Using Quizzes > Creating a Quiz

The Blackboard system includes a utility that allows you to build quizzes that are graded automatically by the system for deployment in your course site. This module allows you to quickly create self assessments and study guides in a very intuitive, user friendly interface.

To begin building quizzes in Blackboard login to your site and click "Control Panel>Test Manager". To begin creating a quiz click the button labeled "Add Test". Provide a name, description, and instructions for this test and then click the button labeled "Submit". The next interface allows you to add questions, preview questions you have already added, and specify "global creation settings" for each question that you add.

First, click on the button labeled "Creation Settings" to your initial specifications for the questions that you'd like to begin adding.

The options available include providing feedback for individual answers, including images or URLs inline with the questions, adding images or URLs to the answers, adding categories and keywords for the questions you create, and specifying the default point value for every question you create. All of the settings that you apply here will take effect for every question you create afterwards. You can go back in and change these settings at any time during the quiz creation process. **If you are specifying creation setting point values be sure to place a check mark in the box next to that item.

After you have adjusted your settings click "Submit" to begin creating the quiz. To begin adding questions choose from any of the question types available in the drop down menu. All of these questions types are graded automatically by the system based upon the correct answer that you specify except for the "short answer/essay" questions. These questions will capture the students answers - to grade them you can browse to the on-line gradebook and click on the link to the students individual attempt - it will appear as an exclamation point (!).

After you have selected the question type that you wish to add click on the button labeled "GO" to begin creating the question. Type in the question text and the answer values in the boxes provided. For the correct answers you are typically asked to place a radio button in the box next to the correct answer, order the correct answer items correctly, match the questions correctly, or provide a direct character match for "fill in the blank". If you have specified that you'd like to provide feedback, images, or URL provide that information in the associated text boxes. Once you have create the question scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Submit". To add another question select the question type again and click "GO". Repeat until you are finished making the quiz.

Blackboard also gives you the ability to create a question "Pool" by using the "Control Panel>Pool Manager" interface. A Pool allows you to create a series of several questions, then go back into the Test Manager and then select individual or random groups of questions from that pool.

After you are satisfied with the way your quiz looks you can "Add Test" to a certain content area. Browse back to the Control Panel and then select a content area where you'd like your students to see this quiz. At the top of the content area click the button labeled "Add Test".

You will be prompted to select from any of the tests that you have created in your site. Highlight the test you wish to deploy and then click "Submit". After you have added it you will be prompted to specify options of availability, or modify the test. If you'd like to allow your students to begin taking it immediately click the link labeled "Modify the test options" and adjust the availability settings accordingly. After you have deployed a test students can immediately begin taking it and their scores and results are appended automatically to the on-line gradebook.

**You can only deploy tests that have not yet been deployed - if you think you are missing a test go back into the test manager to view all tests currently in your Blackboard site and find out where it is deployed.**

**PLEASE NOTE** Blackboard 6 does allow students to login in and preview a test, log out of the system, and then log back in again and take the assessment. If you'd like to prevent this specify the availailability options as follows - "Don't Allow Multiple Attempts", "Presentation Mode: Question", and "Prohibit Backtracking". Use this in conjunction with one dummy question as the first question. This will limit students ability to see any of the quiz until they actually begin taking it.

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Related FAQ's

Q: How do I make a quiz available so that students can begin taking it?

Log in to your site and browse to the content area where you'd like students to see the link. Click on the button labeled "Add Test". Select the test that you'd like to add and then click submit. After you have added the test click on the link labeled "Modify Test Options" and set the test itself to available. For more information on setting the availability and feedback options please view the "Quizzes" section.

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