Grade Explanation Tool
On this page, you will find information about and access to UiA’s artificial intelligence-based tool for generating drafts of grade explanations. Please remember to read the user guide carefully before using the tool. To access the tool, you must either be connected to the eduroam network on campus or be logged into eduVPN.
-(1).png)
About the project
The tool was developed as a project between autumn 2023 and spring 2026 (see also the timeline below).
In accordance with the University and College Act (§ 11-8), students at the University of Agder are entitled to receive an explanation for their grades within two weeks of submitting a request.
To simplify the work involved in providing explanations, this project is testing whether generative artificial intelligence can be used to create a first draft of explanations. The examiner then reads through, edits and finalises the explanation before it is sent to the student.
The solution will help to improve the quality of the explanations and streamline the process, while also giving the university valuable experience in the practical use of artificial intelligence.
This is how we proceeded
The idea for the project arose in autumn 2023 as an initiative from the Education Department and the Vice-Rector for Education in collaboration with the AI coordinators for education. The aim was to investigate how data from exam papers, examiner guidelines and exam answers could be used to develop a KI-generated first draft of a grade explanation.
To ensure a solid knowledge base, the project has combined insight work and technical development. Below is a brief description of both parts:
Insight work
In order to understand current practices, a survey was conducted in autumn 2024 among active examiners at UiA to map how examiners work and experience the process. The survey shows that the work of writing explanations is perceived as time-consuming, with an average time spent of 8 hours and 42 minutes per subject. Many examiners describe the work as a formal requirement rather than an educational tool, and several express uncertainty about the value students actually derive from the explanations.
You can read the full report (only available in Norwegian) based on the survey here.
In order to gain a better insight into students' views on and experiences with explanations, a survey was conducted among UiA students in the autumn of 2025. The survey maps out why students request explanations, how they use them, and what they expect to gain from them. It also includes questions about any attitudes towards the use of artificial intelligence in explanations.
The results of the student survey, together with the user test evaluations, will be included in the project’s final report (only available in Norwegian).
Technical deliverables
The technical development of the solution has taken place in stages, in close collaboration between the IT department, the Education Department and academic communities at the university. The initial ideas were tested in autumn 2023, when a proof of concept was carried out in 11 subjects with written school examinations as the examination form. The experiences from this pilot phase laid the foundation for the rest of the project.
In 2024, the project was formally established. The technical development work began in parallel with insight work and dialogue with the Data Protection Authority to ensure that the solution meets current requirements for privacy and information security. The first version of the tool was completed in autumn 2024.
In the spring of 2025, a risk and vulnerability analysis (ROS) and a data protection impact assessment (DPIA) were carried out. At the same time, workshops and focus groups were organised to test and further develop the solution. Based on this feedback, an improved version 2 was developed and tested in 36 subjects at UiA.
By autumn 2025, a third version of the tool had been completed, building on the experience gained from the testing carried out the previous spring. At the same time, the project’s website was launched and a larger-scale testing phase was conducted.
The spring and autumn tests from 2025 were evaluated in the spring of 2026, and minor changes were made to the technical setup of the solution. At the same time, the underlying large language model was updated.
Timeline
Autumn 2023 – Idea and initial testing
A proof of concept will be carried out in 11 subjects with written school examinations as the examination form to test the use of AI in explanations.
Autumn 2024 – Project established
The formal project is launched, with contact with the Norwegian Data Protection Authority and the start of both insight work and technical work.
The first version of the tool (v1) is completed and tested internally.
Spring 2025 – Testing and further development
- The survey report (insight work among employees) is published, and both ROS and DPIA analyses are completed.
- Workshops and focus groups are used to evaluate v1.
- An improved version 2 is developed.
- The tool is then tested in 36 subjects at UiA, followed by user evaluation.
Autumn 2025 – Improvement and scaling
- Version 3 will be completed based on the experiences from the spring testing.
- The project website will be launched.
- A new round of testing is planned with the goal of participation from approximately 100 subjects.
Spring 2026 – Final evaluation and adjustments prior to operational delivery
- The first operational version is launched based on feedback from the live tests.
- Login to the solution behind Feide is implemented.
- The final report, containing assessments from both examiners and students, is submitted to the Academic Affairs Committee for information.
- The project phase is concluded. Find the project's final report (only available in Norwegian) here.
Contact:
- maj.s.nielsen@uia.no
- Phone
- +47 38 14 13 71