Computer Aided Evaluation of Multi-Step Answers to Algebra Questions

Abstract

This paper presents a system that automatically assesses multi-step answers to algebra questions. The system requires teacher involvement only during the question set-up stage. Two types of algebra questions are currently supported: questions with linear equations containing fractions, and questions with quadratic equations. The system evaluates each step of a student's answer and awards full/partial marks according to a marking scheme. The system was evaluated for its performance using a set of student answer scripts from a government school in Sri Lanka and also by undergraduate students. The system accuracy was over 95.4%, and over 97.5%, respectively for the aforementioned data sets.