System and method for processing forms using color

A method for processing a plurality of completed test answer sheets in a standardized test system, wherein the plurality of completed test answer sheets have at least three colors and the system includes a scanning station and a separate scoring processing station, the method comprising:

• scanning each completed test answer sheet to determine an identifier for the completed test answer sheet and to form a multicolor image representative of the completed test answer sheet, wherein the multicolor image includes at least three colors;
• creating a first computer readable file and a smaller second computer readable file representative of the multicolor image;
• associating the first and second computer readable files with the identifier in a database;
• transmitting the smaller second computer readable file representative of the multicolor image to the scoring processing station;
• transmitting the first computer readable file representative of the multicolor image if an instruction is received, wherein the received instruction indicates that more image information, than that which is provided by the second computer readable file, is desired to score the completed test answer sheet;
• using the first computer readable file or the second computer readable file to form a representation of at least a portion of the completed test answer sheet to be displayed at the scoring processing station to be scored by a human reader, wherein the representation includes a background portion and handwritten responses;
• receiving at least one instruction initiated by the human reader at the scoring processing station for changing the background portion of the representation to be displayed at the scoring processing station, wherein the at least one instruction includes a reader-selected color in the background portion of the representation;
• and
• in response to the instruction, the scoring station communicating information with the database to remove the reader-selected color from the background portion of the representation displayed at the scoring station or to adjust an intensity of the reader-selected color in the background portion of the representation displayed at the scoring station.