What is Gradescope?
Gradescope is an assessment tool that helps instructors administer and grade their assessments, whether they are delivered online or in-class as a traditional paper assignment.
Gradescope provides a brief overview of their platform in their introductory video: What is Gradescope?
For a more detailed review of what Gradescope offers, please view the following recordings, starting with the Introduction to Gradescope session.
Gradescope at the University of Guelph
Gradescope Complete (Gradescope) was selected as the successful proponent from the Test Scoring Replacement Request for Proposals (RFP). With Scantron and the CCS Test Scoring Application no longer available at UofG after the S22 semester, Gradescope’s Bubble Sheet Assignment option replaces Scantron at the beginning of the F22 semester.
Gradescope is much more than just bubble sheets however, offering multiple assignment types that can be leveraged to assess various types of student work from homework assignments to exams.
Gradescope is supported by OpenEd through CourseLink Support and the Instructional Technology Specialist (ITS) team. A scanning service for single page Gradescope bubble sheets is available through Computer and Communications Services (CCS), however with Gradescope’s bubble sheets printed on standard 8.5”x11” (Letter) paper, they may also be scanned directly by the instructor using their department’s scanner or a personal scanner.
Why Use Gradescope?
Gradescope helps instructors grade assignments more efficiently and consistently while allowing for detailed feedback through rubric descriptions, annotations, highlighting, and comments. Gradescope’s dynamic rubrics help standardize grading, particularly in large classes where multiple graders are working together.
Gradescope can also provide detailed analytics through their question tagging feature that may help instructors determine where students might be struggling with a particular concept or learning outcome.
Additionally, Gradescope integrates with CourseLink for assignment creation and access via the Content tool, roster syncing with the Classlist tool, and grade export to corresponding grade items in the Grades tool.
How to Access Gradescope
Gradescope can be accessed via the CourseLink integration or directly via gradescope.ca/login using the School Credentials option and your Single Sign On (SSO) credentials.
Gradescope Assignment Types
Gradescope allows instructors and TAs to grade paper-based exams, quizzes, and homework. In addition, Gradescope enables instructors and TAs to grade programming (code) assignments (automatically or manually) and even create online assignments that students can answer right on Gradescope.
The following assignment types are available:
Bubble Sheets
A solution for delivering large numbers of multiple choice questions for in-person, on-paper quizzes or exams. Bubble sheets are printed using a template, scanned when completed and uploaded to Gradescope, then matched to students using advanced text recognition. Answers are automatically graded, with uncertain marks on the bubble sheet reviewed and confirmed by the instructor through the Gradescope interface. Bubble sheets replace Scantron as the supported assessment option for on-paper multiple choice questions at UofG beginning in the F22 semester.
Exams & Quizzes
A solution for more efficient and consistent grading of on-paper quizzes and exams. Completed tests are scanned to a PDF file by the instructor, uploaded to Gradescope, then matched to students using advanced text recognition. During the grading process, similar answers to questions can be grouped using Gradescope’s AI or manually grouped, and then graded simultaneously. Grading is done by question rather than by student, using dynamic rubrics that are shared between all graders.
Homework & Problem Sets
A solution for more efficient and consistent grading of written work submitted by students that can accommodate either templated (worksheet style) or variable length submissions. For templated assignments, similar answers to questions can be grouped using Gradescope’s AI or manually group and then graded simultaneously. Grading is performed by question using rubrics that are shared between all graders.
Online Assignments
A solution for low-stakes assignments that are delivered online rather than in-person/on-paper. Online assignments provide 5 different field types that can used independently or be combined together into a single question. The five field types are: Multiple Choice, Select All, Short Answer, Free Response, and File Upload. Automatic grading is available for Multiple Choice, Select All and Short Answer fields, while Gradescope’s dynamic rubrics are used to score Free Response and File Upload options.
Programming Assignments
A solution for courses where student submit code projects for assessment. Instructors can automatically grade student code with a custom written autograder and/or manually grade using the traditional Gradescope interface.