A system for assessing a student's knowledge of a subject is disclosed wh includes an assessment sheet or booklet which has a story portion setting forth a plurality of related facts or observations therein and an activity portion setting forth a plurality of questions and directions therein to the student requiring a written response by the student, an answer area for the student to place written responses therein and a machine readable teacher scoring area on the sheet. The scoring area has machine readable spaces therein for recording numbers or marks characteristic of predetermined categories of the teacher's evaluation of the student's responses to the questions and directions in accordance with a predetermined set of assessment criteria. In other embodiments, the answer sheet may be separable from a reusable assessment booklet.

A method and system for grading free response tests including the use of highly accurate machine-readable data codes to uniquely associate test-taker, test and reader/grader, and a portable sensing device which stores codes read by the device for subsequent entry into a host computer. The method permits multiple readers/graders to evaluate the same test without one reader/grader influencing another, while reducing paper handling and key entry of data inherent in large volume paper and pencil testing techniques.

A scannable form for use in an optical mark reading system has a timing track that is pre-encoded with data information known or determined prior to a respondent completing the scannable form. The data information is pre-encoded in the control mark column on the scannable form by utilizing that portion of the control mark column that is not essential for conveying the scan control information associated with the scan control marks. The data information is encoded using data marks that represent the data information in a binary or other similar coding technique. The data marks are column-aligned with the scan control marks in the control mark column.

A form including user modifiable fields and an encoded description of the location, size, type, etc. of the fields allows direct programming of a form interpreter. Other information including the processing of the form, encoded data, etc., may be included in the encoded information. A system for creating forms carrying an encoded description of selected attributes of the fields includes means for selecting or creating fields and locating the fields on a form while generating, substantially simultaneously, the encoded description of the selected attributes. A form composer then allows merging of the form and its encoded description for printing or electronic transmission. A system for reading such forms includes a scanner, decoding device, and processor. By reading such forms, data may be entered into or recalled from a data processing system, or a form interpreter may be programmed, locally or remotely, for subsequent handling of forms.

A form including user modifiable fields and an encoded description of the location, size, type, etc. of the fields allows direct programming of a form interpreter. Other information including the processing of the form, encoded data, etc., may be included in the encoded information. A system for creating forms carrying an encoded description of selected attributes of the fields includes means for selecting or creating fields and locating the fields on a form while generating, substantially simultaneously, the encoded description of the selected attributes. A form composer then allows merging of the form and its encoded description for printing or electronic transmission. A system for reading such forms includes a scanner, decoding device, and processor. By reading such forms, data may be entered into or recalled from a data processing system, or a form interpreter may be programmed, locally or remotely, for subsequent handling of forms.