Creating an Exam and Printing Answer Sheets

This page explains how to prepare an exam and generate bubble sheets for paper‑based assessments using Akindi. 

 

 When you click Create Assessment in Akindi, you choose how the assessment will be created. That choice depends on whether you want Akindi to help you build the exam or whether you already have a paper exam and only need bubble sheets and automated grading. 

 

 The Two Ways to Create an Akindi Assessment 

 Akindi supports two assessment‑creation workflows. Both result in printable bubble sheets, automated grading, and Canvas grade sync—the difference is how the exam content is handled. 

 

 Create the exam in Akindi (new assessment workflow) 

 Use Akindi Classic for an existing paper exam 

 

 Understanding this distinction before you begin will help you choose the workflow that best fits your course. 

   

 Choosing the Right Workflow 

 

 If you are unsure which workflow to use: 

 

 Choose Creating the Exam in Akindi if you:

 

 Want Akindi to help you build the exam and take advantage of its enhanced features, i.e., multiple versions, randomization, or other Akindi exam features 

 Prefer an all‑in‑one workflow for exam creation, grading, and reporting 

 

 

 Choose Akindi Classic if you:

 

 Create exams in Word, publisher platforms, or other external systems. 

 Already have a finalized paper exam. 

 Only need Akindi for bubble sheets, grading, and Canvas grade sync 

 

 

 

 

 

 For help deciding which workflow best fits your course, contact the Office of Accreditation & Assessment. 

 

 

 Regardless of the workflow, you can edit the answer key in both after scanning student responses. Akindi will automatically recalculate scores based on the updated key. 

 Although Akindi can support fully online assessments, A‑State faculty should use Canvas for online exams. Akindi is used at A‑State only for paper‑based assessments. 

 Question Types and Bubble Sheet Design 

 Regardless of the workflow you choose, Akindi uses a standard bubble sheet format . Bubble sheets always consist of a fixed number of questions, each with five response bubbles (A–E) . 

 The difference between workflows is where the responsibility for adapting question types lies . 

 

 

 

 In the new assessment workflow , Akindi automatically adapts supported question types for paper delivery. 

 In Akindi Classic , the instructor adapts the paper exam so that student responses can be captured using the standard bubble sheet. 

 

 

 

 How Question Types Are Handled 

 

 

 

 Multiple‑choice and multiple‑answer questions Work the same way in both workflows. 

 

 

 True/false questions 

 

 In the new workflow, Akindi converts these to a multiple‑choice format automatically. 

 In Akindi Classic, true/false questions must be designed so students respond using two options (for example, A = True, B = False ). 

 

 

 

 Matching questions 

 

 In the new workflow, Akindi converts matching questions into a multiple‑choice representation. 

 In Akindi Classic, matching questions must be written so each item can be answered using A–E options. 

 

 

 

 Written or short‑answer questions 

 

 In the new workflow, Akindi includes space on the printed exam for written responses. 

 In Akindi Classic, instructors must include blank space on the paper exam. 

 

 

 

 

 

 Workflow A: Creating the Exam in Akindi (New Assessment Workflow) 

 After launching Akindi from your Canvas course and clicking Create Assessment, Akindi opens the Paper Assessment workflow by default. 

 

 To begin, select Continue to Question Import. Akindi then launches its newer assessment interface, where you can create or import questions and manage the assessment structure. 

 

 How the New Assessment Workflow Works 

 

 With Akindi: 

 

 You import questions and answers into Akindi 

 Configure assessment settings 

 Students record responses on Akindi bubble sheets 

 Scan and import the bubble sheets for Akindi to grade, provide analysis, and sync grades with Canvas 

 

 

 

 Creating the Assessment 

 

 Click Create Assessment 

 Click Continue to Question Import 

 Upload test questions, with correct answers indicated, from a Word Document 

 Enter an assessment name 

 Review imported content. 

 Choose the scramble options for questions and answers 

 Choose whether to use a single version or multiple versions 

 Select a bubble sheet layout that matches your exam 

 Configure, Download and then Print the Assessment(s) and Bubble Sheets 

 

 

 Choose the bubble sheet layout based on the maximum number of questions on your exam. Akindi will ignore any unused question numbers. 

 Multiple versions are especially useful in large sections. Akindi automatically sorts versions during grading. 

 See the Akindi Create Assessment guide for general instructions.  

 For detailed instructions, see the Akindi Paper Assessments guides .  

 

 

 

 Workflow B: Using Akindi Classic for an Existing Paper Exam 

 After launching Akindi from your Canvas course and clicking Create Assessment, Akindi opens the Paper Assessment workflow by default. To begin, select Akindi Classic from the Create Assessment dialog. Akindi skips exam creation and allows you to define the correct answers for your existing exam. 

 

 How Akindi Classic Works 

 With Akindi Classic: 

 

 Exam questions remain in your existing format 

 You define the correct answers in Akindi 

 Students record responses on Akindi bubble sheets 

 Grading, results, and Canvas grade sync work the same way as the new workflow 

 

 Akindi Classic is commonly recommended when instructors have an established exam‑creation process and only want automated grading. 

 

 Creating the Answer Key in Akindi Classic 

 You will: 

 

 Give the Assessment a Name 

 Select the Question Layout 

 If you have multiple versions, select how many. 

 Select the correct response(s) for each question 

 Print Bubble Sheets 

 

 Verify the answer key before printing student answer sheets whenever possible. 

 See the Akindi Classic guides for detailed instructions.  

 

 Printing Answer Sheets (Applies to Both Workflows) 

 Regardless of which workflow you choose, printing and administering answer sheets works the same way. 

 You can: 

 

 Print bubble sheets on plain white paper 

 Print sheets with or without prefilled student information 

 Print extra copies for testing or backup 

 

 Printing answer sheets before your Canvas roster is finalized can result in missing students. If enrollment is still changing, wait to print or re‑launch Akindi before printing. 

 See the Akindi Downloading & Printing guides for detailed instrctions. 

 

 What’s Next? 

 After printing and administering your exam, continue to: 

 

 Scanning and Uploading Answer Sheets

 

 Learn how to scan completed forms and upload them for grading 

 

 

 

 

 Results, Reports, and Canvas Grade Sync

 

 Review scores, resolve issues, and send grades to Canvas