Description:Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to the answer sheet evaluation process. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for evaluating physical answer sheets.

Background of the Invention

[0002] Generally, the conventional process for evaluating physical answer sheets is heavily dependent on centralized, manual operations, which include numerous inefficiencies, risks, and limitations. In the current system, physical answer sheets are collected from various examination centres and transported to a central secure location typically a university or institutional hub where evaluation takes place. This approach not only requires extensive logistical planning but also imposes significant costs related to travel, accommodation, and administrative coordination.

[0003] A major drawback of this method is the requirement for evaluators to be physically present at the central location. This not only delays the evaluation process due to scheduling constraints but also limits flexibility in resource allocation Also, transporting large volumes of answer sheets between locations introduces a serious risk of data compromise such as physical sheets may be misplaced, lost in transit, or accessed by unauthorized individuals. Even minor mishandling can lead to damage, loss of data integrity, or breaches in confidentiality, especially when student identities are inadequately masked or sensitive information is exposed.

[0004] Further, manual evaluation may lead to the inefficiencies. Examiners often have to calculate total marks manually and record them by hand, which is not only time-consuming but also prone to human error. Mistakes in totalling or transcription can result in incorrect scores being recorded, requiring additional rounds of verification and leading to delays in result declaration. Since these processes are largely offline and untracked, any discrepancies or inconsistencies in mark entry are difficult to detect and audit.

[0005] There is also a lack of visibility into the evaluation progress at an individual level. Educational institutions face difficulty in monitoring which examiner is evaluating which set of papers, how much progress has been made, and whether the evaluations are being done consistently and fairly. This lack of real-time analytics limits accountability and can compromise the quality of assessments.

[0006] Storage and retrieval of evaluated answer sheets present further challenges. Once evaluated, the physical sheets must be archived securely, often for extended periods, to accommodate rechecking requests or audit processes. This requires considerable physical space and meticulous indexing. Providing students with scanned copies of their answer sheets on demand is an arduous and time-intensive process, often involving manual scanning and handling, further increasing the chances of errors and data breaches.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for a system and method for evaluating physical answer sheets that can overcome the few or all the drawbacks of the existing prior art.

Objects of the Invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for evaluating physical answer sheets.

[0009] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for evaluating physical answer sheets, where the resulting data is securely processed and protected.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for evaluating physical answer sheets that is cost-effective.

[0011] One more object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for evaluating physical answer sheets, which saves time and delivers quick results.
[0012] One more object of the present invention is to provide a system and method for evaluating physical answer sheets, wherein the evaluation of the answer sheet complete in the decentralized manner.

Summary of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, there is provided a system for evaluating physical answer sheets. The system may include a first electronic device for an evaluator and a second electronic device for a student. An examination module may be configured on both devices and may include an evaluator interface on the first electronic device and a student interface on the second electronic device. The system may further include a remote assignment module integrated within the examination module, which may be configured to assign and track the allocation of physical answer sheets to evaluators for manual assessment. Each physical answer sheet may be provided with an attached scan sheet designed to capture the marks awarded by the evaluator. Upon receiving the assigned physical answer sheets, the evaluator might manually evaluate them from a remote location and record the marks on the scan sheet. The evaluator then scans the scan sheet of each physical answer sheet using an optical mark recognition mechanism. The optical mark recognition may be arranged within the first electronic device to extract the marks from the scan sheet in digital form. After marks extraction from the scan sheet, the evaluator may compare the extracted mark with the actual marks written in the scan sheet.
[0014] In an aspect of the present invention, the sets of physical answer sheets may be assigned to respective evaluators for remote, offline assessment, wherein the remote location includes home, office, school, or a like.

[0015] In one aspect of the present invention, the evaluators may get the set of physical answer sheets at the remote location, upon evaluating the answer sheets the evaluator fills the marks data on the scan sheets of each physical answer sheets, following the evaluator may capture the images of each scan sheet through the first electronic device and upload the captured images on the examination module for post analysis.

[0016] In one more aspect of the present invention, the evaluator may also record a voice input stating the marks obtained by each student, for reference and documentation purposes.

[0017] In one more aspect of the present invention, the evaluator may manually enter marks into pre-designated boxes on the scan sheet attached to the physical answer sheets, and capture the image of the completed scan sheet using the first electronic device.

[0018] In another aspect of the present invention, the evaluator may compare the extracted marks in a digital form against the manually written total marks on the scan sheet to detect the inconsistency with the mark entries and trigger a correction prompt if a mismatch.
[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, the system may include a server connected to the examination module with an interface module, the server may be configured to receive and store data, including a collage file made by the examination module with the captured images of the scan sheet and logs of evaluator activities transmitted from the first electronic device.

[0020] According to the present invention, there is provided a method for evaluating physical answer sheets. The method may include a step, such as the allocation of physical answer sheets to evaluators is tracked using a remote assignment module configured within the examination module. This ensures proper distribution and monitoring of the sheets assigned for manual assessment. Once assigned, each evaluator might manually evaluate the physical answer sheets and record the obtained marks on a scan sheet attached to each answer sheet. After completing the evaluation, the evaluator may scan the completed scan sheets using an optical mark recognition mechanism to extract the recorded marks from the scan sheet in digital form. To ensure accuracy, the evaluator may verify the extracted marks against the manually written totals on the scan sheet and prompt for correction if any discrepancies are detected.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0021] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present disclosure and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present disclosure. The diagrams are for illustration only, which thus is not a limitation of the present disclosure.

[0022] In the figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label. Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.

[0023] The advantages and features of the present invention will be understood better with reference to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

[0024] Figure 1 shows the schematic diagram of a system for evaluating physical answer sheets; and

[0025] Figure 2 shows the process flow diagram of a method for evaluating physical answer sheets.

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0026] The following is a detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure depicted in the accompanying drawings. The disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. The embodiments are in such detail as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of detail offered is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.

[0027] The present invention relates to a method for evaluating physical answer sheets, the method includes multiple steps to complete the process of decentralised exam paper evaluation. In the method, the exam papers are evaluated by multiple evaluators and the results of the paper are published in a short time.

[0028] In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present invention. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that embodiments of the present invention may be practiced without some of these specific details.

[0029] Referring now to fig 1, a system and method for evaluating physical answer sheets in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The system (100) includes a first electronic device (110), a second electronic device (120), and an examination module (102).

[0030] The first electronic device (110) for an evaluator. The first electronic device (110) is powered by an operating system like Android, iOS, Windows, or Linux and the like, which acts as a platform for running and managing applications/modules. The first electronic device (110) is equipped with processors (e.g., ARM or x86 architectures) and sufficient memory (RAM and storage) with internet connectivity through Wi-Fi, mobile data, or Ethernet for downloading and updating applications/module, with additional options like Bluetooth and NFC. The first electronic device (110) includes touch-sensitive screens, physical buttons, or voice commands. The first electronic device (110) includes a camera (112), which enables the evaluator to capture images. In the present embodiment, the first electronic device is a mobile phone. In another embodiment, the first electronic device tablet or laptops/desktops. It is obvious for the person skilled in the art to use any workable electronic device as a first electronic device (110).

[0031] The second electronic device (120) for a student. The second electronic device (120) features an OS (Android, iOS, Windows, or Linux), powerful processors, ample memory, internet connectivity (Wi-Fi, mobile data, Ethernet), Bluetooth/NFC support, touch screens, physical buttons, and voice commands. The second electronic device (120) may be laptops/desktops, tablets or smartphones, and the like.

[0032] The examination module (102) includes an evaluator interface (102a) and a student interface module (102b). The first electronic device (110) is configured with the evaluator interface (102a) to enable the evaluator to interact with the examination module (102). In the present embodiment, the evaluator may access the evaluator interface (102a) by providing login ID and password. The second electronic device (120) is configured with the student interface (102a) to allow the student to interact with the examination module (102). The student may access the student interface (102b) by providing credentials such as ID number, name, department, subject, and like. It is obvious for a person skilled in the art to create a system having two interfaces to provide two different sets of functionalities for two different authorities.

[0033] The examination module (102) is configured with a remote assignment module (114). The remote assignment module (114) assigns and tracks a physical answer sheet allocation to the evaluators for manual assessment. The remote assignment module (114) is configured to automatically assign physical answer sheets to evaluators based on parameters such as evaluator identity, subject specialization, workload balancing, or geographic proximity. The remote assignment module (114) records key details of the assignment, including evaluator identification, answer sheet batch numbers or unique identifiers, dispatch timestamps, and expected evaluation deadlines. Also, the remote assignment module (114) generates physical dispatch slips or assignment documents to accompany the answer sheets during distribution. The remote assignment module (114) assigns the set of physical answer sheets to the evaluators based on the criteria mentioned above at the remote location, the remote location in the present invention is home. In another embodiment, the remote location may be an office or school, but not limited to home, office, school and the like.

[0034] In another embodiment, the remote assignment module (114) enables the evaluators to independently update the set of physical answer sheets they have received in case of manual collection of the physical answer sheets. (e.g. offline means, direct handovers). The evaluators provided with secure access to input or upload relevant details such as sheet identifiers, batch numbers, and expected completion timelines. The remote assignment module (114) records the details such as sheet identifiers, batch numbers, and expected completion timelines data to update the assignment status, confirm physical receipt, and enable evaluators to report any discrepancies, such as missing answer sheets or damaged answer sheets. The person skilled in the art is to arrange in any suitable way to distribute the answer sheets and track the record of the answer sheets.

[0035] Further, each physical answer sheets are configured with a scan sheet (not shown). The scan sheet is a first page of any answer sheet attached to any physical answer sheet. The scan sheet includes details of the students such as a student ID number, name, department, subject code and the space where the evaluator can fill the marks’ details. The scan sheet is configured to provide space for evaluation marks in a structured and machine-readable format. The scan sheet includes a set of pre-designated boxes or fields arranged in a standardized layout, which allows the evaluator to make clear and consistent entry of marks corresponding to each question or section of the answer sheet. The layout of the scan sheet is optimized for accurate image capture and automated processing, featuring alignment markers, section labels, and formatting elements that facilitate subsequent scanning, recognition, and digital extraction of the recorded data.

[0036] Upon receiving the assigned set of physical answer sheets at a remote location, the evaluator initiates the manual assessment process. the evaluator manually adds the marks awarded in the corresponding pre-designated boxes provided on the scan sheet for each answer sheet, after completing the evaluation, The evaluator enters the marks in a structured and machine-readable format. In one embodiment of the present invention, once the marks are accurately entered on the scan sheet, the evaluator uses the first electronic device (110) to capture a clear image of the completed scan sheet and uploads the captured images of the scan sheets to the examination module (102) through the first electronic device (110) to ensure that the evaluation data is centrally recorded, for post-analysis.

[0037] In the present embodiment, the examination module (102) includes an optical mark recognition mechanism (116). The optical mark recognition mechanism (116) is configured within the examination module (102). The evaluator scans the scan sheet of each physical answer sheet through the optical mark recognition mechanism (116) to extract the evaluation marks recorded on the scan sheets in digital form. The optical mark recognition mechanism (116) initiates a recognition process that involves scanning the scan sheet to detect and interpret the markings made in the pre-designated boxes.

[0038] The optical mark recognition mechanism (116) eliminates the need for manual data entry, ensuring accuracy, speed, and consistency in the digital evaluation workflow. In the present embodiment, to extract the marks in the digital form from the scan sheet, the optical mark recognition mechanism (116) is arranged. In another embodiment, an OCR (optical character recognition) may be arranged to extract the details from the scan sheet. In another embodiment, an ICR (intelligent character recognition) may be arranged for extracting the data from the scan sheet. The person skilled in the art can configure any suitable mechanisms for extracting the data from the scan sheet.

[0039] In another embodiment of the present invention, the evaluator may record a voice input stating the marks for each student. In this process, the evaluator first mentions the student's details, followed by the marks obtained out of the total marks. The recorded voice inputs may be used for comparison with digitally extracted marks from the optical mark recognition mechanism (116). For example, if student A has scored 70 out of 100, the evaluator will verbally state Student A's details and then say, 'Student A has obtained 70 out of 100 marks.

[0040] Once the evaluation process is complete, and the mark data extracted from the scan sheet, the evaluator verifies the extracted marks by comparing the extracted marks with the marks written in on the scan sheet of the physical answer sheet.

[0041] In another embodiment, the examination module (102) includes a verification module (118). The verification module (118) is configured to verify the extracted marks and upload them to the examination module (102). The verification module (118) is configured within the examination module (102) to ensure the accuracy of the marks extracted from the scan sheet images. Upon receiving the digitally extracted marks, the verification module (118) initiates a verification process. Once the marks are extracted, the data is digitized in numerical or binary form and stored in a server (130) connected to the examination module (102), enabling further operations such as verification, analysis, and storage.
[0042] Firstly, the verification module (118) performs a cross-verification between the extracted marks and the manually written total marks present on the scan sheet or photos of the scan sheet. An intelligent character recognition (ICR) mechanism (not shown) reads the handwritten total marks on the scan sheet and compares them with the sum of the extracted marks. If the computed total and the manually entered total do not match, the verification module (118) automatically triggers a correction prompt or flags the scan sheet for review to prevents incorrect or incomplete data from being uploaded to the student records.

[0043] Once the verification is successful, the marks data is validated for completeness and correctness. The verification module (118) proceeds to map the verified marks to the correct student profile using the details from the scan sheet, such as student ID number, name, department, subject code, and other academic metadata. The credentials are either extracted from a designated section on the scan sheet or linked through metadata provided at the time of scan sheet allocation. Finally, the verified and mapped marks are securely uploaded and stored within the examination module (102) which results in the generation of a digital record for each student, ensuring that all assessment data is accurately associated with the correct student credentials and is readily available for the students. Now the students may access the examination module (102) with the second electronic device (120) through student credentials to see their results.
[0044] Referring now to figure 2, a method (200) for evaluating physical answer sheets in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. The method (200) is described in conjunction with the system (100) for evaluating physical answer sheets described in the above paragraphs.

[0045] The method (200) starts at step 210.

[0046] At step 220, the allocation of physical answer sheets to evaluators for manual assessment is tracked using a remote assignment module (114) within the examination module (102). The remote assignment module (114) records assignment details such as evaluator identity, sheet identifiers, and dispatch timelines to ensure accurate distribution and traceability.

[0047] At step 230, each evaluator is enabled to manually evaluate the assigned physical answer sheets by reviewing the answers and entering marks within a scan sheet attached on the physical answer sheet.

[0048] At step 240, the examination module (102) includes an optical mark recognition mechanism (116) to extract the marks from the scan sheets. The optical mark recognition mechanism (116) detects and interprets the data on the scan sheet, converting the evaluator’s manual entries into accurate digital data for further processing.

[0049] At step 260, the evaluator verifies the marks extracted from the scan sheet with the manually written total marks to ensure consistency and accuracy. If any discrepancies are identified, the evaluator prompts the for correction or flags the scan sheet for review, maintaining the reliability of the evaluation process.

[0050] The method (200) ends at step (270).

[0051] The method (200) can be simply understood, for example, the method (200) begins with the system (100) employing a remote assignment module (114) within the examination module (102) to track the allocation of physical answer sheets to evaluators for manual assessment. The remote assignment module (114) maintains assignment details such as evaluator identity, answer sheet identifiers, and dispatch timelines, to ensuring organized distribution. Each evaluator then manually evaluates the assigned physical answer sheets by reviewing student responses and entering the marks onto the scan sheet attached to each answer sheet. Following the evaluation, the evaluator uses the first electronic device (110), to capture images of the completed scan sheets. The capture images of the completed scan sheets are uploaded to the examination module (102).

[0052] Next, the evaluator scans the scan sheet using optical mark recognition mechanism (116) within the examination module (102) to extracts marks from the scan sheet by detecting and interpreting the filled fields. Then the evaluator verifies the extracted marks against the manually written total marks on the scan sheet. If any discrepancies are found, prompts for correction or flags the scan sheet for review, to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the final data before it is stored and linked to the respective student’s records.

[0053] Therefore, the present invention provides the advantage of the system (100) for evaluating physical answer sheets. The system (100) offers a streamlined solution for manual evaluation integrated with digital processing, improving the efficiency, accuracy, and traceability of examination workflows. By enabling evaluators to assess physical answer sheets remotely and digitally capture evaluation data through scan sheets, the system (100) eliminates the need for manual mark entry and reduces the likelihood of human error. The use of an optical mark recognition mechanism (116) ensures rapid extraction of marks, while the verification module (118) adds an additional layer of accuracy by cross-checking totals and prompting corrections when needed. The remote assignment module (114) facilitates organized tracking of answer sheet distribution, making the process scalable across multiple evaluators and locations. Furthermore, mapping verified marks to student credentials enables real-time result compilation and easy student access through secure login. Overall, the invention enhances assessment reliability, supports distributed evaluation, and ensures a seamless transition from physical evaluation to digital result management.

[0054] The foregoing descriptions of specific
embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of
illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to
limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously, many
modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The
embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles
of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable
others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various
embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use
contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of
equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A system (100) for evaluating physical answer sheets, characterized in that the system (100) comprising;
a first electronic device (110) for an evaluator;
a second electronic device (120) for a student;
an examination module (102) includes an evaluator interface (102a) and a student interface (102b), the first electronic device (110) is configured with the evaluator interface (102a) and the second electronic device (120) is configured with the student interface (102b);
a remote assignment module (114) configured within the examination module (102), configured to assign and track a physical answer sheet allocation to the evaluators for manual assessment thereof;
a scan sheet attached to the physical answer sheet to scan marks;
an optical mark recognition mechanism (116) configured within the examination module (102) to extract marks in a digital form; and
wherein, upon assigning the physical answer sheet, the evaluator evaluates the physical answer sheet manually from a remote location and scan the scan sheet of the physical answer sheet through the optical mark recognition mechanism (116) to extract and store the written marks in digital form; and
the evaluator verifies the marks by comparing the marks on the scan sheet and the marks in the digital form extracted through the optical mark recognition mechanism (116).

2. The system (100) for evaluating physical answer sheets as claimed in claim 1, wherein the set of physical answer sheets are assigned to respective evaluators for remote and offline assessment of the physical answer sheets, wherein the remote location includes a home, an office, or a school.

3. The system (100) for evaluating physical answer sheets as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluators receive the set of physical answer sheets at the remote location, upon evaluating the physical answer sheets the evaluator fills the marks data on the scan sheets of each physical answer sheets manually, and captures the image of each scan sheet through the first electronic device (110) and upload the captured images on the examination module (102).

4. The system (100) for evaluating physical answer sheets as claimed in claim 1, wherein a server (130) having an interface module (132) is connected to the examination module (102), the server (130) is configured to receive and store data including a collage file generated by the examination module (102), the collage file including captured images of the scan sheet and logs of evaluator activities transmitted from the first electronic device.

5. A method (200) for evaluating physical answer sheets, the method (200) comprising steps of:
tracking the allocation of physical answer sheets to evaluators for manual assessment using a remote assignment module (114) configured within the examination module (102);
enabling each evaluator to evaluate each physical answer sheet and enter obtained marks in a scan sheet;
extracting the marks from the scan sheet using an optical mark recognition mechanism (116); and
verifying the extracted marks by comparing the marks on the physical answer sheets and the marks extracted through the optical mark recognition mechanism (116).