GPSCOR (General Purpose Scoring Program)
Introduction
Test Scoring and Questionnaire Services (TSQS) offers two types of scoring: GPSCOR (General Purpose Scoring Program) and MRSCOR (Multiple Response Scoring Program)
This article provides some additional information on GPSCOR, which is utilized for scoring tests on which students are expected to respond with only one answer per question.
This is the preferred method for which the Optical Mark Reader (OMR) machines were designed and, thus, for which the reading of responses is most accurate.
Applicability
This article was written for instructors and support staff at the University of Alberta.
In order to score a test, you must supply a key sheet, which is simply a General Purpose Answer Sheet with the correct answer marked for each question that is to be scored.
It is helpful if you write 'KEY' on this sheet so that the operators can easily identify which sheet should be used as the key sheet.
Details
GPSCOR provides a number of scoring options:
Up to 8 key sheets may be used to generate scores, or sub-scale scores, on various sets of items in the test.
- Scores may be computed as the sum of the number of correct answers or the sum of the number of incorrect answers.
- Incorrect answers are only counted for those items having a correct answer indicated on the key. The absence of a response to an item is not counted as an incorrect answer.
The scores from the above keys may be combined into as many as 6 different composite totals.
- Each score may be weighted by an integer between 0 and 9 before accumulating it to the composite total.
- This allows one, for example, to obtain a total score that is the sum of the score on one key plus double the score on a second key.
- It also provides a way of allowing several possible correct answers on a particular item (provided that the student only gives one answer). In this situation, the first key sheet could contain the first correct answer to all the items while a second key sheet could contain only the 'second-choice' correct answers to those items that require that provision.
Scores may be computed from as many as 4 key sheets using formula scoring (often called correction for guessing).
The formula used is R - W/d where:
- R is the sum of the correct responses
- W is the sum of the incorrect responses. (Omits are not counted)
- d is the number of response alternatives minus
Please refer to the instructions for completing the Optical Mark Reader Request for Service Form in KB0012169
Keywords: GPSCOR, General, Purpose, Scoring, Program, multiple, choice, exams, OMR, Scoring, Scantron