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Set the grading scale

Standard MCQ grading scheme

Written By Florian Barral

Last updated About 6 hours ago

Detailed explanations of the grading scheme

More explanations at this link.

Our configuration recommendations

  • Reward

    • For simplicity, we recommend a Proportional Reward .

    • But if you deal with critical material where it is crucial to get all the correct choices at the same time, go for All or nothing instead .

  • Penalty

    • To prevent chance from statistically earning points, we recommend that the Penalty be Proportional to the Number of incorrect choices.

    • To be more lenient or more demanding, you can also choose None as the penalty or set a Fixed penalty.

Reward (points earned for correct choices checked)

Mode How it works

All or nothing

The participant gets 1 point only if they check all the correct choices

Proportional

Each correct choice checked earns a fraction of the point (1 ÷ number of correct choices)

Penalty (points removed for incorrect choices checked)

Mode How it works

None

Checking incorrect choices does not remove any points

Cumulative

Each incorrect choice checked removes points according to the Calculation basis

Absolute

As soon as an incorrect choice is checked, the rewards are canceled and a fixed score is assigned (see Calculation basis)


Penalty calculation basis

If Penalty = Cumulative — Defines how many points are removed per incorrect choice checked:

Mode Penalty calculation Effect

Standard

1 ÷ number of incorrect choices

Checking everything = 0 pts

Balanced

1 ÷ number of correct choices

One mistake cancels out one correct answer

Moderate

1 ÷ total number of choices

Milder penalty

Manual

Fixed value (e.g. 0.5)

Full control

If Penalty = Absolute — Defines the fixed total of points awarded to the question as soon as an incorrect choice is checked:

Mode of total points awarded

Standard

0 pts

Manual

Custom fixed value (e.g. -0.5)


Floor (minimum score)

Prevents the question’s total points from dropping below a value, whatever penalties are applied:

Option Effect

None

The score can be negative

0

The minimum score is 0

Custom

Custom floor value


Selectable choices limit

When this option is enabled:

  • The participant can only check exactly the number of correct choices expected

  • This number is displayed in the instructions

If this option is enabled, “Select the X correct answers” will be displayed on each question.

In a grading scheme without penalties, we want to prevent participants from getting all the points by checking every choice, so this choice limit is enabled by default.


IMPORTANT: Remember to update the grading scheme displayed to participants via the "marking scheme" link so they understand the grading rules. The default scheme displayed does not currently adapt to the options checked.

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