Faculty Content Area

Add Test

The Add Tests tool lets you add a test, quiz, or survey to any of the content areas. You can use this tool to create a new test or to add an existing test. Blackboard automatically grades tests and enters their scores in the Gradebook.

Adding a Test

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on the Content Area link where you want this test added (Syllabus, Course Materials, Assignments, External Links).
2. Click on the Add Test icon.
3. Click on the Create button to create a new test or choose an existing test from the list.
     Create: See the Test Manager tutorial for more information on creating a new test.
     Choose:
        a. Click on the Submit button.
        b. Click on the OK button.
        c. Click on the Modify the Test Options link.
        d. Click on the OK button.
4. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Modifying a Test’s Text

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on the Content Area link where the test is located (Syllabus, Course Materials, Assignments, External Links).
2. Click on the Modify button to the right of the test.
3. Click on the Modify the test link.
4. Click on the Modify button to the right of the information you want to modify.
5. Make any desired changes to the test’s information.
6. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Modifying a Test’s Options

From the Control Panel:

1. Click on the Content Area link where the test is located (Syllabus, Course Materials, Assignments, External Links).
2. Click on the Modify button to the right of the test.
3. Click on Modify the test options link.
4. Make any desired changes to the test’s options.
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the screen and click on the Submit button.

Test Availability:

• Do you want to make the link visible – Enable this option to give your students access to your test.
• Allow multiple attempts – Enable this option to let your students take the test multiple times. Blackboard only saves the most recent score, not the highest one.
• Set time limit – Enable this option to limit the time your students have to take a test.
• Display after – Enable this option to set the starting time of a test. The test will be available for your students to take after this time.
• Display until – Enable this option to set the ending time of a test. The test will be unavailable for your students to take after this time.
• Set password – Enable this option to make your students enter a password before taking the test.

Test Feedback:

• Score Only – Enable this option to only display the final score to your students.
• Detailed Results – Enable this option to display the student’s answers and final score.
• Show Correct Answers – Enable this option to display the student’s answers and final score and the correct answers.
• Detailed Results, Correct Answers and Feedback – Enable this option to display all the information above.

Test Presentation:

• All at Once – Enable this option to display your whole test on one screen.
• Question – Enable this option to display one question per screen.
• Prohibit Backtracking – Enable this option to disable your students from answering questions they have already answered.
• Randomize Questions – Enable this option to randomize your test questions.

More Information

Q: Why can’t my students see a test that I have created in the Test Manager?
A: You need to add it to a content area using the Add Test tool. You also need to make your test visible before your students can access it. See the procedure above for modifying a test’s options for more information.

Q: Why doesn’t a test I create show up in my Select an existing test list?
A: You can only add tests to content areas once. If you have added a test before, it will not show up on the list of available tests.

Q: Where can I get more instructions on how to create a test?
A: See the Test Manager tutorial for more information.

Q: Can I create a direct link to a test from the Announcements page?
A: No, you can no longer create a direct link to the test in the Announcements section, but you can create a link to the content area where the test is located using the Course Link tool in the Add Announcement menu.

Q: How do I view grades?
A: When students take a test, Blackboard automatically enters their score into the Gradebook. If you want to view a student’s individual question responses, click on their score in the Gradebook.

Q: How do I grade the short answer questions?
A: 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 score. To access their individual responses, click on the View button. Type the points received in the Points field and click on the Submit button.

Q: How do I turn off the test when I no longer want students to be able to take it?
A: Disable the Do you want to make the link visible option. See the Modifying a Test’s Options procedure for more information. Making a test unavailable will not delete the grades or test results as in version 5.5.

Q: How secure are online tests? How can I make them more secure?
A: At this time, there is no way to make sure that your student is the one actually taking the test. To increase test security, you can add passwords, randomize questions, put time limits on tests, or administer them in a proctored lab environment. Practice and review tests put the Test tool to good use. You can allow multiple attempts, random sampling, and pool questions to enhance your testing capabilities.

Q: What happens if my student goes over the time limit for the test?
A: They can still complete the test but 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 to change or accept the score.