4. DESCRIPTION

The subject matter of this invention is providing a means for revising OMR markings without the need to erase any incorrect markings and also to make OMR markings tamper-proof on multiple choice answer sheets.

In the current state of the art, Optical Mark Reading (OMR) sheets are used for administering multiple choice tests for examinees, and the answers are processed by image processing software. A popular type of OMR sheet involves round bubbles. An examinee is required to fill one of the bubbles associated with a multiple choice question with a soft lead pencil. An incorrect filling can be revised by an examinee by erasing it and filling another bubble. Erasing and refilling involves some additional time which can be valuable to most examinees as the time available per multiple choice question in most multiple choice tests is limited. Also with pencil marks, the answers can be tampered by a person other than the examinee. Therefore, there is a need for providing a simple less time-consuming way of revising OMR . markings that can be made with ink pen rather than a pencil. Also, OMR markings need to be tamper-proof. These needs are addressed in our invention by way of bubbles that can be half filled and revised later by full filling, and providing a letter field beside the bubbles for providing tamper protection.

Our invention is described herein by way of embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings in which ■

Fig. 1 shows a portion of a prior art OMR sheet with OMR bubbles
Fig. 2 shows OMR bubbles and letter fields as per the current invention
Fig. 3 shows revision of answer by full filling of an OMR bubble
Fig. 4 shows a tamper proofing case

A part 100 of a prior art OMR sheet shown Fig. 1 consists of rows 120,140 of bubbles against multiple choice question numbers 110. The bubbles in each row correspond to the different choices A-E possible . for a question. An examinee has to mark the bubble of his choice by darkening the bubble of his choice with preferably a pencil. For example, for questions 1 and 3 in Fig. 1, bubbles B and C have been marked. An examinee has to be careful while marking his choice especially while marking with a pen because erasing a wrong marking can be difficult. If a-pencil has been used for marking, a wrong mark can be erased by using an eraser and the new choice can be made by filling the bubble corresponding to it. Erasure of wrong marking takes quite a bit of time which can be crucial in multiple choice tests wherein the available time is often limited. Also, as the bubbles marked by an examinee with a pencil are prone to being erased by other parties, the OMR sheet is not tamper-proof. Considering these limitations our invention provides a better method for OMR marking with different type of bubbles as described herein.

A part 200 an OMR sheet in accordance with our invention is shown in Fig. 2. The bubbles (e.g., 210) provided for the multiple choice questions has a diagonal horizontal line in each bubble. An examinee is required to just fill the lower half of a bubble to mark his choice preferably with a pen for ensuring tamper protection. For example, for questions 1 and 3 in Fig. 2, bubbles B and C (220 and 270) have been marked by just filling the lower semi-circle. Two columns (i) and (ii) (230 and 240) with square boxes aligned with the rows of bubbles are also provided as shown in Fig. 2. After marking a choice in the bubbles for a question, the examinee is required to enter the letter corresponding to the choice in the square (250) in column (i) (230). In the example, letter 'B' has been entered for.question 1 in box 250 and letter 'C has been entered in the box in the- column (i) (230) for question 3. If a question has not been answered, the examinee is required to enter the letter N in the box (280) in column (i) (230).

With the OMR markings done as per the above described way, any correction to the answers by an . examinee can be done as shown in Fig. 3 which shows the same part 300, 200 of the OMR sheet shown in Fig. 2 with corrections. For correcting a wrong marking, the examinee has to just fully fill in the bubble (320) corresponding to the revised choice chosen by him, and strike of the letter entered (340) and enter the letter corresponding to the revised choice in the box 330 in column (ii). To make the final answers tamper-proof, the examinee has to put a cross in unused second boxes in column (ii) as shown in Fig. 3.

If now, the answers are tampered by the third party by fully marking a bubble (e.g., 410) or fully marking a second bubble (e.g, 420) in addition to another fully marked bubble 430, as shown in Fig. 4, the OMR processing by optical scanning will result in indicating 'C as the answer for question 1 and making the answer to question 3 invalid. However, upon a challenge revaluation by the examinee, it can be easily detected that answers to questions 1 and 3 have been tampered by looking at the boxes in columns (i) and (ii). In the example case shown in Fig. 4, 'B' is seen as the answer chosen by the examinee for question 1, and 'D' is seen as the revised choice made by the examinee. Therefore, the . method of OMR marking in accordance with our invention is tamper-proof.

While the invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by letters patent is as follows:

5. CLAIMS

We claim:
1. An optical mark readable (OMR) answering sheet for a multiple choice test consisting of (a) at least one line with question number, (b) at least two circular bubbles with a horizontal diagonal dividing each of the said bubbles into two semicircular areas, with each of the said bubbles representing a unique choice for one multiple choice question, and (c) at least two unfilled rectangular boxes, with the order of the said boxes marked.

2. An optical mark readable (OMR) answering sheet for a multiple choice test as claimed in Claim 1, wherein a plurality of lines as per Claim 1 represent answer line for an equal number of multiple choice questions, with each of the said lines corresponding uniquely to one and only one of the said multiple choice questions.

3 An optical mark readable (OMR) answering sheet for a multiple choice test as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the number of bubbles of the type claimed in Claim 1 in the answer line for a multiple choice question is five representing the five possible choices 'A', 'B', 'C, 'D', and 'E'.

4. A method of marking the choice for a multiple choice question on the line corresponding to the said multiple choice question by an examinee on the answer sheet as claimed in Claim 1, consisting of a first step of darkening the lower semicircle of the bubble representing the choice made by the said examiner, and a second step of entering the letter code {'A'-'E') that corresponds to the bubble marked by darkening by the said examinee, in the first of the said boxes.

5. A method of revising the choice for a multiple choice question on the line corresponding to the said multiple choice question by an examinee on the answer sheet as claimed in Claim 1, and completed by an examinee as per the method claimed in Claims 4, consisting of fully darkening the bubble corresponding to the revised choice, and crossing out the letter entered in the first of the said two boxes, and entering the letter corresponding to the revised choice in the second of the said two boxes in the line corresponding to the said multiple choice question

6. A method of finalizing the choice for a multiple, choice question on the line corresponding to the said multiple choice question by an examinee on the answer sheet as claimed in Claim 1, consisting of putting a cross in the second of the said boxes is the said second box is empty.

7. A method of determining the choice for a multiple choice question on the line corresponding to the said multiple choice question made by an examinee on the answer sheet as claimed in Claim 1, involving image processing by a computer of the markings and determining the answer as (p) the choice corresponding to the bubble with the lower semicircle darkened if the said bubble is the only bubble marked in the line corresponding to the said multiple choice question (q) the choice corresponding to the bubble fully darkened if the said bubble is the only bubble fully darkened in the line corresponding to the said multiple choice question (r) the choice as not made if no bubble has been darkened in the line corresponding to the said multiple choice question, and (s) invalid if the marking in the line corresponding to the said multiple choice question is other than the said cases (p), (q), and (s).

8. A method of verifying that an answer for a multiple choice question as claimed in Claims 1-3 completed by an examinee as per methods as claimed in Claims 4-6 has not been tampered by checking the matching of the marking in the said bubbles with the letter and the cross entered in the said boxes in the line corresponding to.the said multiple choice question, and declaring that the said answer has been tampered if there is a mismatch between the said marking and the said letter and cross entered in the said boxes.