1. What do I need to know before creating or deploying a Blackboard test?
2. What should I tell my students before taking a test?
3. Can I create a test in Blackboard?
4. How do I create a test?
5. How do I deploy my test and make it available to my students?
6. Are students able to save their tests in Blackboard so as not to lose their answers in the event of a lost connection?
7. Can I allow students to take a test multiple times while preserving the score of each attempt?
8. Can I set a time limit on a test?
9. How can I add extra credit questions to a test without penalizing students who don't answer them?
10. Can I modify a test after I make it available?
11. Can students view a test after they have taken it?
12. Can I use Blackboard to conduct a survey?
13. How do I view survey results?
14. Can I move questions from an existing test into a general pool?
15. How can I create a test using questions from a pool?
16. How do I create a test that is composed of a random block of questions drawn from a pool of questions?

What do I need to know before creating or deploying a Blackboard test?

Following these recommendations may avoid common problems associated with Blackboard tests:

• Be aware that Blackboard has a 3-hour inactivity time limit. If you plan to create a long, single-paged test, ask your students to click the Save button frequently in order to avoid being "timed out".
• When making a test available, instructors have the option of controlling how much information a student is given when the test is completed. If you choose all options available, each student will receive the answer to each question, marked either correct or incorrect and, if his/her answer is incorrect, what the correct answer is. While more information is useful to the student, you should realize that students could potentially pass information along to students who have not taken the test yet.
• Resizing the browser window, hitting the back or forward buttons of a browser, or losing an internet connection while taking a test in Blackboard may cause the student to lose access to his/her test and result in an incomplete attempt, indicated by a lock symbol. If you have enabled the Forced Completion setting on the test, the student will not be allowed to re-enter the test. Therefore, in order to allow the student to re-take the test, you must clear the student's attempt (for instructions, see Can I allow students to take a test multiple times while preserving the score of each attempt?)
• Although Blackboard scores fill-in-the-blank questions automatically, it is highly recommended that instructors review these scores. Even though Blackboard allows an instructor to provide several options as the correct answer, one will most probably not be able to predict all of the variants that might be acceptable, including blank spaces in the beginning or at the end of an otherwise correct answer.
• To reduce last-minute technical issues and crises, prepare a practice online test that is similar in the settings and types of questions you will use in graded tests.
• After a student has successfully submitted his/her assessment, a submission report displays the student's first name, last name, name of the assessment, course name, username, course ID, and date/time of submission. You may ask the student to print or email you a screen shot of the report as proof of submission (in case of a technical problem).
• Inform students about the information contained under What should I tell my students before taking a test? to help them avoid typical technical problems.
• Because it is possible, even after taking precautionary steps, for students to encounter problems with online tests in Blackboard, always have a backup plan for students to take the test (paper copy of the exam, alternative date, etc).

What should I tell my students before taking a test?

We highly recommend that instructors convey the following information to students (in class, by email, and/or by posting the points below in the instruction box of the test) to help avoid problems when taking tests in Blackboard.

• Whenever possible, use a wired connection rather than a wireless connection when taking on-line assessments. Also, keep in mind that off-campus connections are generally less reliable than connections through the campus network.
• Close or quit other programs running on the computer.
• Disable pop-up blockers in your browser.
• Do not resize or refresh the browser window after you begin a test. Make sure it is the size you want before you begin the test.
• When you begin a test, click the OK button only once.
• Do not use the back and forward buttons on the browser to navigate within a test. To move from question to question, only use the navigation within the test.
• If the test shows all questions on the same page, click on the Save button to the right of each question after answering the question.
• At the end of the test, click the Submit button once and wait to receive the confirmation message that your test was submitted successfully. The report includes: first name, last name, name of the assessment, course name, username, course ID, and date/time of submission. Some instructors may require students to print or email a screen shot of the report as verification.
• If, after submitting your test, you see a lock symbol when checking your grade, this indicates that the test was not submitted correctly. Inform your instructor and ask how to proceed. Your instructor is the only person who can clear your attempt and allow you to re-take a test.

Note: When an instructor clears a student's attempt, all previously submitted answers are erased.

Can I create a test in Blackboard?

Yes. Instructors can create tests with a variety of question types which are automatically graded, with the exception of essay questions. Tests may contain basic text, HTML, images, multimedia files, and hyperlinks. Instructors choose a specific content area to deploy their test, and results are automatically recorded under each student entry in the gradebook.

How do I create a test?

• Click on the Control Panel.
• Under "Assessment," click on "Test Manager."
• Click on the Add Test button.
• Enter a name, description and instructions for the test and click "Submit."
• If desired, use the "Creation Settings" link to customize certain features of your test, including a default point value for questions.
• Choose a question type from the Add question drop-down menu.
• Click the "GO" button and follow instructions for the specific question type.
• At the bottom of the page, click "Save" and continue to add more questions.
• When done, click "OK."

Note: When you have finished creating your test, remember to make it available (see next FAQ).

How do I deploy my test and make it available to my students?

Instructors must complete two steps before making a test available to students:

1. Deploy the test:
   • Click on the Control Panel.
   • Choose the content area where you wish to place your test (e.g Assignments).
   • Click on the Add Test button.
   • Select the test you wish to deploy from the text box.
   • Click "Submit" and then "OK."
2. Make test available:
   • Follow the steps above for deploying a test.
   • On Modify Test Page, click on "Modify the Test Options" link.
   • Under Test Availability, select "Yes" next to Make the link available.
   • Choose from the remaining options for Test Availability, Test Feedback, and Test Presentation.
   • Click "Submit" and then "OK."

Are students able to save their tests in Blackboard so as not to lose their answers in the event of a lost connection?

Yes. If the Force Completion feature has not been enabled, students have the ability to save their responses without necessarily submitting the test for grading. Students may log out and resume the test at a later time. To return to the saved test, the student returns to the course area that contains the test and clicks the link to the test. At that point, he/she will be able to continue completing unanswered questions.

Note: The clock on a timed test will not stop if the student decides to resume completing it later. Therefore, this feature is not recommended for timed tests.

Can I allow students to take a test multiple times while preserving the score of each attempt?

Yes. Assessments may now be configured to allow unlimited attempts or a specific number of attempts. In the Gradebook, all attempts will be displayed and you can choose to grade by the student's last attempt, first attempt, highest score, lowest score, or average of scores. Additionally, an override field is included so that you can override the score independent of any attempts.

You may also choose to clear (or delete) the last, first, highest, lowest, or all attempts within a specified date range. This action may be performed by item (for all students at once) or by user (for a specific user).

Can I set a time limit on a test?

Yes. Blackboard allows you to set a timer on a test. The elapsed time will appear at the top right of the screen and a one-minute warning will also be displayed. However, setting a time limit does not restrict students from going over the allotted time. If they do, their grade will show up as a "!" in the grade book rather than a grade and you will be able to see how much time they ran over the allotted time. You will not be able to see where the student was when the time ran out or how many questions he/she answered after the fact. The assessment will need to be graded manually, so you may decide to deduct points off the student's test if he/she has gone over time.

Note: Some browsers do no display the test timer.

How can I add extra credit questions to a test without penalizing students who don't answer them?

When creating a test you have the option of marking questions as extra credit only. Under the question's point value, be sure to checkmark "Extra credit only." The total number of possible points for the test will not include extra credit points. These points will be added if the question is answered correctly but not deducted if the question is answered incorrectly.

Can I modify a test after I make it available?

Yes. Instructors can modify test questions even after the test has been deployed without erasing the scores of students who have already taken it. However, only textual changes are allowed, such as correcting a typo. Click on the Control Panel, select the content area you have placed the test in and click the Modify button next to the test. A warning message will appear. Click on the Next button to begin making changes.

Can students view a test after they have taken it?

Yes. Students have the ability to view test results once they have completed it. How much they see depends on what the instructor has marked under Test Feedback, including score, submitted answers, correct answers, and feedback.

To retrieve a copy of a completed test in Blackboard, students should click on the Tools button, select the "Check Grade" option, and then click the score (i.e., the actual number) received for the particular test they would like to view. Clicking on that score will display the completed test.

Can I use Blackboard to conduct a student survey?

Yes. Surveys are created in the same way as tests in Blackboard. However, unlike tests, surveys are anonymous and not graded. Therefore, an instructor will be able to view the overall results of a survey, but not each student's particular response.

To create a survey:

• Click on the Control Panel.
• Under "Assessment," click on "Survey Manager."
• Click on the Add Survey button.
• Follow the same steps as you would to create a test.

Note: When deploying your survey from a content area, you must select "Survey" from the upper-right drop-down menu and click "GO." Unlike Test, there is no "Add Survey" icon.

How do I view survey results?

Answers to survey questions may be viewed in the Blackboard Gradebook. Go to the Control Panel and click on "Gradebook." Click on the name of the survey in the column heading and click "Assessment Attempt Details."

Can I move questions from an existing test into a general pool?

Yes. Blackboard's Pool Manager allows you to create a pool from an existing test. To do so:

• Click on the Control Panel.
• Under "Assessments," click "Pool Manager."
• Select the Add Pool button.
• Enter a name and description for the pool and click "Submit."
• Choose From a Question Pool or Assessment from the Add question drop-down menu and click the GO button.
• Select the test that you want to add to the general question pool.
• Check the box for All question types and click "Search."
• Select the questions for the pool by clicking the check boxes and click "Submit."
• The new pool questions will appear in the Pool Canvas page. Click "OK."

Note: You can only select 20 questions, or one full page, at a time. If you need to add questions beyond 20, you'll have to repeat the above steps and choose the next 20 until you have them all.

How can I create a test using questions from a pool?

• Click on the Control Panel
• Under "Assessments," click "Test Manager."
• Select the Add Test button.
• Enter a name, description, and instructions and click "Submit."
• Select From a Question Pool or Assessment from the Add a Question drop-down menu and click the GO button.
• Choose the pool and question types that you would like to use to create your test and click "Search."
• Select the questions for the test by clicking the check boxes and click "Submit."
• The new test questions will appear in the Test Canvas page. Click "OK."

Note: When you have finished creating your test, remember to make it available (for instructions, see "How do I deploy my test and make it available to my students?").

How do I create a test that is composed of a random block of questions drawn from a pool of questions?

In order to be able to create a test that draws from a random block of questions, you first need to create a pool of questions (for instructions, see "How can I create a test using questions from a pool?"). Once there is a pool, you can:

• Go to the Control Panel.
• Click on "Test Manager."
• Click the Add Test button.
• Type in a name, description, and instructions for the new test, and click "Submit."
• If desired, use the "Creation Settings" link to customize certain features of your test, including a default point value for questions.
• On the Test Canvas page select "Random Block" from the drop-down menu (the drop-down menu will show Multiple Choice by default). Click the "GO" button.
• Under "Search the Pools below" click on the question pool of your choice.
• Next to "Number of questions to import" type the desired number of questions for the test.
• Next to "Points per question" type the desired points per question.
• Click on "Import."
• On the resulting page you will see only "Question 1 (Random Block)."
• Click "OK."

Instructors must complete two more steps before making a test available to students:

1. Deploy the test:
   • Click on the Control Panel.
   • Choose the content area where you wish to place your test (e.g Assignments).
   • Click on the Add Test button.
   • Select the test you wish to deploy from the text box.
   • Click "Submit" and then "OK."
2. Make the test available:
   • Follow the steps above for deploying a test.
   • On Modify Test Page, click on "Modify the Test Options" link.
   • Under Test Availability, select "Yes" next to Make the link available.
   • Choose from the remaining options for Test Availability, Test Feedback, and Test Presentation.
   • Click "Submit" and then "OK."