Boston University has alleviated a big professorial headache recently with a machine which can score more objective tests in four hours than four exam correctors could evaluate in almost four months.

Directed by Professor Warren T. Powell, head of the university's student counselling department, the mechanism, all part of a college program evaluating psychological and other forms of standard tests, makes use of 750 "electric fingers" which detect the answers recorded on the answers sheet.

The principle of the machine's operation is based on the fact that a lead pencil mark is electrically conductive. The scoring key is prepared by making perforations to correspond in position with correct responses on the answer form.