When the student clicks submit, a sequence of processes begins. Understanding what happens in those few minutes is useful context for assessors who are interpreting the reports they receive, and for school leaders evaluating whether an automated evaluation system can be trusted.
MCQ scoring: immediate
Multiple-choice responses in English reading comprehension, Mathematics knowledge, and Reasoning are scored against the answer key the moment the student submits. There is no ambiguity in this process, each response is either correct or not, and the scores are calculated instantly. Sub-skill scores within each domain are also calculated at this stage: reading comprehension versus written language in English; number versus algebra versus geometry in Mathematics; pattern recognition versus verbal inference in Reasoning.
Writing evaluation: the most substantive step
The extended writing response is the component that takes the most processing time and that involves the most complex evaluation. The response is passed through an evaluation pipeline that assesses four criteria independently: task completion, organisation, vocabulary range and sophistication, and accuracy at sentence level.
Task completion asks whether the student addressed the prompt, whether their response is on-topic, sufficiently developed, and demonstrates engagement with what was asked. Organisation evaluates whether the response has a discernible structure, whether paragraphing is used effectively, and whether the argument or narrative follows a logical progression. Vocabulary assessment identifies the range and appropriateness of lexical choices, flagging both sophistication and any areas of weakness. Accuracy covers grammatical correctness, spelling, and punctuation.
Each criterion produces both a band score and a set of evidence points that feed into the written commentary generated for the report. The commentary is specific to this student's response, it references what they actually wrote rather than applying generic descriptors.
Report assembly
Once all domain scores and writing evaluation are complete, the report is assembled. This involves selecting the appropriate report template for the curriculum and grade, populating domain pages with scores, comparisons against configured thresholds, and written commentary, and generating the recommendation band based on the threshold comparison.
The cover page radar chart is generated dynamically, showing each domain score relative to the school's configured threshold. The executive summary is generated based on the overall score pattern and the specific combination of domain performances.
School branding, logo, name, configured colour scheme if applicable, is applied at this stage. The report is then compiled into PDF format and attached to the assessor email.
Email dispatch
The completed report is emailed to the school's designated assessor for that grade. The email includes a brief summary of the key scores and the recommendation, and five decision buttons: Admit, Admit with Support, Waitlist, Do Not Admit, and Further Review. The assessor can read the full report PDF and then click once to record their decision, no portal login required.
From student submission to report in inbox: typically 90 seconds to four minutes. The range reflects variation in the length of the writing response, a longer, more developed response takes slightly more processing time than a shorter one.
See this in practice
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