Why Won't My Tests Scan Correctly? (Data Director FAQ)

Data Director FAQ #3: When I scan my answer sheets, all of the answers and student ID numbers are wrong. How do I fix it?

There is more than one answer to this question, because there a number of steps in the Data Director assessment process that could be causing the problem.

Issue #1: Printing

When you print, you should check the "Fit to Page" box in the printing dialogue.

Your answer sheets have registration T marks at the top and bottom. These T marks help the scanner identify where to locate the bubbles that it needs to scan. When printed correctly, these T's are approximately 1/4" from the sides and 1/2" from the top and bottom of the answer sheet. If "Fit to Page" hasn't been checked, the T's will be too close to the edge.

Answer sheet printed correctly with "Fit to Page" option checked.

Answer sheet printed incorrectly without "Fit to Page" option checked. Note how much closer the T's are to the edge of the page.

Issue #2: Scanning

Even if you did print your answer sheets correctly, your answer sheets may not scan correctly. This is most likely because the person who scanned before you had to calibrate the scanner for incorrectly printed answer sheets, but didn't reset it when finished.

The solution is to calibrate the printer, so that it correctly identifies where your students' answers are on their bubble sheets according to the registration T marks at the top and bottom of the page.

To calibrate the printer, follow the directions below, or go to the directions I've shared on Google Drive.

Click on the File menu in the upper left corner of the screen, then Configuration, then Preferences.

Click on the Calibrate button.

Select Letter for your paper size. If you haven’t already done so, you will be prompted to load an answer sheet into the document feeder of the scanner. After scanning the answer sheet, you will see it on your screen. The will be a dotted red line going around the margins of the answer sheet.

Use the blue arrows on the left side of the screen to adjust the dotted red lines. The red lines need to be outside of the registration T marks at the top and bottom of the answer sheet.

Click Save Settings, which will take you back to the Configuration window. Click Save.

Scan your answer sheets. After you’re done scanning, go back to File-->Configuration-->Preferences, then click on the Reset to Default button to reset the data scanner for the next person who uses it.