Grading doesn't have to be time-consuming or tedious. Imagine cutting hours off your grading process, providing detailed feedback efficiently, and gaining insights into student performance—all with one tool. At UMass Amherst, Gradescope is here to make that vision a reality.
Whether you're grading handwritten exams, programming assignments, or multiple-choice questions, Gradescope offers powerful features designed to save time and improve the assessment experience for both faculty and students.
Timothy Sheaffer
Coordinator of Instructional Design & Faculty Support, UMass Amherst
"By allowing instructors to scan and automatically group hand-written exam answers, instructors can provide detailed, individual feedback to students in large courses without needing to look at every individual question and exam. Gradescope allows instructors to automate the initial organizing work of grading to focus their time on improving student outcomes."
What is Gradescope?
Gradescope is an advanced assessment platform integrated with Canvas at UMass Amherst. It supports a variety of assessment formats and is built to simplify grading tasks for faculty across disciplines. Its features—like rubric-based grading, AI-assisted answer grouping, and robust analytics—make it a standout solution for grading efficiency and effectiveness.
Gradescope is seamlessly integrated with UMass Amherst’s LMS, Canvas, ensuring effortless synchronization of assignments and grades.
Key Features
- Rubric-Based Grading: Apply a consistent rubric that can be adjusted dynamically during grading.
- AI-Assisted Grading: Automatically groups similar responses, enabling rapid grading of large classes.
- Flexible Submission Formats: Accept scanned paper submissions, typed responses, and programming assignments.
- Regrade Requests: Streamlined requests improve transparency and fairness in grading.
Analytics and Insights: Detailed reports provide actionable insights into student learning trends.
Instructional Design Scenarios for Using Gradescope
- Large Enrollment Courses: Efficiently grade exams and assignments for hundreds of students.
- STEM Disciplines: Handle handwritten equations, programming assignments, or graph-based responses with ease.
- Iterative Feedback: Provide detailed, rubric-based feedback that fosters student improvement.
- Collaborative Grading: Enable multiple graders to work simultaneously on large assignments.
Assessment Analytics: Use data insights to refine assessments and address student challenges effectively.
How Gradescope Compares
| Feature | Gradescope | SpeedGrader | Crowdmark |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rubric Flexibility | Dynamic rubrics; adjustable during grading. | Static rubric tied to Canvas. | Basic rubric with limited customization. |
| AI-Assisted Grading | Groups similar answers for faster grading. | Not available. | Not available. |
| Submission Formats | Scanned papers, typed responses, coding assignments. | Typed responses or file uploads via Canvas. | Paper and digital submissions. |
| Regrade Requests | Built-in and student-friendly. | Manual and less transparent. | Basic regrade options. |
| Analytics | In-depth reports and item analysis. | Limited to Canvas reporting tools. | Basic analytics without granular insights. |
| Collaboration Options | Real-time collaboration for multiple graders. | Limited; graders work independently. | Collaborative grading supported. |
For more details or training, visit Gradescope Support.