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The Test tool allows instructors to create, assign, and grade assessments with multiple questions such as a quiz or exam in Blackboard.
Blackboard Exam Grade Center Column Created
When an instructor creates a Blackboard exam, a column for that exam is automatically created in the Grade Center. Some of the questions types are automatically graded for instructors. Short answer and essay question types must be manually graded.
Add a Test
On the Course Content page,select the plus sign wherever you want to add a test. In the menu, select Create to open the Create Item panel and select Test. The New Test page opens.
Add a Folder for an Assignment
If you would like to add a folder first, select the Folder option from the slide out panel. Once the folder is created, you can then expand it to add a test.
On you course content page or in a folder/module, select a plus icon where you want to the test to be placed, and select Create > Test.
Enter a descriptive title for the test. If you do not enter a title, it will default to "New Test" + the date the test was created.
Select the plus sign to open the menu and make a selection. You can select to add a question type, a question pool or reuse questions from existing assessments. Select add text to add instructions and other information for the test. You can add a page break to create sections within an assessment or group related questions. Note that page breaks won't work if you select to display one question at a time or randomize questions. You can learn more about the different test question types available in Ultra Course View here.
Note:
You cannot enable parallel grading on a test with questions.
If you choose to activate ‘Display one question at a time’ or ‘Question randomization’ all pages will be merged and as such, the page breaks will be removed.
Question Types
Add test question and answers
Check the box next to the correct answer (if required). If you want to reorder the answers after you have entered them, use the opposing arrows to the right of the answer text field to move the answer up or down. The automated Feedback slider is defaulted to off. If you wish to add feedback, click on the slider and it will open the feedback panel where you can enter your feedback. Enter the points possible for each question in the grade pill.
Add additional content. Once you've added a question to a test, you can allow students to add additional content. Additional content could be such things as text or supporting files. By default, this feature is turned on for your test. Toggle this feature off if you don't want students to add additional content.
To add another question to the test, Select the plus sign to open the menu and make a selection.
Show or hide the test
By default, the item is Hidden From Students. If you wish to make it available, select Visible to Students from the drop down menu found in the upper right hand corner of the screen. Alternatively, you can set release conditions for the test by selecting Release Conditions.
Test Settings
When you have added all your test questions, select the to open the test settings.
Due dates appear on the calendar and in the activity stream. Late submissions appear with a Late label in the course gradebook. Encourage students to view the activity stream and calendar to see what is coming due.
Enforce a hard deadline and prevent a late submission. In progress and saved attempts will auto-submit at the due date. Students will receive a submission receipt via email. All specified accommodations are honored.
If selected, this will prevent students from beginning a new attempt after the due date.
If you allow class conversations, students can discuss the test with you and their classmates while the test is available. Students can contribute to the conversation before, during and after the test. As the conversation develops, it appears only with the relevant test.
You may want to grade student work that doesn’t require students to upload a submission. For example, you can add grades to your gradebook for in class presentations, group projects, vocal performances or artwork submitted in person.
A time limit can keep students on track and focused on the test because each person has a limited amount of time to submit. The test attempts are saved and submitted automatically when time is up. You can also allow students to work past the time limit. At this time, you can't add a time limit to group tests.
You can randomize questions and their answers to support practice/drilling activities and help students avoid academic dishonesty. You can use one or both settings so tests appear differently for each student. You can't randomize questions in a test with text blocks or attachments.
You can change the test's grade category to be part of one of the custom gradebook categories you set up in your course. You can create new categories to customize how coursework is grouped in your course. You can use the default and custom categories when you set up the overall grade.
You can let your students submit more than one attempt at a test. When you allow multiple attempts, you can also choose how the final grade is calculated. At this time, you can't allow multiple attempts on a group test.
From the Grade using menu, select an existing grading schema such as Points. A test's score consists of the sum total of all the questions' points. You can change the grading schema at any time and the change will show to students as well as in your gradebook view.
Correct Answers > Turn on Settings link to customize feedback settings.
You can issue an access code to control when students and groups take a test. At this time, access codes are generated randomly by the system.
You can enable parallel grading and assign graders when you create a test without questions. You can enable parallel grading after students have submitted work. The system randomly assigns graders that you have choosen. Each student has two graders for their submitted test. The grading workload is distributed evenly among the graders. Graders can only open the submissions for the students assigned to them. Instructors or reconcilers determine the final grades for students.
Rubrics can help you evaluate student submissions based on predetermined key criteria. In test settings, you can create a new rubric or associate an existing rubric. You can only add a rubric to a test without questions.
You can align a test to one or multiple goals. You and your institution can use goals to measure student achievement across programs and curricula.
Assigned Groups > Assign to Group and select the groups you want to assign the test to.
Add pertinent information about the exam for students in the description box. The text from the description box will show under the exam title in the content area. It is highly recommend that you add a description for students to view before they click on the exam link.
Print a test
Open the test you would like to print. Select the print button. A pop up box will open to inform you that:
An answer key will be automatically generated and printed with the test.
If using questions from a pool, a new version of the test and answer key will be generated with each print request.
Confirm that you want to print from the pop up box. From the print dialog, select a printer to make a physical copy, or save a printable version of your Blackboard exam as a PDF file.
