The answer key is a general purpose answer sheet that contains the correct responses to the questions on the test or subtest. A minimum of one answer key is required for each exam to be scored. You will only need to provide multiple answer keys if you are scoring an exam with multiple versions.
Completing the Answer Key
- It is recommended that the Last Name grid be used to provide a name for the test, if desired. This will help identify the key sheets. You can also darken the bubbles to match the test name.
- In the leftmost position of the Student ID Number field, enter the number of the first question being scored, usually 1. Do not use leading zeroes. Darken in the corresponding bubble(s). This is consistent even if you have multiple answer keys (for an exam with multiple versions).
Refer to the Test Scoring FAQ question If a weekly exam is given, are my students permitted to re-use their GPAS? for information about completing the answer key when your students are re-using their general purpose answer sheets.
- Skip the next column in the Student ID Number grid. Make no mark in this space at all. In the next blank, enter the number of questions on the key sheet and darken in the corresponding bubbles. Note that if questions are omitted from the test, the number of questions entered should be the total of non-omitted questions. For example, if a 50-question test had number 17 and 38 omitted, the total number of questions entered on the key sheet should be 48, not 50.
If you have multiple versions of an exam, you will use the Seat Number grid to link the students’ exams to the appropriate answer key. See How to Submit an Exam with Multiple Versions for Test Scoring for additional information. Do not make any stray marks in the margins of the exam to indicate the exam version.
The correct answers to the questions should then be darkened in the appropriate numbers. There are three options available when filing in the correct answers:
| Single Response |
One bubble filled in which is the only correct answer to the question. Any other answer or a blank is considered incorrect |
| All Responses |
Every possible answer bubble is filled in. Any response given to this question will be considered correct. |
| No Responses |
All bubbles left blank for the question. This question will be omitted from the test and not be used in scoring. |
This is an example of a completed answer key.
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