The school copier
Run the whole stack through the copier and upload the one PDF it makes. CoGrader finds where each essay starts and splits the file into one essay per student.
AI handwritten grading for teachers
- Free for teachers, no credit card
- Students only need paper and a pencil
1Handwritten work
Essays, assignments, and exams in your students’ own handwriting
2Scan it or import it
- Phone camera
- School copier
or your LMSSnap it, scan it, or pull it from Google Classroom, Canvas, or Schoology
3Text, scores, and feedback
You review every score and comment before students see them
100,000+ Teachers trust CoGrader
16,000+ Schools across all 50 states
2.5M+ Essays graded with AI
80% Less time grading
Research-backed: In a June 2026 STAAR validation study, 98.5% of CoGrader scores landed within one point of official TEA raters, and a U.S. Department of Education award funds our research. See the research
Used at 16,000+ schools
Already collecting work in Google Classroom or Canvas?
Have students snap a photo of their page and turn it in like any other assignment. CoGrader imports the class in one click, reads the handwriting, and sends grades and feedback back to your gradebook.
Google Classroom
Two-way sync
One-click import of assignments from Google Classroom. Grades and feedback go straight back to Google Classroom.
Canvas
Two-way sync
Easy setup for your course. Pull submissions from Canvas, then push grades and feedback back.
Schoology
Two-way sync
Import assignments from Schoology, grade the set, and send scores and feedback back to the gradebook.
Writing done in class? Scan it in
For timed writes and essays done in class, scan the handwritten pages yourself. Each way ends in the same graded assignment.
Your phone
Scan the QR code on your computer, then snap each student’s pages. Each essay shows up on your screen as soon as you finish it.
Files on your computer
Already have one file per student? Upload them all at once.
- JPG
- PNG
Up to 500 pages per upload, 60 MB per file
One PDF from the copier, sorted by student
Your copier turns a class set into one long PDF. Splitting it by hand can take longer than grading it. CoGrader sorts the pages for you, and you check its work before you grade.
- 1
Scan the whole stack
Feed it all through at once, up to 500 pages in one PDF. Sideways and upside-down pages get turned upright for you.
- 2
CoGrader sorts the pages
It reads each student’s name and spots when a page continues the one before it.
- 3
You check the split
One screen shows every essay and its pages. Combine, split, rename, or rotate in a click. Essays without a clear name are flagged for you.
- 4
Start grading
Reading a full class scan usually takes 2 to 4 minutes. Then the whole class is ready to grade.
No scanner? Use your phone
Sit down with the stack and your laptop. Your phone scans each handwritten essay, and your laptop collects the class.
- 1
Open the QR code with your phone camera.
- 2
Enter the student’s name and take photos of their pages.
- 3
Tap “Finish this essay.” CoGrader starts reading it while you scan the next student.
- 4
When the whole class is in, grade from your computer.
- Up to 40 pages per student
- Retake or delete any page before you finish
- Works with iPhone and Android photos
Every essay typed up, graded, and ready for your review
Once the pages are in, CoGrader takes it from there. You still read, adjust, and approve every grade.
1
Typed up as written
As the student wrote it. Spelling mistakes included, so the feedback is about their writing.
Check any page. Compare the typed text with the student’s handwriting, line by line.
Aisha K. · Period 3
Move across the page to compare the handwriting with the typed text.
2
Detailed feedback for every student
Graded against your rubric. Every point maps to a criterion.
Glow and Grow comments. Specific, actionable notes students can use on the next draft.
Make it yours. Change a score or rewrite a comment in your own voice.
3
You have the final say
Grade the whole class at once. Scores fill in for every student, and the ones to check first are marked.
Back to your LMS. Work imported from Google Classroom, Canvas, or Schoology goes back with grades and feedback.
Nothing goes out until you approve it.
4
See what the class needs next
A class report by criterion. See where the class is strong and where it struggles.
Plan your next mini-lesson. Common patterns are spelled out for you, like quotes dropped in without commentary.
Trusted by educators and built for compliance
Trusted by 100,000+ teachers and educators
Used at 16,000+ schools
Backed by UC Berkeley
- SOC 2 Type 1 attested
- FERPA Compliant
- COPPA Compliant
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Frequently Asked Questions
What teachers ask about grading handwritten essays.
Can AI grade handwritten essays?
Yes. CoGrader reads each student’s handwriting, types it up, and drafts scores and comments against your rubric. You review every grade and decide what students see.
Is CoGrader grading instead of me?
No. CoGrader drafts a starting point against your rubric. You review it, adjust any score or comment, and approve it before students see anything. You always have the final say.
What kinds of handwritten work can it grade?
Essays and written responses, from a single paragraph to a multi-page essay. Handwritten grading is built for writing, not for multiple-choice quizzes.
Which rubrics can I use?
The one you already grade with. Pick an official AP or state rubric from the rubric library, upload your own, or build one from your assignment prompt.
My copier gives me one PDF for the whole class. Can CoGrader use it?
Yes. Choose Upload one scanned file and upload the PDF. CoGrader reads each page, sorts the pages by student, and shows you the split before you grade. If it got something wrong, you can combine, split, rename, or rotate pages.
How does CoGrader know which pages belong to which student?
It reads the name on each page and checks whether a page continues the one before it. When it can’t read a name clearly, it flags that essay for you to check.
What if a student forgets to write their name?
CoGrader leaves the name blank and marks that essay Review. Type the name in on the split screen before you grade.
What if pages come out of the copier sideways or upside down?
CoGrader turns them upright for you. If a page still looks wrong, rotate it on the split screen in one click.
Can I scan double-sided pages?
Yes. Run the stack through your copier’s double-sided setting and upload the PDF. CoGrader handles the blank backs, so you don’t need to remove them first.
Can one essay run several pages?
Yes. CoGrader spots when a page continues the one before it and keeps those pages together. With your phone, you can add up to 40 pages per student.
Do I need to download an app to scan with my phone?
No. Click Scan with your phone in CoGrader and open the QR code with your phone camera. Scanning happens in your phone’s browser. Each code works for a limited time, so if it expires, create a new one on your computer.
What files can I upload, and how many at once?
PDF, JPG, and PNG from your computer: up to 100 files and 500 pages per upload, 60 MB per file. With your phone, any photo works, iPhone photos included, for up to 100 students and 200 pages in one session.
How long does it take?
Reading and sorting a full class scan usually takes 2 to 4 minutes. You can check the split while CoGrader is still reading, and grading opens as soon as it finishes.
Can I grade handwritten work that students turned in through Google Classroom or Canvas?
Yes. When a student turns in a photo or PDF of their work, CoGrader pulls it in with the class and reads the handwriting. In Google Classroom, CoGrader takes the first file a student attaches, so ask students to turn in one file each.
How well does CoGrader read handwriting?
CoGrader types up the page as the student wrote it, spelling mistakes included. Like any AI, it can misread a word now and then, so for any essay you can switch to Original to see the student’s page, then adjust the score or comment before you approve it.
Can it read cursive or really messy handwriting?
Yes. CoGrader reads cursive, print, and the messy handwriting you get on a timed write. If you want to check a word, the student’s original page is one click away.
Does it work for essays written in other languages?
Yes. CoGrader reads handwritten essays in languages other than English, so it works for world language classes and for students who write in their home language.
Can I add late work or absent students later?
Yes. Open the assignment and choose Add handwritten essays. Scan or upload the new pages, and they join the rest of the class.
Do students need devices or accounts?
No. Students write on paper, and you scan or snap their work.
Is my students’ work kept private?
Yes. CoGrader is FERPA and COPPA compliant and holds a SOC 2 Type 1 attestation. The AI providers that read student work are not allowed to train their models on CoGrader data. See the details on our IT and compliance page.
Is handwritten grading free?
Yes. CoGrader is free for teachers, and handwritten grading is included. No credit card needed.
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