Individualized Exams
21 Pages Posted: 26 Feb 2021
Date Written: December 30, 2020
Abstract
Usually my exams consist of two parts: multiple-choice questions (MC), and problems, such as 20 MCs and 3 problems. In this paper, I show how to generate individualized exams for 35 students. Based on the first name and the last 2 digits of a student’s ID, every student gets his/her one-line R code. To start an exam, simply copy-and-paste it to the R console. Based on seven input files, my functions automatically generate 35 exams. To grade MCs, copy the answers first, run one program, and then paste the grades back to Excel. One beauty of this method is that instructors and students are not required to have any prior knowledge related to R, which is free. Such an individualized exam with Zoom monitoring might be a good way to hinder potential cheating for an online exam.
Keywords: individualized exams, randomized questions, online teaching, R, cheating
JEL Classification: A2, I22, G00
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation