BEYOND CHAPSTICK (For those of you who just want methods, skip to the numbers) by Richard Mangahas a.k.a. CasaChic0 Well, throughout my lifetime, I've learned one thing. Scantron tests are a bitch. So this text will hopefully help you out. I'd like to point out that the results that the methods and results I write about came from ACTUAL experiments with ACTUAL Scantrons and Scanning Machines. I spent a long time working these out. I have tried virtually everything there is to try to beat the scantron machine, and I can happily say that it can be done. Now, I am not endorsing that you use these methods to get the first letter of the alphabet on your report card. These are for informational and entertainment purposes only. If you do use these methods, I, of course, am not at all responsible and blah blah blah. I would like to thank someone that was essential to making this file possible, but I doubt that he would want to be identified. He was one of my teachers. That's as far as I'll go with that. Now on to the good stuff... 1. Marking the black lines (Black on Black method)- On the left side of most scantrons that I know of, there are black lines next to question numbers. My hypothesis is that these black lines tell the machine where to scan. I don't know how it works, but it does, but not as often to create a great advantage. It works about 25%-30% of the time. I suppose coupled with actual guessing, this does add to the probability of getting a correct answer. This is my recommended hack. This is the hack that will work more often than any other. Do it only on the ones you can't answer. 2. Erasing the same black lines (Erasure method)- Now this hack is pretty self-explanatory. You erase those same black lines, only on the ones you can't answer though. Sometimes the machine skips the question and doesn't mark it at all. This leaves you with a correct answer. -OR- The machine will record an error and not mark the paper at all, including the score. This will then allow the teacher to grade it by hand, where he or she may notice the tampering. 3. Erasing the big black block (Big block eradication method)- Along the left side is a big black block. It is on the upper part of the column before the question lines. Occasionally, the machine will just skip over the whole damn thing but leave you with a 100%. This is practically impossible to get to work. I have gotten it to work twice out of hundreds of trials, but it can be done. My reasoning for this is because there is another similar block at the bottom of the column. I believe that the big block tells the machine when to begin scanning for questions. I think that variations in the printing of scantrons probably produce a block on the bottom similar enough to the erased block. Thus, the machine sees the block begins scanning, sees nothing to correct and gives you a 100%. Like I said this is probably less than 1% success, but it can work. 4. Cutting out that big block (Hole in your head method)- I have had more success with this than erasing for some reason. Again this is an all or nothing proposition. If you like gambling, go ahead. Remember that you will leave more noticable physical evidence. 5. Cross-hatching fill-ins (Cross method)- This method works about 20%-25% of the time. I believe it is pretty self-explanatory. I find that the best patterns are diaganol cross-hatches, or horizontal lines. I can't explain why this works, I assume you are simply confusing the machine. 6. In-between shading (Grey areas method)- By in-between shading, I mean finding a level of grey that is not too dark or too light. I believe this will work because of the same reason as #5. 8. YOU FILL IN THE CORRECT ANSWER! *******ADDED SINCE LAST POSTING OF THIS DOCUMENT********* 9. According to Anthony Iannone ... This person states that he has worked on maintenance of those wonderful machines that CORRECT those beloved scantrons. Anyway, he states that almost ALL scantron readers work differently. Makes enough sense... anyway, I would think the methods are generally workable for any machine.... only trial and error will tell. "The only way to fool many of the kinds to to fold the edge over or cut it off. But the the machiene will pass it trough unmarked, and the teach will probably notice" He also states that it will only work on the 50 question ones as the others are too small.... my own experiments have shown that it all scantron forms can be manipulated. Another suggestion of his make alot of answer keys and stick them into the batch. That is done by filling in "key," of course. Some machines only accept one answer key at a time, some will change the key each time it runs across one.... this doesn't exactly help your grade, but it does wreak some havoc. One can also try copy toner, but I'm not going to risk messing up a scantron machine just to see what will happen. 10. Putting a piece of tape over the black lines (Tape method) - This just does what chapstick was supposed to do... screw up the scanning light... and jack up everything... what you need to HOPE it does, is pray that it makes the scantron machine malfunction, and not mark it incorrect. Best of luck... I hate this method. Okay, that's enough for methods.. because... I don't know anymore. I don't get much access to a scantron machine much anymore... SO, I'll just ramble about the scantron machine in general. The scantron machine grades your test in the following manner (at least the one I have had access to): It takes the maximum number correct from the answer key, say 20. Then for each incorrect answer, it subtracts one from that total. And it only subtracts if there's a mistake recorded. That is why malfunctions lead to either no markings, or perfect scores. Let's see what else is there to talk about... I would go in to the anarchy way of attack of scantrons, but that is not your goal... besides, if you need me to tell you how to fuck things up, you have to be retarded. Also, as another note of privacy, I am including my PGP key.... big whoop. -----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- Version: 2.6.2 mQCPAzGptzQAAAEEAL0ZViCW1e2BRBKGEn9I0+LZaZd1Qnvl7k2aDI0E5GacsHBE g+4hyROaA6lgMjpnZI3av1wJLEfo0ilRc08vGJnd/PdKjpVhF5Ap+vv97bEHyq7q lzQRlGxs9/tvI2hoxss6qtms+L897PwCtT9xb6N4t4BDr2R959qiHdBHN11pABEB AAG0EFJpY2hhcmQgTWFuZ2FoYXOJAJUDBRAxq5Bg2qId0Ec3XWkBAUkcBACntczW 6cK8LskkjLJua4DICV7n0PWposRkPgsG2Z9gI3U/Tohz/4ml7Od69mvkEBvKjVar pn+DTtJheFBxW0ukDxaUl8RcZ2IN4rQndGSCN2H0HoHfUO5GBzhocHII2deu2IVI Tpn+i046ddFhM7lyTMhgyagcCYGr/JwtsP+h9w== =hVjp -----END PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK----- ********End of updates since the last postin********* Okay that's about it. All I ask is that if you read this, please send me an e-mail. I'd just like to know how many people are getting this. I'd prefer that you not use an anon remailer, but if you are so paranoid that you believe that the government is taking the time to care particularly about you, go ahead. Now for my plea of help. I'd like this list to grow. I have tried many hacks. But I have not tried them all. I seriously doubt that this is all of the hacks that you can use. If you find anymore, please send it to me, so that I can update this list periodically. If you go on IRC, I can be found damn near everywhere. I go by the name of DSoldier. I tend to frequent the Undernet, though. And as a final note, CHAPSTICK DOES NOT WORK! I don't know who started it, but I have tried all flavors of chapstick thinking it might be that. But it hasn't worked. I have tried all different brands of lip balm as well. It still has not worked. Perhaps it worked back in the day, but it doesn't now.