Digital Scan Exams: Planning, Design, and Grading
Highly recommended for courses with more than 100 students where central exam facilities are insufficient: Our digital scan exams using a multiple-choice format offer a flexible and scalable alternative to e-exams. Students write on paper—in any suitable lecture hall or seminar room. Grading is done entirely digitally. The service is available for a minimum volume of 50 pages (total stack of all examinees).
We support you from the initial consultation through to the review of results—including ensuring compliance with applicable examination regulations and developing a legally compliant grading and archiving workflow.
Our scanning service supports the single-choice format. We will clarify whether this format is suitable for your exam and permissible under exam regulations during an initial personal consultation—please contact us.
Technical Requirements
- Answer options: A maximum of 5 answer choices per question (e.g., A through E).
- Maximum number of items: Our standard test form is designed for up to 60 questions. In exceptional cases, customized forms with a higher number of items can be created following consultation.
- Minimum volume: The process is economically and logistically viable for a total batch of at least 50 pages (all examinees).
- Standardized layout: The design of the answer sheet is strictly defined (sheet ID, predefined marking fields). Custom design changes are not permitted for scanning-related reasons.
- Clear Marking: A document-proof black ballpoint pen or a clearly legible pencil (HB grade) is required. We would be happy to advise you on this.
Our Service Package
- Needs analysis: We provide unbiased and personalized advice based on your examination regulations, the chosen exam format, and all relevant conditions: feasibility, legal certainty, timeline, and special requirements such as accommodations for students with disabilities. Where the scanned exam procedure is not suitable, we will work with you to develop a suitable alternative.
- Didactic Design: Support in designing your exam papers—from the question structure to the grading scale.
- Central printing service: We handle the printing of answer sheets, including unique sheet IDs.
- Automated data capture: Fast and error-free evaluation, including detailed Excel result lists (answer rates, zero-answer checks).
- Digital exam files: Archival-quality PDF/A individual files, automatically named by student ID number.
To schedule a non-binding initial consultation, please register in the ILIAS portal and submit your request—we will get back to you shortly. Regular consultation hours are also available.
Planning & Deadlines
To ensure smooth logistics and timely printing, we ask that you adhere to the following deadlines:
- First-time customers (early notification): Please register your interest, ideally 4 weeks after the start of lectures, with no obligation.
- Existing customers (final data submission): All relevant key data must be fully entered in ILIAS no later than 4 weeks before the exam date so that the printing process can begin on time.
Registration & Documents
In our ILIAS section, you will find the central data collection for registration as well as all organizational documents:
Go directly to the ILIAS area (Registration & Documents)
Service for Evaluations & Surveys: Our proven single-choice format can also be used for anonymous evaluations. Contact: klausurauswertung.hf@uni-koeln.de