Understand what your HAT comparison tells you.
An answer-key comparison helps you see which visible responses match the published answers. It is useful for checking your work, but it is not an authenticated scorecard.
Keep the response states separate
Correct means the reviewed response matches the selected key. Incorrect means a clear single response differs. Unanswered means a readable row has no detected selection. Multiple-mark means more than one option appears marked. Uncertain means the image or marks do not support a dependable single choice.
Resolve reading mistakes before trusting the summary
Inspect the image crop when a response looks unexpected. A blur or faint transfer can be mistaken for a blank; extra ink can affect more than one bubble. Confirm only what you can see. Do not turn an uncertain mark into a correct answer merely because the key says so.
Use the right key and scoring rules
A well-read sheet checked against the wrong booklet key still produces the wrong comparison. Check the exact examination details first. Treat any displayed point total as an estimate using the rules shown by the checker; official examination instructions take priority.
A correct option is not a full explanation
A key tells you which option is published as correct. It does not, by itself, provide the question text or explain the reasoning. An explanation should be based on the actual question and a verified solution, not invented from an answer letter.
Sources and further reading
Reviewed 27 October 2026. Examination-specific HEC instructions and publications take precedence.
Check your answer sheet