Use this guide with a free ScanScore resource

An OMR sheet that prints badly scans badly. The good news is that ScanScore’s sheets are meant for ordinary printers: black ink on plain A4, nothing special. The few settings that matter are easy to get right once you know them.

The printing checklist

  1. Print at 100% (actual size). If your print dialog offers “fit” or “shrink”, make sure the whole black frame is still on the page.
  2. Use black ink. Black or greyscale is fine; the markers need to be dark.
  3. Plain paper is enough. A normal 70–80 gsm sheet works. Very thin paper can show print through from the back.
  4. Print one side. The sheet is designed for a single side.
  5. Check the margins. The corner marks and the frame must not be cut off.
  6. Print one test sheet first and scan it before printing for the whole class.

Print quality

  • Use “normal” or “standard” quality; “draft” can print the markers faint.
  • If the printer streaks, run its cleaning cycle before a big print.
  • An almost-empty toner or ink cartridge makes marks pale; replace it first.
  • Photocopies of printed sheets are worse than fresh prints — copy only if you must, and test one.

Paper size

Sheets are designed for A4. If your printer defaults to US Letter, choose “fit to page” and confirm the frame is complete. If you print on a different size entirely, do a test scan before committing to a batch.

Helping students fill the sheet

  • Use a dark pen or a soft pencil. Pale pencil and light gel pens read poorly.
  • Fill each bubble completely.
  • Keep the sheet clean — no folds across the markers, no coffee rings.
  • Collect sheets flat. A sheet folded into a pocket can crease through the frame.

Putting your school name on the sheet

You can print your school name at the top of the sheet so it looks like part of your exam routine. Roll number length and attendance fields are adjustable too. More on layout in choosing the best OMR sheet format.

Printing for many students

Print once from the PDF, not by photocopying a copy. For a large cohort, batch the print job and spot-check a few pages from the middle of the run; ink and toner can fade over a long job. Keep spare printed sheets for late joiners and for mistakes.

Do not scale a photocopy. Enlarging or shrinking a copy can distort the frame. Always print the PDF at its real size.

Full creation steps are in how to create an OMR sheet on A4.

Keep reading: Free OMR sheet template PDF · 200 questions on one A4 sheet