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Paper-based sessions

TAO Portal supports a hybrid assessment model that bridges traditional paper testing and digital assessment workflows. Paper-based sessions allow test-takers to write responses on printed paper while maintaining digital delivery and scoring in TAO.

Paper sessions are not enabled by default. If you are interested in enabling this feature, please contact your Account Manager.

Important: If paper-based sessions have been enabled for your organization, ensure the paper sessions feature is enabled in System Settings.

How it works

In this model, TAO generates PDF booklets of response sheets that are printed, completed by hand, scanned, and uploaded back into the system for scoring:

  1. Test-takers view test content (questions, passages) in TAO

  2. Essay (extended text) responses are written on printed response sheets

  3. Each sheet contains a QR code to link responses to the correct test-taker and item

  4. Completed sheets are scanned and uploaded

  5. Responses appear in TAO for scoring using standard workflows

Hybrid delivery

A single test can include:

  • Paper-based responses (essay items)

  • Digital responses (e.g., multiple choice)

Only eligible essay items generate printed response sheets.

Limitations

  • Only items with one Extended Text interaction in Rich Text mode will generate a response sheet in the booklet. For more information, see Creating content for a paper-based session.

  • Item content is not included in the response sheets

  • PDF limits:

    • Max 100 separate test-takers per session PDF

    • Max 400 pages per session PDF

The system calculates the total page count using the number of enrolled test takers, the number of items eligible for paper responses in the delivery, and the number of sheets per paper interaction. For example, if you have 100 test takers enrolled in the session, and there are four eligible items with one response page each, you would have reached the maximum number of pages accepted. If you try to publish a booklet exceeding the limits, the system will prompt you to reduce the amount of test takers enrolled in the session.