Add Tests

Add Test

Overview

Tests are on-line evaluation that can be used to measure a student’s understanding of the course. The Add Tests feature of Blackboard allows instructors to add a test, quiz, or survey to any Content Areas of your course site. Test submitted by students (student test results) may not be viewed or graded from the Content Area where the Test is posted. Tests created in Blackboard are automatically entered into the Gradebook. Instructors may view and grade Tests submitted by students in the Gradebook. IMPORTANT Note - Test must first be created in the Test Manager before they can be added to any content area. Please review the following links on Creating Assessments and the Test Manager if you have not done so already.

Where to Add Test?

1. Click on Control Panel link on the left side of the course site.
2. Click on the name of desired Content Area under Course Areas section.

How to Add a Test?

1. Go to the desired Content Area by following above steps.
2. Click on the Add  Test icon to open the Add Test page.
3. There are two options in this page, Create a New Test and Add Test.
4. Click on Create button, you will be linked to Test Information page to create a new test. For information on creating a test see directions on Test Manager. Once a test is created it will appear in the Add Test field.
5. Select your test from the Select Test below list.
6. Click the Submit button.
7. Click on the OK button.
8. The Modify Test page appears. There are two options in the Modify test page.

Modify the Test

Modify the test will link you to the Test Canvas page to modify the test itself.

Modify the Test options

Modify the test options will link you to the Test Options page to set up the test properties, such as the availability, presentation, and feedback. These options are only available once a test is added to a Content area.

• In the Test Information section, edit the Test name and description as need.

• In the Test Availability section,

• Make the link available – Select Yes to make the link accessible to students. Select No when you don’t want students to access the test yet. This can be changed at any time. You may also make the test available, and then use the Display After and Display Until fields to limit the amount of time the test is available.
• Add a new announcement for this Test – If you select Yes for this option, an announcement will be automatically created and posted in the course Announcements page after you click on the Submit button.
• Multiple attempts – This feature allows students to take a test multiple times. Only the grade for the most recent attempt is recorded and appears in the Gradebook, not the highest one.
• Force Completion – If this option is selected, students must complete the test the first time it is launched. The Save button is available for students to save the test as they work through it, but they may not exit and re-enter the test later. If the Force Completion is not enabled, students may save their progress and re-enter the test to complete it later.
• Set timer -- This feature allows you to limit the time your students have to take a test. Check the box then enter the amount of time in the hours and minutes boxes below. The clock starts as soon as the student begins taking the test and displays to students during the test. Students get a one-minute warning as they approach the time limit. If the student goes over the limit they will still be allowed to complete the test, however, they will not receive a grade. The status of the test will be "Needs Grading." You will have to review the test and the time they exceeded, in order for you to change or accept the score.
• Display After and Display Until – You can select the date and time when the test will be available or unavailable to students. These two fields may be left blank. You can control availability through the Make the link available without setting specific dates.
• Password –This optional choice can increase security for on-line tests. If this check box is selected, enter a password in the field below. Password should be shorter than 15 characters and are case sensitive. Students will be asked to provide the password you set here to enter the test.
• Self-assessment Options allow you to set if include the test in Gradebook. Read the direction and select Include or Hide.
• Test Feedback

The Test Feedback determines the how much feedbacks students will receive after a test is submitted. Check as many boxes as you want.

• Test Presentation

This feature allows you to decide whether to present your test in a continuous screen to scroll down, or one question at a time. You can also choose whether you want to randomize the questions or prohibit backtracking.

• After you finish all items above, click on the Submit button at the end of this page to save all your options.

How to Modify or Delete a Test?

1. Go to the Content Area to which the Test is added by following above steps.
2. To delete a Test, click on the Remove button next the name of the test. Note: Removing a Test from a Content Area doest not delete the Test from the system. The Test is still available from the Test Manager. And Grade is preserved but the details of students’ attempts are deleted permanently from the system.
3. To modify a Test, click on the Modify button to open the Modify Test page. Following relevant guide in How to Add a Test section to modify the Test.

Questions about Adding Test

1. I have created a test in the Test Manager, but the students cannot see it. Why?

After a test is created, it is not automatically appear to students in the course site. You need to add this test to a Content Area using the Add Test feature before it can be accessed. Tests also need to be made visible under the Modify test options before students can access them.

2. I created a test earlier, but it doesn’t show up in the Add Test box. Why?

Tests can only be added to Content Areas once. If the test has been used before, it will not show up on the list of available tests.

• What is the difference between removing a Test from the Content Area and Test Manager?

Removing a Test from a Content Area only delete it from that Content Area. It doest not delete the Test from the system. The test must be removed from the Test Manager to completely delete it from the course. When a Test is removed from a Content Area Grades can be preserved. But the details of students’ attempts are deleted permanently from the system.  Removing a Test from the Test Manager destroys the Test but doest not have any impact on the Gradebook. For guide on how to delete Test from the Test Manager, please refer to Test Manager section.

4. Where can I get more instructions on how to create a test?

See the Test Manager section.

5. May I also create a link from the Announcements page?

You can create a link to the Content Areas where the test is located, but can no longer create a direct link to the test in the Announcements section. This is now done in the Announcements section using the Course Link function.

6. How do I view grades?

When students take a test in Blackboard, their score is automatically entered in the Gradebook. If you want to view a student’s individual question responses, click on their score in the Gradebook.

7. How do I grade the short answer questions?

From the Gradebook, access the student's test results by clicking on the Exclamation Point in the spreadsheet view. This will show you the student's individual answers. Add the points received in the Points field and click Submit.

8. How do I turn off the test when I no longer want students to be able to take it?

Go to the Content Area to which the test is posted, click on the Modify button next to the name of the test. Then select Modify the Test Options. Choose No to the Make the link available choice and click Submit.

9. How secure are on-line tests? How can I make them more secure?

Anytime you give a student a test online, you run of risk of cheating. At this time, there is no way to make sure that your student is the one actually taking the test. This does not mean that the test feature in Blackboard should not be used. To increase test security you can add passwords, randomize questions, put time limits on tests, or administer them in a proctored lab environment. A good use of the test feature in Blackboard is for practice or review tests. This is an especially good use for the Allow Multiple Attempts, the random sampling and question pool features.