Managing Written Response Questions
This article covers the options and printed output for the written response question type.
A written response question lets a student write their answer directly in a blank area on the answer sheet. The handwritten response is captured as an image when the sheet is scanned, and the teacher grades it manually after scanning — optionally using a rubric for consistent multi-criterion scoring.
NOTE: The question text is written in a rich-text editor that supports formatting and lets you insert images and equations directly into the prompt. See Adding Images and Equations to Question and Answer Text for details.
Response Area Sizes
You can choose how much room the student gets to write their answer. Pick the size that matches what you expect — too little space forces cramped handwriting; too much wastes paper.
| Size | Approximate Space | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Small | A couple of lines | Short-answer questions, one-sentence definitions |
| Small | About a quarter of a page | Brief explanations, multi-sentence responses |
| Medium | About half a page | Short paragraphs, worked-out math problems |
| Large | About three quarters of a page | Extended responses, longer explanations |
| Extra Large | A full page | Essays, detailed multi-step responses |
Inline Configuration
Once a written response question is added to your assessment, you can configure it directly in the question list:
- Drag handle: the three-bars icon. Drag the question to a new position. If auto-labeling is enabled, the question’s displayed number updates automatically.
- Size: pick the response area size from the dropdown (see the table above).
- Points: the maximum score for the question. Defaults to 1. Can be any positive number, decimals allowed. Final score will be entered manually when you grade the response.
- Standards: attach one or more educational standards for reporting. Common Core is included; custom standards can also be uploaded. (Teacher Pro)
- Tags: attach one or more tags for slicing reporting data.
- Actions Menu: the three-dot menu. Includes Edit to open the full configuration modal, and (Teacher Pro) the option to attach a rubric for structured grading.
Edit Modal
Opening the Edit option from the actions menu launches a modal with the same fields:
- Size: change the response area size.
- Points: the maximum score for the question.
- Standards: manage the standard list.
- Tags: manage the tag list.
How It Looks on the Printed Sheet
The printed sheet shows the question prompt followed by a blank writing area sized according to your selection. Optional ruled lines can be enabled when generating the sheet for tidier student handwriting.
Grading Written Responses
After sheets are scanned, written responses are captured as images. To grade them:
- Open the assessment and go to its scan history.
- Open a student’s scanned sheet.
- The written-response questions on that sheet show the captured image of the student’s handwriting.
- Enter a score in the points field (if no rubric is attached), or pick a grading scale for each criterion (if a rubric is attached).
- Save the grade. The student’s total score is recalculated automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see the actual handwriting of every student before grading?
Yes. The scan captures and stores the image of the response area for every student. You grade by looking at each captured image and entering a score.
What if the student writes outside the box?
The engine captures only what’s inside the marked response area. Writing outside the box won’t be visible during grading and can interfere with the engine’s ability to detect the response area cleanly. Tell students to stay inside the lines, especially near the box edges.
Can I use ruled lines on the response area?
Yes — ruled lines can be enabled per question when configuring or via the assessment’s print options.
Can I export the handwriting images for archival or external grading?
This isn’t a built-in feature today, but it’s on our roadmap. Contact support if you have a specific use case — we’re prioritising based on real needs.