Are you exploring options to simplify the answer sheet evaluation process for your university/ education institute?
Do you want to use technology to simplify the answer sheet checking process?
Onscreen Evaluation System is the technology to improve the current examination paper checking process.
Here is the introductory video about the advantages of onscreen marking system
The traditional paper checking process is extremely time-consuming and involves many logistical activities.
Heretofore the paper checking and the result declaration used to take place in a very draggy system. It was a very long step by step done tedious process which wasn’t even that reliable because of the obvious human error factor.
Before listing the advantages of the system, let us have a look at the problems at hand that arise with manual answer sheet checking.
Logistical Management:
Logistical management is the organization of the question papers and answers sheets before the examination, after the examination and during the paper checking as well.
Physically answer sheet to be stored in a central location insecure environment. The exam paper checker needs to visit this centralized location in order to evaluate the answer sheets of the individual students. Location is one of the important constraints in such a situation.
If there are thousands of answer sheets to be evaluated then you may need hundreds of evaluators who should visit this central location and evaluate answer sheets in secure manner.
Moderators are also expected to visit the location to moderate / recheck answer sheets. The time consumed for this activity along with the cost is higher.
In some cases, universities or institutes prefer to send answer sheet copies through courier at examiner location. It involves delays and coordination activities. Physical handling of the answer sheet added to delays of result processing.
This integrated manner of dealing with the handling of the answer sheets is risky as well as extremely time-consuming.
Student Request for Answer Sheet Copy :
If the student ever has issues or doubts regarding the marks or overall summation of the figures given to them, or if they wish to recheck their papers, it has now being made mandatory for the institutions to provide with that
Nowadays there are norms where students can request to have a photocopy of the checked/evaluated answer sheet. In the traditional methods, it becomes a tedious job of manually getting out the answer sheet and photocopying it in order to issue it to the student.
In the traditional method, it was a very tedious job of manually getting the answer sheets photocopied in order to issue it to the student.
Occasionally, there were also times when the sheets needed to be sent via post to the candidate, making it even vulnerable to damage of any sort.
The entire deal with manually handling the papers is very risky and time-consuming.
Identity Disclosure:
Whilst any examination process, the privacy or say the identity of the candidate has to be secured. It is one of the most mandatory requirements of examination conduction.
In the traditional way of answer sheet evaluation, it is essential to hide identify student details to avoid malpractices. Manually each answer sheet should be arranged so as to hide the identity of the student.
This makes the identification of the candidate more obvious and the safety regarding the privacy of the student was much more at risk.
Apparently, there was a need to take action for the reduction of the errors that take place during the earlier methods of examination evaluation.
The perfect and most needed solution to the same was the adoption of the Onscreen Evaluation System, which is designed especially for the purpose of paper checking.
Onscreen evaluation eliminate most of the hassles of traditional processes
Onscreen evaluation is the ideal solution for the rectification or rather up-gradation of the age-old exercise of manual paper checking.
With the perfectly tailored software for the evaluation of the answer sheets, Onscreen evaluation has come up to be extremely handy and user-friendly for the users, along with being free from human error.
The software of Onscreen evaluation is specifically designed in such a way that it not only checks papers without error but also comes with many distinct features.
The few such features have been listed and elaborated below:
1.Answer Sheet Scanning:
It involves process to scan each answer sheet and store in the software system in secure manner.
Here are some of the best practices for Onscreen Marking System
2. Answer Sheet Evaluation: (Digital Correction of Exam Papers)
There is no location constraint in such a case. Any examiner/ answer sheet checker or Moderator can verify/ evaluate answer sheets sitting at their location.Person can securely log in to the system and can evaluate scanned answer sheets.
The technology-driven process is efficient and the time needed to evaluate answer sheet reduces significantly as physical handling of answer sheet is eliminated.
Logistical cost and travel management of each evaluator/moderator is eliminated.
Auto Calculation of Total Marks for Answer Sheet
The system helps to auto calculate the total. As an examiner you need not have to keep track on compulsory, optional questions attempted by the students. The system takes into consideration best of performances of the students for optional answers.
The calculation of the total is as per the question paper pattern and marking scheme. It eliminates manual processes. As an examiner you can save 5 to 10 minutes of total calculation activity.
3. Result Generation
It becomes automated as the system can directly calculate the result and can generate mark sheets instantly. It can eliminate the process of manually entering marks in the software.
There is facility to export the result in excel format. This format can be imported in any of the result generation solution. Manual data entry work of entering marks, validation of it can be eliminated.
It would help to speed up the result generation process.
It is mandatory to declare results for the university within 45 days of examination dates. There are a timeline and pressure to complete the entire answer sheet evaluation activity within the stipulated timeline.
An onscreen evaluation system can help to simplify the result generation process. The system is defined in such an away that calculation of total marks obtained by the student is auto based on the exam pattern.
If the student has attempted 4 questions out of 5 and there is the instruction of attempt any 3 out of 5 then the system would consider the best of 3 scores while calculating the results. Examiners need not have to keep track of it.
It saves time on manual score calculations. The entire result of the individual as well as a group of students is available on a single click button and it can be exported in the excel sheet as well.
4. Student request for scan copy
It can be managed easily from the software system.
As per rules and regulations, most of the institutions and universities allow students to see their evaluated answer sheet copies. Students need to make payments to get access to their evaluated answer sheets.
In case of such requests, the institution needs to identify physical answer sheet copy, prepare a photocopy of it and issue it to the respective students. There is a significant logistical and administrative activity in this process.
An onscreen evaluation system can eliminate all administrative hassles and can simplify this process. Students can easily see digitally evaluated answer sheet using technology.
If particular student requests for such a copy then the administrator can assign View access right to such student so that students can see individual answer sheet copy online itself.
5. Re-Evaluation of Answer Sheet :
There are cases when the students are not satisfied with the results, and request for revaluation or rechecking of answer sheets. Onscreen evaluation makes it simpler to do this activity. This process can be completed in record time. It can help to generate results in a quick time.
Conclusion
The traditional process of re-evaluation involves activity to handle physical answer sheets. Moderator is provided with physical answer sheet copy where all entries made by previous examiners are masked. The process of masking is manual and it can be a time-consuming activity.
Moderator re-evaluates the answer sheet and the new score (if it is significantly different from the original score) is updated in the system. This new data should be used to print a new mark sheet for the student.
There are 3 to 4 steps of handling physical answer sheets and manual data entry work. The chances of error in this activity are high.
Using the onscreen evaluation process, you can easily manage moderation and rechecking work as a software reassigned answer sheet copy to the moderator with masking of previously evaluated entries.
About Author
Swapnil Dharmadhikari
Swapnil has more than 15 years of experience in the Information Technology sector. He has been working on digital platforms in the education sector. Swapnil is an avid reader and writes articles on technology and leading developments in the education and IT sectors.
Swapnil is the founder of Splashgain, an Education Technology company from India working on various innovative EdTech platforms for examinations, proctoring solutions, digital admission process and more. Splashgain has been working with many educational institutes and universities for AI-powered innovations and solutions to transform the education sector.
Splashgain has also filed a patent for an innovative product based on AI.
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