This article, originally featured in One Story to Read Today, highlights the impact of machine grading and multiple-choice testing on American education. From funding cuts to integration and resegregation, these exams have become a staple for students across the country. The article explores the history of multiple-choice testing and its evolution into a standardized assessment tool. However, with the shift towards digital testing, the era of filling in bubbles may be coming to an end.
Machine grading, often associated with the Scantron brand, has gained popularity due to its ability to provide rapid and straightforward results for millions of students. These exams, printed on green or blue Scantron answer sheets, are used in both high-end academies and impoverished public schools. They are a key component of various standardized tests, from the national SAT and ACT to local exams like SHSAT and STAAR.
The rise of machine grading has influenced the educational landscape. English class, for example, involves not only writing essays but also choosing themes from a list of options. Similarly, calculus requires selecting the correct solution from predetermined numbers. These practices were made possible by the Scantron and similar technologies.
However, the era of bubble sheets may be coming to an end. With the SAT going fully digital next year and other exams following suit, students may no longer be trained to fill in the tiny bubbles with No. 2 pencils. The introduction of automatic, multiple-choice scoring technology has greatly shaped American education, and its demise could have a similar impact.
In the early 1900s, multiple-choice tests were not commonly used in American schools. Assessments focused more on essays, projects, and oral exams. However, as the number of students increased, educators and officials sought ways to evaluate them more efficiently. Multiple-choice tests provided a standardized method of grading students, allowing for numerical representation and sorting. The introduction of machines like IBM’s automatic-scoring machine in 1937 and Everett Lindquist’s optical-mark recognition system in the 1950s revolutionized the grading process.
Machine grading became widespread, especially with the founding of Scantron in 1972. Scantron’s affordable scoring machines and answer sheets made multiple-choice testing even more prevalent. The company served a majority of top school districts in the U.S. and processed millions of answer sheets annually. The dominance of Scantron and machine grading transformed the education system, leading to a proliferation of standardized tests and a focus on test scores for funding and comparisons.
However, the use of bubble sheets and multiple-choice questions is slowly diminishing. Many standardized tests now include more open-ended questions that measure higher-order thinking skills. Additionally, the transition to digital testing has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and remote learning. State tests, college admissions exams, and other assessments are shifting towards digital formats. Although online exams may still rely on multiple-choice questions, the era of filling in bubbles is gradually fading away.
As American education continues to evolve, the impact of machine grading and multiple-choice testing remains significant. The shift towards digital testing raises questions about the future of standardized assessments and the role they play in evaluating students’ abilities.
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