Gradescope
Gradescope is an assessment and grading platform for online and in class courses that supports paper based exams, PDFs, bubble sheets, programming assignments, and online assignments, using question by question workflows, rubrics, and analytics to speed up consistent feedback.
Overview
Gradescope is a Turnitin product designed to streamline grading and assessment across both online and in class teaching. It supports variable length assignments like problem sets and projects as well as fixed template work such as worksheets, quizzes, bubble sheets, and exams, so instructors can keep using existing materials rather than redesigning assessments. Workflows are built around question by question grading and dynamic rubrics.
Students can upload PDFs or photos for many assignment types, and instructors can scan paper submissions when needed. Rubrics are created per question so the same feedback can be applied consistently, and regrade requests plus data export help close the loop after release. For open response grading, Gradescope includes AI assisted grading features like answer groups that let staff review similar answers together to reduce context switching.
It also supports programming assignments that can be graded automatically with an autograder or manually with inline comments, and the platform mentions code submission support from GitHub and Bitbucket. Analytics and assignment statistics provide per question and per rubric views so instructors can spot concepts that need reteaching. Collaboration tools allow multiple staff members to grade within the same course, and institutional plans add capabilities such as LMS integration, single sign on, and admin dashboards.
Pricing on the official site describes an Institutional Trial for one term to access the full feature set, followed by a Basic plan that remains free. Institutional licensing and pricing are handled via a contact workflow for schools that want broader rollout and support.
Key features
- Question by question grading: Navigate submissions one question at a time to stay consistent and reduce grading context switching
- Dynamic rubrics: Build rubric items per question and apply feedback quickly while keeping point values adjustable when needed
- Assignment type coverage: Grade paper exams and student uploaded PDFs and instructor uploaded PDFs and bubble sheets and online assignments
- AI assisted answer groups: Group like answers for open response questions to review similar work together using the rubric
- Programming support: Use autograders for immediate feedback or manually grade code with inline comments and scoring rubrics
- Student workflows: Students upload PDFs or photos and can use a student mobile app for submission and viewing returned work
- Analytics and export: View assignment statistics and export grades and data for analysis or transfer to other gradebooks
- Institution features: Add LMS integration and SSO and admin dashboards and onboarding support under institutional plans and trials
Best for
- Midterm grading: Scan paper exams then grade question by question with a rubric so multiple TAs can work in parallel quickly
- Homework review: Collect student uploaded PDFs and apply consistent rubric feedback with quick edits that update past work
- Open response efficiency: Use answer groups to review like answers together for explanations and short essays at scale with less context switching
- Bubble sheet scoring: Create an answer key then auto grade bubble sheets and confirm marks before releasing results to students
- CS autograding: Run an autograder for programming assignments and provide immediate feedback while tracking scores per test
- Anonymous grading: Enable anonymous workflows during grading to reduce bias and reveal names only after grading is finalized
- LMS workflows: Connect via LMS integration and SSO on institutional plans to sync rosters and export grades smoothly each term
- Item analysis: Use assignment statistics to identify weak topics and adjust teaching plans based on rubric level trends over time
Capabilities
Grade PDF submissions
Collect student uploaded PDFs or scan paper work then grade question by question using a rubric. Apply feedback consistently across many submissions and adjust rubric points while preserving a clear audit trail for each question.
Build dynamic rubrics
Create rubric items for each question and reuse the same feedback across submissions. Update rubric items during grading and apply changes broadly so consistency improves without manual rework.
Group similar answers
Use answer grouping for open response questions to review like answers together and reduce context switching. This workflow is designed to speed up grading while still using instructor defined rubric criteria.
Analyze results
Review assignment statistics at the question and rubric level to identify common errors and learning gaps. Export grades and data for reporting or for transferring results into an external gradebook workflow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does pricing start for Gradescope?
The pricing page describes an Institutional Trial for one term to access the full feature set. After the trial ends you can continue on Gradescope Basic for free. Institutional licensing is offered through a contact sales workflow and pricing is not publicly listed.
What assignment types does it support?
Gradescope guides state it supports paper based exams and quizzes, bubble sheets, programming assignments that can be auto or manually graded, and online assignments students answer in the platform. It also supports student uploaded and instructor uploaded PDF workflows.
Does Gradescope integrate with LMS and code repos?
The product pages mention LMS integration and single sign on for institutional plans and also note code submission support from GitHub and Bitbucket for programming assignments. For exact LMS connectors and sync behavior, confirm in your institution setup docs.
What data and privacy considerations should schools review?
Because student work and grades are uploaded and processed in the service, schools should review the privacy policy and terms and apply local retention and access controls. Use anonymous grading options when appropriate and limit sharing of sensitive personal data.
How much setup and support should instructors expect?
Instructors can start with existing assignments and build rubrics per question, and guides cover workflows like regrade requests and keyboard shortcuts. For institution wide rollout, dedicated onboarding and training are listed as part of the institutional offering.
