Gradescope - Converting images to PDF

For most Gradescope assignments, you need to scan your handwritten work and submit it as a PDF. No scanner? No problem. This guide outlines how to create a single PDF of your work using the Office Lens app on your mobile device. You are then ready to submit this PDF to Gradescope on your computer (recommended) or via the Canvas mobile app.

You will require a phone with the Microsoft Office Lens app installed and preferably Google Drive (signed into your desired account, we recommend your Student Google Account).

iOS instructions

Scan your work

  1. Open the Office Lens app.
  2. Click on the camera icon at the bottom to take a photo of your work.

IMPORTANT: When taking photos, ensure the camera is in DOCUMENT mode so the image is converted as a PDF and not a different file type.

  1. Adjust the border of the page using the tools at the bottom of the screen.
    • Click Confirm once you have readjusted the border.
  2. To add more pages, click Add. Once you have scanned all your pages, select >.
  3. Review your PDF document by swiping through your pages and edit each page using the tools at the bottom of the screen. Once you have reviewed work, select Done.
  4. Next to Title, rename your document.
  5. Under Save To select PDF.
  6. Select Phone Storage.
Saving and exporting to PDF in Office Lens
Saving and exporting to PDF in Office Lens
Saving and exporting to PDF in Office Lens

Transfer your file to Google Drive

  1. In the Office Lens capture page, select the three dots in the top right corner.
  2. Select My Files.
  3. Click and open the PDF you would like to move to Google Drive.
  4. Press the Share icon in the top right corner.
  5. Select Copy to Google Drive.

We recommend creating a new folder within your Google Drive and renaming it to your exam name, e.g. “MATHS10001 Exam”. This will make it easier to organise and locate your scanned PDF when you’re ready to submit your work.

Scanning and exporting PDF file to Google Drive
Scanning and exporting PDF file to Google Drive

Android instructions

Scan your work

  1. Open Microsoft Office Lens.
  2. Click on the camera icon at the bottom to take a photo of your work.

IMPORTANT: When taking photos, ensure the camera is in DOCUMENT mode so the image is converted as a PDF and not a different file type.

  1. After taking a photo, you are presented with the option to re-size the borders of the image. Adjust the border of the page and click Confirm.
    • You can choose to either adjust borders after each scan or after you have scanned all your documents by using the toggle at the top.
  2. To add more pages, click Add to take new images to add to the same PDF document. You will want to take photos of your entire work and save them as a single PDF. Once you’re happy all your pages are there select Done.
  3. Review your PDF document by swiping through your pages and edit each page using the tools at the bottom of the screen. Then click Done.
  4. Rename your PDF document to something easy to locate, e.g. the name of your exam “MATHS10001 Final Exam”.
  5. Ensure PDF is selected and click Save.
Scanning and saving in Office Lens
Scanning and saving in Office Lens

Transfer your file to Google Drive

  1. On the main screen select the three dots > My Files.
  2. Find your desired PDF. Select the three dots > Share.
  3. Select Save to Drive.
  4. Check the Document title, Account and Folder. Then confirm the upload to Google Drive by selecting Save.

We recommend creating a new folder within your Google Drive and renaming it to your exam name, e.g. “MATHS10001 Exam”. This will make it easier to organise and locate your scanned PDF when you’re ready to submit your work.

Sharing the PDF to Google Drive
Sharing the PDF to Google Drive

This guide was last updated 03 Nov 2020.
Please report any errors or omissions in this guide by submitting an LMS support request.

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