Author tests

There are three components of a test – the test, the test sections and questions. The order in which you create these components doesn’t matter, so plan your test creation in the sequence that works best for you.

A test is made up on one or more test sections which are used to categorise and organise items. To learn more about this, see the Test sections section.

Each test section contains one or more items. There are many different item types. To learn more about this, see the topic on items.

Questions can be used across different tests, as long as they belong to the same assessment module.

Test designer settings

The system is highly configurable and therefore tests can be made to work according to the requirements of your organisation.

Janison Support will make the required configurations to your system in the Test Designer Settings area of the system.

Tests are created and managed by selecting Author in the Menu, then selecting Tests and Surveys.

To create a new test:

1. Select Add Test from the Actions drop-down button.
   
   

   Tip

   This standard type of test presents the same test sections to all candidates. If you would like to create a branching test which offers different possible routes through the test depending on the candidates’ answer, you can select Add Branching Test.

2. Complete the following:

   1. Select the discipline from the Discipline drop-down field.
   2. Select the module from the Module drop-down field.
   3. Enter a name for the new test in the Name field.
   4. As you type the name, the Identifier field will automatically populate. You can leave this as is, or edit to one of your choosing.
   5. Enter the title you would like candidates to see in the Display Title field (optional). This has a maximum of 128 characters but should be limited to 20 if it’s to be displayed in the test header.
   6. Select a Delivery Mode. This will be set to Electronic by default.
   7. Select a Marking Mode. This will be set to Mixed by default.
   8. Select the Set a pass/fail outcome checkbox to make the test scorable. Then enter the passing mark in the Pass-mark, % field
   
3. Enter a description for the test (optional). This is for your reference only, candidates will not see the description added.
4. Select the Save Test button to save.

When you save the test, it displays with the details and several expandable sections for additional settings and options. See the next section, Additional test settings and options for more information.

Test settings and options

Once you have created a test, there are some additional settings you can configure, along with other various options for the test. There are two ways to access these:

• Directly after saving your new test, the test and the settings will be displayed
• By going to Author > Tests and Surveys and selecting your test to open it

Resit settings

In this section, you can set the number of attempts candidates are allowed for the test, as well as the questions they will be able to reattempt and the feedback they will receive before resitting.

Settings in this section are optional.

To configure these settings:

1. Select the Edit icon next to the Resit Settings expandable section.
   
   

2. Complete the following:

   1. Enter a number into the Number of attempts allowed field.
   2. If you would like candidates to only be presented with the items they got incorrect on the previous attempt, select the Resit incorrect questions only checkbox.
   3. For automatically marked items, you can select feedback for the candidates from the Feedback drop-down list.
   
3. Select the Save button to save your changes.

Timing options

In this section, you can set the length of time candidates have to sit the test. If a time is entered here, the candidates will have only that specified time to complete the test and they will see a timer displaying the remaining time throughout the test.

Settings in this section are optional.

To configure these settings:

1. Select the Edit icon next to the Timing Options expandable section.
   
   
2. Enter a time in minutes in the Duration field. The value must be greater between 1 and 1440 (24 hours).
   
   
3. Select the Save Timing Options button to save your changes.

Sections

In this section, you can create new or add existing test sections to a test.

New test sections

Add existing test sections

1. Select the Edit icon next to the Sections expandable section.
   
   
2. Use the search functionality to locate test sections, or locate them manually in the list, then select the + icon to add the test section to the test.
   
   

   The test section will be added to the list of sections within the test.

3. Select the Save button to save your changes.

Comments

This section provides the ability for Authors working on the test to hold a discussion.

Selecting Add New Message brings up a window to type a message and even upload a file.

Once posted, other Authors can add comments or add their own message.

Response analysis

In this section, you can see an analysis of any candidate responses for the test once completed.

Here is an example of a completed test:

Test styling

In this section, you can style the Test Player and how it looks for candidates completing the test.

There are three options within the Test Styling expandable section.

Test Player Theme

Here you can select a premade theme allowing you to add logos and customise colours and text styling for individual tests.

Leaving None selected will result in the Test Player’s default styling being used.

To create custom themes, navigate to Author > Test Player Themes.

Test Player Interface Language

This sets the language of the navigation elements that candidates see in the Test Player. This can be used when a test is authored in a specific language without language type substitution.

Math Equation Editor Tabs

This allows you to activate the different math equation tabs and make them available to candidates in the text editor.

To make the different mathematic equation tabs available, select each of the appropriate checkboxes.

If enabled, candidates will be able to click on the icon to see the Math Editor.

Preview tests

You can preview an entire test to see how it will appear to candidates.

To do this, navigate to Author > Tests and Surveys where the list of tests will be displayed. From here, there are two options for previewing the test.

Preview icon

Select the Preview icon in the Actions column and the test will open in the Test Player in a new tab or window.

From the Test Details screen

Select the required test to open it and view the Test Details screen, then select the Preview link.