Choose a Paper-Based Workflow in Gradescope

Quick Links: | Prerequisites | Instructions | Troubleshooting | Next Steps |

When setting up Paper-Based Exams or Quizzes in Gradescope, faculty can choose between two main workflows: uploading all student exams themselves or allowing students to upload their own completed exams. Each workflow is suited to different instructional settings and exam types. This guide helps you understand both options, their pros and cons, and how to decide which approach fits your course and assessment style best.

This article does not cover how to set up the Gradescope outline or grading interface, but it assumes you'll need to configure the question outline and submission format in both workflows.

Prerequisites

• A Gradescope course linked to your Canvas course (or created manually)

• A finalized exam PDF or question set

• Familiarity with how your exam will be delivered (in-person vs. remote)

• Understanding of scanning requirements (either by instructor/TA or students)

• Access to a scanner or mobile scanning app (depending on workflow)

Step-by-Step Instructions

There are two ways to run a paper-based exam in Gradescope. Use the comparison below to decide which workflow fits your needs.

Instructor Uploads All Exams (In-Class or Proctored)

To use this workflow, do the following:

1. Prepare your exam using the Gradescope template or follow the guidelines for answer regions and ID fields.

2. Print enough copies of the exam for your students.

3. Administer the exam in class; students complete their work on paper.

4. Collect all completed exams after class.

5. Scan the exams into a single PDF or multiple PDFs (one per student or per group, depending on your setup).

6. From your Gradescope course, select Assignments, then Create Assignment, and choose Exam/Quiz.

7. Upload the scanned exams to Gradescope.

8. Use Gradescope’s auto-matching tool to match submissions to student names and IDs.

9. Manually match any that weren’t auto-identified.

 

What this workflow looks like:

Step	Who Does It	Tool Needed
Print & distribute exams	Instructor	Gradescope template
Complete exam	Students	Paper
Scan & upload	Instructor or TA	Scanner
Match to students	Gradescope (auto/manual)	Gradescope UI

 

Students Upload Their Own Exams (Remote or Take-Home)

To use this workflow, do the following:

1. Create your exam as a PDF and upload it to Gradescope under Assignments.

2. Make sure to enable Student Upload and clearly communicate submission deadlines.

3. Instruct students to either print the exam or write answers on blank paper (if allowed).

4. Students complete the exam independently.

5. Students scan or photograph each page of their completed work.

6. Students log in to Gradescope, upload their files, and match each page to the correct question using the submission interface.

What this workflow looks like:

Step	Who Does It	Tool Needed
Download/print exam	Students	PDF viewer
Complete exam	Students	Paper
Scan & upload	Students	Scanner or phone app
Match pages to questions	Students	Gradescope UI

Optional Workflow Variation: One Master Exam vs. Individualized Exams

You may choose one of the following setups, regardless of who uploads the exams:

• One Master Exam for All Students (most common): All students take the same exam. Easier for scanning and matching.

• One Unique Exam Per Student: Useful if using randomization or individualized questions. More setup required; be careful with matching pages.

Troubleshooting

• If you're scanning and uploading exams yourself, confirm the scanner is working and that the PDF is clear and not corrupted. Visit Set Up Gradescope for Paper-Based Exams for upload formatting tips.

• If students are uploading, guide them to use a scanning app like Adobe Scan or Genius Scan. Refer students to Submit PDF or Photos to Gradescope.

• For both workflows, ensure the Gradescope outline is built before grading. Draw answer boxes clearly for each question when creating the outline to assist in faster grading and navigation.

Next Steps (Optional)