Automated Grading System
Automated Grading System
Date
2026-01-07
Authors
Kur, Atong Abraham
Mutumba, Robert
Iraku, Henry
Ddumulira, Owen James
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Makerere University
Abstract
The Automated Exam Grading System is an innovative AI-powered web application designed to
streamline exam grading for educational institutions, ensuring efficiency, accuracy, and fairness in
assessment processes. This system automates the scanning, grading, and reporting of exams,
supporting multiple-choice, handwritten, and open-ended responses, with a focus on essay-type
questions. By leveraging advanced Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Optical Character
Recognition (OCR) technologies, it achieves ≥99% grading accuracy and processes exams in ≤2
seconds per sheet, significantly reducing manual effort and human error.
At its core, the system utilizes a secure, cloud-based architecture to store and process exam data,
ensuring immutability and transparency of grading records. This guarantees that all stakeholders for
example, students, educators, and administrators have access to verified, tamper-proof results. The
platform includes key features such as plagiarism detection, customizable grading modes (Fair,
Lenient, Strict), and real-time analytics, generating class reports in ≤30 seconds. Additionally, it
assesses the quality of student responses against official marking guides, providing detailed feedback
to enhance learning outcomes.
Developed using modern technologies including React, Node.js, Django, SQLite and APIs, the system
offers a user-friendly interface with streamlined workflows for course creation, exam management,
and grade viewing. It is also built as a Progressive Web App (PWA), ensuring accessibility across
devices, including offline functionality for areas with limited internet connectivity. The system
integrates email notifications, GDPR-compliant data privacy, and role-based access control to protect
sensitive information and ensure a secure user experience. It aligns with educational standards,
supporting institutions in delivering transparent and equitable assessments.
This report provides a comprehensive overview of the Automated Exam Grading System, offering
insights into its development process, operational features, and future scalability. The solution not
only meets academic and technical standards but also significantly contributes to the long-term
efficiency and fairness of educational assessment processes.
Description
A Project Report Submitted to the School of Computing and Informatics Technology
for the Study Leading to a Project in Partial Fulfillment of the
Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Bachelor of
Science in Software Engineering of Makerere University.
Keywords
Natural Language Processing (NLP),
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technologies,
Citation
Kur, A. A. et al. (2026). Automated Grading System (Unpublished dissertation). Kampala: Makerere University