An Exam / Quiz is the same as a Homework assignment in functionality, but by default is automatically configured for Instructors to upload the work rather than students. You can set the assignment so students have to write answers in specific areas (Gradescope calls this fixed-length) or you can allow students to use as many pages as required (variable-length). Once the assignment is complete, students take photos of their pages, which are then converted to a PDF to be submitted for grading.
If you prefer students to upload the assignment, choosing a Homework assignment is probably the best choice, but you can just set as easily set the Exam assignment to ‘Student uploads’.
Configure the assignment link and settings
- In your Blackboard Course, navigate to where you want students to view and submit the assignment, then choose the plus icon ⊕, followed by Content Market and then Gradescope Assignment.
- You will next be presented with a overlay window that asks you whether this Blackboard link should go to a new assignment or an existing one. As we haven’t yet setup the assignment, we’re going to choose Link with: a new Gradescope Assignment, then select Link Assignment to confirm (see image 1).
- From the list of assignments, choose Exam / Quiz followed by the Next button.
- Type in a name for the assignment.
- Next, you will need to upload a PDF Template. This should be a blank version of your exam template, with space for students to write their answers. We’ll come back to this PDF in the creating an outline section of this guide.
- Next, choose enable anonymous grading if you wish to hide the names of your students. If not, just leave this unchecked.
- Leave the who will upload submissions option to Instructor. You can change this to Student if you wish, but this is essentially changing the assignment type to an Homework / Problem Set.
- Next, specify whether you want to create the rubric before students submit, or as you mark. More information on Gradescope Rubrics.
- You will be returned to your Course homepage and should see the newly created Exam / Quiz (see image 2).
Create a question outline
Once you’ve configured your assignment settings, you will be taken to a page that prompts you to create an outline. This is essentially adding your questions to Gradescope which can be later used for marking.
- Choose New Question, give the question a Title, then add the Points possible.
- Repeat this for each question in the assignment (see image 3).
- Finally, choose Save Outline.
- You will then be taken to the Manage Submissions page. This will be blank now, but it’s where you’ll assignments when students start to submit. You can also use this section for uploading submissions on behalf of students, should you need to.
- Your assignment is now setup, you can close the Gradescope window.
If your assignment is simply a list of textbook problems, you can upload a PDF with questions listed or just a blank PDF.
Turn off regrade requests
In Gradescope, students have the ability to make a request for their assignments are regraded. It’s important to point out that regrade requests are turned on by default. To turn this setting off:
- Go to Gradescope assignment, then click on the Regrade Requests item in the assignment menu.
- Click Regrade Request Settings.
- Then untick the option to Enable regrade requests and choose Save.
The assignment is now setup and you can close it.
