Chemistry Exam Scanning Guidelines

The following guidelines apply to archiving exams for Chemistry courses. Graded final exams for certain required courses in the chemistry major must be scanned and saved as PDF files because we need them for periodic assessment of our program. Other exams do not have to be scanned unless scanning is needed for pedagogical or logistical reasons. If you are not sure whether your exams should be scanned please consult the Department’s Undergraduate Program Coordinator (Tatum Power).

General guidelines:

  • Gradescope users will automatically have their exams scanned as part of their course. Note that scanning to PDF in the PS copy center is free. Be sure to use “Export Submissions” at the end of the quarter to automatically generate a ZIP file of graded final exams with your grading notes.
  • If you scan the exam using Rapid Returns scanning services, keep the number of pages in your exam small to save on scanning costs. For example, you may want to ask your graders to remove supporting pages (periodic table, formula pages, etc.) from the exam during grading. Download and keep a copy of the ZIP file from Rapid Returns following instructions in their e-mail.
  • Regardless of the scanning mechanism, keep a copy of your final exam ZIP file for at least 5 years. We will send you a reminder after each quarter to send a copy to the Undergraduate Program Coordinator (Tatum Power).

Must always be scanned and saved as PDF files (needed for WASC assessment):

  • Final Exam for the General Chemistry lectures: Chem M2A, M2B, M2C
  • Final Exam for the Organic Chemistry lectures: Chem 51A, 51B, 51C
  • Final Exam for the Computational Chemistry: Chem 5
  • Final Exam for the Inorganic Chemistry: Chem 107
  • Final Exam for the Physical Chemistry: Chem 132A, 132B, 132C
  • Final Exam for the Advanced Analytical Chemistry: Chem 152

Scanning is NOT required:

  • Any midterm exam for the courses listed above
  • Exams for any of the Chemistry elective courses
  • Any of the Chem 1 exams (since we have no chemistry majors taking these courses)

Should not be scanned to conserve resources:

  • Multiple choice exams where grading is based entirely on Scantrons. This includes Chem 1 exams; there is no need to scan the actual exams if students provided their answers on the Scantron form.
  • Scantron forms accompanying the exam. Other ways of returning results to the students are recommended.

Last updated: February 6, 2020