How Does Auto-Grading for Short Answer and Fill in the Blank Questions Work?
Overview
Short Answer (SA) and Fill-in-the-Blank (FitB) are common auto-gradable question types in Kiddom. Kiddom uses advanced features to accurately evaluate a variety of student responses. This guide explains how the system recognizes and grades different answer formats, ensuring a fair and comprehensive assessment of student knowledge.
1. Spaces
- Removing extraneous spaces, particularly in and around numbers.
- Example: Responses like "2 + 2" and "2 +2" are treated the same. Spaces at the beginning or end of the response, as well as double spaces within, are ignored.
2. Commas in 4+ Digit Numbers
- Disregards commas in numbers with four or more digits, ensuring numerical values are evaluated correctly.
- Example: A response of "1,000" is treated equivalently to "1000".
3. Styling/Formatting
- Any styling or formatting, such as italicization in math expressions, is ignored during grading.
- Example: A response with italicized units or variables, like "m" for meters, is evaluated the same as unitalicized "m".
4. Decimal Notation
- Responses expressed as decimals can also be considered equivalent to other valid forms of representing decimal numbers.
- Example: A student response of “0.5" will be marked correct if the answer key lists ".5" or "0.50".
5. Multiplication in Math Expressions
- Mathematical expressions featuring variables, coefficients, and multiplication symbols can be equivalent to those consisting solely of variables and coefficients.
- Example: A student response of "3*x" will be marked correct if the answer key lists "3x".
6. Fraction Versus Decimal Answers
- Fractional answers can be equated with their decimal counterparts.
- Example: A student response of "½" will be marked correct if the answer key lists "0.5".
7. Multiple Expressions of Fractions
- Different expressions of the same fraction are recognized as equivalent.
- Example: Answers like "½", "2/4", or "3/6" are all treated as correct if they mathematically equate to the answer key.
8. Order of Terms in Expressions
- The commutative property of addition and multiplication is identified and taken into account.
- Example: For a correct answer of "x + 2", the system will also accept "2 + x".
9. Parentheses Around Negative Numbers
- Capability: The system recognizes the equivalence of expressions with or without parentheses around negative numbers.
- Example: "1 + −2" and "1 + (−2)" are both accepted.
10. Placement of Negative Sign in Fractions
- Capability: Negative signs in front of a fraction or in the numerator are treated as equivalent.
- Example: "-1/2" and "(-1)/2" are both correct.
11. Text Versus Math Keyboard Answers
- Regular text responses can be compared to responses authored using the Math Keyboard.
- Example: A typed answer "x^2" will be considered correct if it matches the MathType answer.
12. Mixed Fractions
- Mixed fractions are interpreted correctly, regardless of formatting.
- Example: Both "1½" and "1 ½" are accepted as correct answers.
13. Mixed Number Versus Fraction Button
- The system can distinguish between mixed numbers and fractions, regardless of the input method.
- Example: Both a mixed number input and a fraction button input for the same value are marked correct.
14. Supporting Multiple Unit Conventions
- Variations in the ways students represent units are recognized as the same.
- Example: Responses like "yd" and "yard" or "meter" and "m" are considered equivalent.
- Please refer to this table for a full list of supported unit conventions:
| Acceptable Alternatives | ||
| Distances | ||
| meter, meters, metre, metres, m | inch, inches, in | mile, miles, mi |
| kilometer, kilometers, kilometre, kilometres, km, kilos | foot, feet, ft | |
| centimeter, centimeters, centimetre, centimetres, cm | yard, yards, yds, yd | |
| Mass, weight | ||
| gram, grams, gramme, grammes, g | kilogram, kilograms, kilogramme, kilogrammes, kg | pound, pounds, lbs, lb |
| tons, tonne, tonnes, ton | ||
| Duration, time | ||
| second, seconds, s | days, day | years, year |
| minute, minutes, mins, min | weeks, week | |
| h, hrs, hour, hours, hr | months, month | |
| Volume | ||
| L, liter, liters, litre, litres, l | cup, cups, cps, cp | quart, quarts, qts, qt |
| ounce, ounces, oz | pint, pints, pts, pt | gallon, gallons, gals, gal |
| Temperature | ||
| kelvin, K | celsius, degC | fahrenheit, degF |
| Quantity | ||
| mole, moles, mol | ||
| Force, energy, power | ||
| newton, newtons, N | joule, joules, J | horsepower, hp |
| dyne, dynes, dyn | watt, watts, W | |
| Pressure | ||
| pascal, pascals, Pa | ||
| Misc. electricity and magnetism | ||
| amp, amps, ampere, amperes, A | ohm, ohms, Ω | tesla, teslas, T |
| coulomb, coulombs, C | farad, farads, F | henry, henries, H |
| volt, volts, V | weber, webers, Wb | siemens, S |
| Currency | ||
| dollars, dollar (or a prefix $) | ||
| Geometry (and temperature) | ||
| degrees, degree (or degree symbol) | radian, radians, rad | angle, angle sign |
Support and Feedback
For additional support or to provide feedback on these features, please contact our support team by email at support@kiddom.co or by using the blue in-app chat button. We are committed to continuously improving our autograding system to better serve your educational needs!