In this lesson, you will review how to write numbers in a constructed response or manually scored section.
Where to Start
Having trouble with read errors in your exams that contain constructed response or manually scored sections? These sections use sophisticated Intelligent Character Recognition (ICR) software to recognize handwriting. However, no machine is perfect and there are steps you can take to minimize read errors:
1. Use a pen
This is the most common error when writing in numbers. Pencil marks cannot be consistently picked up by the scanner and will lead to wildly random results (e.g. 1 reading as 7, 8 reading as 2, etc).
2. Use the read zones to your advantage
he gray blocks to the left indicate where our software looks to read numbers. Notice that the read zone is just slightly above the line. Also, the rightmost read zone is larger than the other 2. If you tend to write large numbers, you will have the best success in the rightmost read zone.
3. Stay above the line
If part of the number exists below the line, it will be outside the read zone. In the example on the left, the number "3" will be misinterpreted as a "2" because part of the number is below the read zone.
4. Don't rush
Rushing often leads to unrecognizable characters. A few extra seconds spent on writing each number legibly will pay off since you won't have to spend any time correcting misreads later. A good rule of thumb is: if a human isn't sure about it, the software won't be either.
What do I do if a number was read incorrectly?
The best way to correct a number is to use the View/Edit Student Answers page to correct it manually. If you used a pencil, you can also trace over the numbers on the answer sheet and rescan. All existing results for that student will be overwritten.
Next Steps
To learn more about DDC exams, see the lessons in Classroom, DDC.