What does response-code scoring analyze?

• A. The time allowed to complete the test
• B. The number of questions on the test
• C. The color of answer sheets
• D. The pattern of labels assigned to each student answer to determine proficiency

Answer: (D)

Response-code scoring analyzes how students’ answers are coded across items to reveal what they understand. It looks at the sequence and type of response codes assigned to each response, not just whether an item was answered correctly. By examining patterns—such as which options students tend to choose, whether they change answers, or how their responses cluster across groups of items—teachers can infer levels of understanding, identify specific misconceptions, and assess overall proficiency. Time, the total number of questions, or the color of answer sheets don’t provide this diagnostic insight, so they’re not what this scoring method analyzes.