ChemSolutions
Useful software for Schools, Science & ICT teachers

Exam Results Analysis

Installation

This application is one stand-alone .xls file. Install it into any convenient folder.

Using ERA

ERA is simple to use. There is an example dataset in a worksheet called 'Example'. Select this sheet by clicking on its tab at the bottom of the page. Clicking the button labelled "Grades, Scattergram and Rank Listing" at the top of this sheet will cause ERA to create a scattergram and rank listing in the sheets with those names. Blank worksheets have been made for Years 7 - 13, and if you need others just copy an existing sheet and change the name on the tab (double-click on the tab, then type the new name).

The following illustrations show how ERA should be used.

First of all, the name of the exam and the year group are entered inside the red box at the top of the sheet. Values from 7 - 13 are allowed for the year group. Each pupil's form, names, set number and mark (%) have to be entered. If your sets are not normally numbered, they must be numbered for ERA (you can add names for the sets later). No gaps are permitted in the information (e.g. missing marks or set numbers), as ERA will stop and report an error.

ERA-Data

Once all the data is in place, click the button labelled "Grades, Scattergram and Rank Listing" at the top of the sheet. The following two dialogs will appear, allowing you to specify set names and grade boundaries ...

ERA-Boundaries

... and make shading choices ...

ERA-Shading

The calculation takes just a moment, then you will notice that grades will have appeared in the grades column:

ERA-Results

Click on the 'Scattergram' tab at the bottom of the page. The scattergram sheet show the scattergram for the most recent calculation and is overwritten each time the "Grades, Scattergram and Rank Listing" button is pressed. Printing this sheet will probably require some adjustment of the printout size (using File > Print Preview > Setup > Page).

ERA-Scattergram

Click on the 'Rank List' tab at the bottom of the page. This will show you a rank listing for the whole year group:

ERA-Rank

Limitations

These are the limits of ERA's capabilities, as they are currently set. If the capabilities of ERA are insufficient for your needs, let me know. Excel does occasionally crash even with these modest limits.

  • One year group per sheet - you can decide how many sheets to make in the workbook
  • 300 pupils per year group
  • Pupils divided into 10 sets
  • Years 7 - 13 only
  • Results values 0 - 100 allowed; these are assumed to be percentages