine results in a perfect score, at least on that side of the form. There is no compelling evidence that this really works; many students have tried it and failed. [1]
