Educational Testing Service

Michael E Martinez

Jeffrey B Jenkins

William D Kraft

Winton H Manning

John J Ferris

A method and system for interactive test taking is provided, having a computer with memory, an image display screen, and a pointing device such as a mouse for examinee manipulation of symbols or objects on the screen. Starting figural material is presented on the screen along with a problem statement requiring responses relative to the starting figural material. The examinee inputs response data through the mouse, manipulating and/or generating symbols on the screen in relation to the starting figural material. Scoring of the examinee's responses is done on-line or after completion of all tasks, and may include an evaluation of the sequence of examinee responses to respective items, as well as an evaluation of the duration of the examinee's response or any component of such response to an item.

Computerized figural response testing system and method

This invention provides automatic testing systems and methods for testing for figural responses to a test inquiry. The testing system includes a test sheet of predetermined dimensions having a grid with a plurality of marking areas arranged in predetermined position and a figural arrangement having a first optical reflectivity arranged within the grid corresponding to one or more of the marking areas. The system includes indicia of a second optical reflectivity overmarking a selected number of the marking areas associated with the figural arrangement and optical scanning means having different optical sensitivities to the first and second optical reflectivities for scanning the sheet to determine the positions of the overmarked areas. The method of testing of this invention includes storing the position of at least one of the marking areas corresponding to a specified figural response to the test inquiry and instructing the test taker to make a figural response to the test inquiry by marking within the grid with indicia of a second optical reflectivity. This method of testing further includes optically scanning the test sheet to determine the positions of the marks made by the test taker and generating data representative of the marked positions, and then comparing the determined positions with stored positions in generating a numerical indication of the comparison of the test takers response to the specified stored response.

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Irvine, CA, United States of America

Michael E Martinez