ISI devices automatic evaluation of answer scripts

The Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) has decided to make the evaluation of students’ answer scripts automatic by devising a system which uses artificial intelligence and technology based on machine learning. For this, the students will have to write their exams on tablets instead of papers and use a special type of pen. The answers will get stored in a remote system and assessment of the papers will be done automatically, explained Umapada Pal, professor and head of the ISI’s computer vision and pattern recognition unit. The system will even analyse subjective questions like essay writing in language papers and asses a student’s creative writing skills. Professor Pal said, “The answer scripts will be analysed the same way teachers do it now while correcting answer scripts. Board examiners are now provided with model answers to help them in the evaluation. They are told to observe certain words and points in answers. Students whose answers have all the points and words get full marks. The system will assess the answers the same way”. ISI is currently collaborating with the University of Technology, Sydney for conducting research using artificial intelligence and machine learning. Automated evaluation of answer scripts are among the topics that are being worked on under this research work. Professor Pal further said, “We need to use artificial intelligence, machine learning and natural language processing to evaluate answer scripts. Evaluating descriptive answers is a challenging task because of various handwriting styles. One of the main objectives behind such a move is to make the examination system free of biased marking”.