{"id":5625,"date":"2025-12-09T12:50:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T12:50:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/?p=5625"},"modified":"2025-12-09T13:33:02","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T13:33:02","slug":"setting-up-gradescope-bubble-sheets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/setting-up-gradescope-bubble-sheets\/","title":{"rendered":"Setting up Gradescope Bubble sheets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Gradescope bubble sheet assignments allow students to complete paper based multiple choice exams and for those papers to be scanned and largely automatically marked. This article provides an overview of the stages for setting up a bubble sheet assignment.  For information on managing papers post submission see: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/processing-and-grading-gradescope-bubble-sheets\/\">Processing and Grading Gradescope bubble sheets<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group page-navigation has-base-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-elements-87873b279ef266611e7916aba6402d56 has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-74eabeda wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-style:none;border-width:0px;border-radius:8px;background-color:#6184d8;padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small)\">\n<p class=\"post-nav-title\"><strong>Contents<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol style=\"margin-top:5px;margin-bottom:5px;padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small)\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#how-work\">How bubble sheets work<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\"><a href=\"#marking\">How marking works<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#prepare\">Preparing for a bubble sheet exam<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#student-instructions\">Instructions for students<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#assignment-setup\">Assignment setup<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#marking-scheme\">Setting up and editing your marking scheme<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"#resources\">Further resources<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"how-work\" class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-da79a4a7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--base-2);border-bottom-width:2px;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-d5416a4e4d19317c3e944be2bbc05d8f\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0\"><strong>How do bubble sheets work<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Bubble sheet assignments can be used for paper based multiple choice questions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Staff can predefine the answers for up to 200 questions, with answer choices A-E.  Gradescope supports scoring options of <a href=\"https:\/\/help.gradescope.com\/article\/gkwvq606fq-instructor-assignment-bubble-sheets#points_and_scoring\">exact, partial or either\/or scoring<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Students are provided with a printed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingcollege.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bubble-Sheet-Answer-Template.pdf\">Gradescope Bubble Answer Sheet (PDF)<\/a> to enter their name, student ID number and their answer choices. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Completed answer sheets are scanned (using a standard photocopier).  The scanned pdfs are then uploaded to Gradescope.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gradescope automatically matches students to their scanned paper based on name \/ student ID.  (Staff can assign any papers not automatically matched).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-da79a4a7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--base-2);border-bottom-width:2px;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3a54eeb9b4228b2a87d54963e7eec319\" id=\"marking\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0\"><strong>How does marking work?<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Papers are scanned and uploaded to Gradescope and auto matched with students submissions.  Once papers are associated with students grading can begin.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gradescope will automatically grade answers that it is sure about.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gradescope will identify <strong>uncertain marks<\/strong> which require checking (typically this may be because a student has crossed out an answer).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Staff need to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/processing-and-grading-gradescope-bubble-sheets\/\">review and confirm uncertain marks<\/a>. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once reviewed, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/processing-and-grading-gradescope-bubble-sheets\/\">final grades can be released<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-da79a4a7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--base-2);border-bottom-width:2px;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-35183de166e80c8d57ef3a57cf468f92\" id=\"prepare\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0\"><strong>Preparing for a bubble sheet exam<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We recommend that you provide a practice test so that students have an opportunity to complete the answer sheet and you can see how the marking process works.  To do that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Download the Answer template<\/strong>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingcollege.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bubble-Sheet-Answer-Template.pdf\">Gradescope Bubble Answer Sheet (PDF)<\/a> and ensure a printed copy of the answer sheet, is provided to students sitting the exam. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-89843b1b wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;background-color:#96299e;padding-top:8px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:8px;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-133cf375 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:0;flex-basis:8%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\" style=\"margin-right:0;margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small)\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/12\/info.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1042\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:30px;height:30px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:92%\">\n<p class=\"has-base-5-color has-base-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-x-small-font-size wp-elements-3c3640bc4adcdea064e329aa2a2f52ba\" style=\"border-top-right-radius:8px;border-bottom-right-radius:8px;padding-top:8px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:8px;padding-left:20px\">Do not make changes to the answer template.  Changing the answer template could prevent Gradescope from being able to scan the answer sheets successfully.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#assignment-setup\">Set up a practice assignment<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-da79a4a7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--base-2);border-bottom-width:2px;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-89535dc50fab899528010daf2eb240d9\" id=\"student-instructions\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0\"><strong>Instructions for students<\/strong><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>On the day of the exam, students must enter their name and ID number, section (unit code) and answers onto the printed Gradescope Bubble Answer Sheet.   If a student needs to change their answer, we recommend they put a X through the incorrect answer (see example below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.teachingcollege.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Bubble-sheet-example-exam-header.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-11928\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.teachingcollege.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Answer-change.jpg\" alt=\"A multiple choice answer.  Answer options A to E are shown.  Answer B has been completed.  Answer D has been completed and crossed out.\" class=\"wp-image-8539 size-full\"\/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p>In this example student has crossed out answer D as incorrect.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you wish to give additional guidance to your students with their answer sheet, you can <a href=\"https:\/\/www.teachingcollege.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/Exam-instructions-bubble-sheet.docx\">Download example instructions here<\/a>. We recommend that you do not staple additional guidance to the answer sheet, as any additional cover sheet would need to be removed before the answer sheet is scanned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"assignment-setup\" class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-da79a4a7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--base-2);border-bottom-width:2px;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1b3e478072839046102ad98f1cb79d14\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0\">Assignment set up<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step is to create your assignment in Canvas, choosing the assignment type <strong>External tool<\/strong> and selecting Gradescope. For full step-by step instructions see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/how-do-i-set-up-a-gradescope-assignment-in-canvas\/\">How do I set up a Gradescope assignment in Canvas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have launched Gradescope within Canvas you will be asked to choose your assignment type.  Follow the instructions below for setting up your Bubble sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For <strong>Assignment type <\/strong>select <strong>Bubble Sheet <\/strong>and click <strong>Next.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enter an <strong>Assignment Name<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Submission Anonymization<\/strong> (leave this check box unticked).  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Who Uploads Assignment<\/strong> should be set to <strong>Instructor<\/strong> (as staff will be scanning and uploading the paper).  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Rubric permissions<\/strong>: Leave as &#8216;all staff can edit rubrics&#8217;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click <strong>Create Assignment <\/strong>to save the settings you have selected.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once you\u2019ve entered some initial details for your assignment in Gradescope, you will return to Canvas. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose&nbsp;<strong>Select<\/strong>&nbsp;to navigate away from the popup box, then tick the checkbox <strong>Load this tool in a new tab<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.teachingcollege.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Gradescope_configure_external_tool.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13688\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.0088012139605462;width:368px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.teachingcollege.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Gradescope-Load-this-tool-in-a-new-tab.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-13689\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.8653198653198653;width:345px;height:auto\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Finally, scroll to the bottom of the screen and ensure that you&nbsp;<strong>Save<\/strong>&nbsp;the Canvas assignment. <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once your assignment has been saved you will return to the Assignments screen. You can access and manage the assignment via the <strong>Assignments<\/strong> menu, opening your assignment link and then choosing <strong>Load Gradescope in a new window<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-da79a4a7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--base-2);border-bottom-width:2px;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5a7c4dffdad532d5324318386142ae2d\" id=\"marking-scheme\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0\"><strong>Setting up and editing your marking scheme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have created your Bubble sheet, you will need to set up your marking scheme, to define the correct answers for each question, how many points each question is worth and the marking basis (eg. exact\/partial credit). In Gradescope this takes place in the <strong>Edit Answer Key <\/strong>screen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For questions with more than one answer option, the scoring key allows you to apply <a href=\"https:\/\/help.gradescope.com\/article\/gkwvq606fq-instructor-assignment-bubble-sheets#points_and_scoring\">exact, partial or either\/or<\/a> scoring to all questions.  The default point value for each question is listed as &#8216;1&#8217;.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allocate the correct answers to the numbered questions by clicking on a letter or letters underneath the question.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click on the<strong> cog icon<\/strong> next to a question number if you wish to change the default scoring (exact, partial, either\/or) or the points value for that question.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you have defined your answers click <strong>Save Answer Key<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-89843b1b wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"border-radius:8px;background-color:#faba25;padding-top:8px;padding-right:8px;padding-bottom:8px;padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-not-stacked-on-mobile is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-133cf375 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:0;flex-basis:8%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized\" style=\"margin-right:0;margin-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--x-small)\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/8\/2024\/12\/light-bulb.svg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1110\" style=\"object-fit:cover;width:35px;height:35px\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:92%\">\n<p class=\"has-base-5-color has-base-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color has-x-small-font-size wp-elements-1b61c1ac975d56cb7a68a3cefbe9607e\" style=\"border-top-right-radius:8px;border-bottom-right-radius:8px;padding-top:8px;padding-right:20px;padding-bottom:8px;padding-left:20px\">To return to the marking scheme, open the assignment in Gradescope and navigate to the <strong>Edit Answer Key <\/strong>screen.<br><strong>TIP:<\/strong> You can edit the answer key after submissions have been uploaded.  Any changes you make will be applied to marking.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Editing the Answer Key:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>To exclude a question from marking, go to the <strong>Edit Answer Key<\/strong> screen and uncheck any selected answer bubbles for that question and then <strong>Save <\/strong>the answer key to apply the changes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Next go to the <strong>Review Grades <\/strong>screen.  You should see that the maximum total score for the paper has been adjusted to reflect that you have excluded a question from marking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"resources\" class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-da79a4a7 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"border-bottom-color:var(--wp--preset--color--base-2);border-bottom-width:2px;padding-top:10px;padding-bottom:10px\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-base-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-866367c1fe2c1996a3cc7c604028d9c7\" style=\"padding-top:0px;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0\">Further resources<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>For information on how to manage bubble sheet papers after an exam check out: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/processing-and-grading-gradescope-bubble-sheets\/\">Processing and Grading Gradescope Bubble sheets<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Gradescope bubble sheet assignments allow students to complete paper based multiple choice exams and for those papers to be scanned and largely automatically marked. This article provides an overview of the stages for setting up a bubble sheet assignment. For information on managing papers post submission see: Processing and Grading Gradescope bubble sheets. Contents How [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5625","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5625","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5625"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5625\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5638,"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5625\/revisions\/5638"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5625"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5625"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.elearning.fse.manchester.ac.uk\/getting-started-with-canvas\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5625"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}