Test questions are content components assigned within tests for learners to complete; assignment to test templates is also possible. Questions can exist in multiple languages, versioning keeps existing tests unaffected when a new version is created, and classification supports quick selection when assigning questions to tests and test templates.
Use and Application of Test Questions
Test questions are incorporated into tests for learners to work through, and can also be assigned to test templates. Questions support multiple languages, so learners can be shown the language appropriate to them. A versioning system means that creating a new version of a question does not automatically update tests that already use an earlier version, which avoids overwriting existing entries. Tests can be moved to the newest published version of a question in three ways: with "Update assigned tests" on the question list, with "Update versions" in the question list of the test (composing view), or through a scheduled automatic update job. Existing questions can be duplicated to create similar questions quickly, without repeating every setting individually. Classification of test questions makes it easier to select the right questions when assigning them to tests and test templates. Point allocation is flexible: it can be configured whether points are awarded only when a question is answered entirely correctly, or whether partially correct answers also earn points, and negative points can be configured as well.
Relations Between Test Objects
Test questions relate to other test objects within the wider testing framework: they are consumed by tests and test templates, which draw on the Test Question Administration when questions are assigned.
Functions of the Test Question Administration
The Test Question Administration provides the functions used to create, structure, and maintain test questions.
New
A new test question is created through the administration interface, which presents a tabbed structure for entering its content and settings. Which tabs are available depends on the question type selected, since each type has its own configuration requirements.
See New
General Structure
The following tabs make up the general editing structure of a test question, common to every question type. Type-specific tabs (such as "Possible Answers", "Lines/Columns", "Elements/Targets", "Image Sections", or "Cloze Test") are described on each type's own page.
Description
Holds the question's basic metadata.
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Setting |
Description |
|---|---|
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Name |
The administrative name will be used during the management of the question and when selecting questions during the creation of a test or feedback. It is based on the name shown to the learner when opening the test/feedback. |
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Description |
The administrative description will be used during the management of the question and when selecting questions during the creation of a test or feedback. It is based on the name shown to the learners when opening the test/feedback. |
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Keywords |
Search terms associated with the question, used to find it in the question pool. |
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Test Mode |
The test mode describes the purpose of a test or test question. When adding questions to a test, a targeted search can be carried out with a specific learning test mode. The test mode saved in each test file includes a reference points indicating which questions should be selected. |
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Average Processing Time (Seconds) |
The completion for test questions are added together and equate to the total completion times for the test containing these test questions. If “No time limit” is selected here, no time will be planned in for the question when adding up. This option should only be selected if, in principle, no completion time controls will be used in tests. When the test is configured to use the timer per test, this value will be used as a countdown on the question itself.
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Level of Educational Objectives |
The level of educational objectives describes the reason why a question has been included in the test. When adding questions to a test, a targeted search can be carried out with a specific level of educational objectives. The level of educational objectives saved in each test file includes a reference points indicating which questions should be selected. |
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Active |
If disabled, the question which was in its previous version added to a test or feedback, will be removed as part of the automatic update process, if configured to run. |
Languages
Manages the languages the question is available in. Each language can be flagged as "Administrative", "Basis", or "Default", and its "Language Translation Status" is tracked (for example "Translated").
Question
Holds the content connected with the question itself, entered per language, together with the grading configuration where the question type supports scoring per possible answer.
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Setting |
Description |
|---|---|
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Overall Points for the Question |
A single point value awarded for the whole question; available for every type. |
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Points for Each Possible Answer |
Awards points individually per possible answer instead of one overall value, where the type supports it. |
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Allocate 0 Points if All Answers Are Marked |
Explicitly awards zero points when every possible answer is selected, where the type allows selecting several answers. |
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Award 0 Points if No Answer Was Checked |
Explicitly awards zero points when nothing is selected, where the type supports per-answer grading. |
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Name |
A per-language display name for the question. |
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Attachment to Questions |
An optional file uploaded alongside the question. |
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Question |
The question text as it is presented to the learner. |
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Instructions for Online Tests |
The instructions shown to the learner when the question is taken online. |
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Instructions for Offline Tests |
The instructions printed for the question when the test is taken offline. |
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Response When Answered Correctly / Incorrectly |
The feedback shown depending on whether the answer is correct or incorrect. The "Free Text" type uses a single "Feedback for Student" field instead, since it is not graded automatically. |
Arrangement
Controls how the question and its answers are laid out. "Relating Content to Question" is available on every type; types with a flat list of possible answers also offer "Arrangement of Possible Answers" and "Placement of Media Element Related to Answer”.
Classifications
Applies classification categories to the question, supporting its selection and management within the wider test framework.
See Classifications
Clearances
Clearances control which users and groups may work with a question. The "Clearance" icon opens a menu with two functions.
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Edit clearances: Opens the page "Edit clearance" for the selected question. A table lists users and groups with object ID, name, and type. The checkbox "Owner/Unrestricted rights" grants all rights. If it is not set, the column "Specific authorisations" holds the chosen rights.
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Assign default clearances: Assigns the default clearances to the selected question.
The dialog "Specific authorisations" offers "Execute", "Edit", "Delete", "Release", and "Versioning". Several rights can be selected. The "Details" area below the table shows information on the selected entry, for example type, function, status, type of role, and the number of active and passive users.
See Clearance
Versioning
Questions are versioned. The "Versioning" icon opens a menu with three functions.
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Versioning: Opens the list of all versions of the selected question. The list shows the identifier, the version number, the version it is based on, the most recent editor, the update date, the published version, the publisher, and the publication date.
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Publish: Publishes the selected version. The function is not available for a version that is already published.
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Undo publication: Withdraws the publication of the selected version.
See Versioning
Localisation
The "Localisation" icon opens a menu with the functions for managing the languages and translations of a question.
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Language administration: Opens the page with the languages of the selected question. Languages are added with the plus icon and removed with the minus icon. The flags "Administrative", "Basis", and "Default" and the "Language translation status" are set here.
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Add language: Opens the list of languages. A language is added to the question with the plus icon.
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Change basis: Sets the basis language, which is the starting point for the translation. Several questions can be edited at once. The dropdown then only offers languages that exist in all selected questions and have the status "Translated".
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Change default language: Sets the default language. It is displayed when the preferred working language of a learner is not available. The same restriction applies to a multiple selection.
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Change identification: Sets the "Language translation status" of each language to "Do not translate", "Gap in translation", "In translation", or "Translated".
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Export gaps in translation: Exports all gaps in translation as a ZIP file. An option includes the gaps of subordinate objects. After the download, the checkbox "Change identification" sets the status to "In translation".
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Import translations: Opens a dialog. A ZIP file is uploaded with "Upload" and imported with "Import".
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Language dependent files and links: Opens a page with the field "Attachment to questions" for each language.
An external translation takes three steps: export the gaps in translation, translate the exported files, and import the translations.
Preview
The "Preview" icon opens a preview of the selected question.
Specific Question Types
The following question types each build on the general structure above with their own specific configuration. Each type has its own page with the full breakdown of its tabs, creation steps, and scoring.
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Type |
Distinctive Tabs |
Scoring |
|---|---|---|
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Association |
Lines, Columns, Answer |
Per possible answer or per question |
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Image Area (Single Selection) |
Image (on Question tab), Possible Answers, Image Sections |
Per question only |
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Image Area (Multiple Selection) |
Image (on Question tab), Possible Answers, Image Sections |
Per possible answer or per question |
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Drag & Drop (1 to 1) |
Elements, Targets, Answer |
Per possible answer or per question |
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Drag & Drop (n to 1) |
Elements, Targets, Answer |
Per possible answer or per question |
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Free Text |
None specific to the type, the solution is given on the "Question" tab |
Manual grading by tutors or correctors |
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Yes/No |
Possible Answers |
Per question only |
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Fill in the Blank (Cloze) |
Possible Answers, Cloze Test |
Per possible answer or per question |
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Multiple Choice (1 of n) |
Possible Answers |
Per question only |
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Multiple Choice (x of n) |
Possible Answers |
Per possible answer or per question |
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Matrix |
Lines, Columns, Answer |
Per possible answer or per question |
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Arrange |
Possible Answers |
Per question only |
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Single Selection Matrix |
Lines, Columns, Answer |
Per possible answer or per question |
Association
The "Association" type presents gaps in a logical chain or term matrix that are filled in by pairing related items.
Image Area (Single Selection)
The "Image Area" (single-selection) type marks a single area within a picture as the answer, rather than choosing from a list of text options.
Image Area (Multiple Selection)
The "Image Area" (multiple-selection) type marks several areas within a picture as the answer, rather than choosing from a list of text options.
Drag & Drop (1 to 1)
The "Drag & Drop" (1 to 1) type distributes elements to target areas using the mouse, with only one element permitted per target area.
Drag & Drop (n to 1)
The "Drag & Drop" (n to 1) type distributes elements to target areas using the mouse, allowing several elements to be assigned to the same target area.
Free Text
The "Free Text" type presents an open text field in which a written answer is composed, rather than a predefined set of options to choose from.
Yes/No
The "Yes/No" type highlights one out of two possible answers, offering a straightforward binary choice.
Fill in the Blank
The "Fill in the Blank" type presents a text with free-text or drop-down gaps that need to be filled in.
Multiple Choice (1 of n)
The "Multiple Choice (1 of n)" type (also called "Single Selection") selects one out of multiple possible answers.
Multiple Choice (x of n)
The "Multiple Choice (x of n)" type (also called "Multiple Selection") selects one or more out of multiple possible answers.
Arrange
The "Arrange" type requires objects to be assembled in the correct order.
Matrix
The "Matrix" type selects one or more possible answers within a matrix of lines and columns.
Single Selection Matrix
The "Single Selection Matrix" type presents a matrix of lines and columns in which the correct solution is marked by a single selection.
Export
Test questions can be exported as XML. Below the XML export, two options are available to export to an Excel file instead: "Export for Excel in all languages" and "Export for Excel in specific languages". Both are only available for the Yes/No, single-choice, and multiple-choice question types.
If even one of the selected questions is of an unsupported type, both Excel options are greyed out. There is no partial export.
When "Export for Excel in specific languages" is selected, the languages in which the selected question(s) were created can be chosen; once at least one language is selected, the "Export" button is enabled and the export starts once clicked. If multiple test questions are selected for export, the pop-up displays all the languages present across all selected questions.
Once the export completes, a confirmation message is shown, also when only one question is selected. It lists every selected question: "OK" if the question was exported, or "is not available in the following languages: …" followed by the affected languages if the question has no content in them. Languages without content are not part of the resulting Excel file.
Assign Classifications
Classifications can be assigned to multiple test questions in a single step. This simplifies the organisation of large question sets, for example when questions are prepared for randomised test series or test question pools.
Assigning classifications to multiple test questions
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In the Test Questions Manager, the test questions to be classified are selected.
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The Edit classification function is selected.
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In the dialog, one or more classifications are selected.
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The assignment is confirmed with Save.
The selected classifications are added to all selected test questions. Classifications already assigned to these questions remain unchanged.