This article explains how to create a simple test without sections and assign candidates. A test without sections is a simple test that consists of a defined number of questions on a single topic. You can also watch our video that covers this topic.
Test Creation #
To create a simple test, follow these steps:
- Select the Tests/New test tab.
- To create a test with sections, check the Test with sections option. Please visit this article for more information. For this example, we will leave it unchecked to create a test without sections.
- Test wizard for tests without sections is divided into seven steps: Information, Settings, Method, Add questions, Grading, Certificates, Review and Save test. Below, you will discover more details about each of these steps.
Step 1: Information #
In this step, you can:
- Enter the Name of the test.
- Enter an optional test description to provide additional details about the test.
- Optionally, you can upload a test logo, which will appear as an image on the candidate’s My tests page when they begin the test. Supported file types include JPG, PNG, and BMP, with a maximum file size of 1 MB. Upload a square image measuring 200 x 200 pixels or larger for optimal presentation.
- After uploading, the file name and size will be displayed. You can remove the uploaded logo by clicking the Delete button if necessary. If no logo is assigned to a test, the application favicon will be used as the test logo.
You can preview and modify the advanced test settings by clicking the Show advanced settings button.
The advanced settings have the following fields:
- Test attachments – In this section, you can include test attachments containing instructions or useful materials in various formats. Depending on the test settings, these attachments can be made available at the beginning or throughout the test-taking process. It’s important to note that test attachments are distinct from those attached to individual questions.
- To create a new attachment:
- Click the Create new button.
- A dialog will appear where you can specify the attachment name and provide an optional description.
- By default, attachments are displayed throughout the entire test. If you prefer an attachment to be visible only at the beginning, check the Show at the beginning of the test only option.
- To make the attachment available to any test creator, check the Attachment is available for any test creator option.
- Select the type of attachment and upload the file. For attachments requiring a link, such as Vimeo or YouTube videos, paste the link in the provided field. If adding a text-type attachment, enter the desired text in the provided field.
- Click the Save button to create the attachment.
- To import an existing attachment from the library:
- Click the Import from library button.
- You can view all attachments in the system visible to you by checking the View all attachments from the system checkbox.
- Search for a specific attachment by name, description, or type.
- Preview the attachment if needed, and import the ones you find relevant.
After creating or importing an attachment, you can manage it in various ways. Use the provided options to view, edit, download, copy attachment URL and remove the attachment from the test.
- Test label – Provide a label to categorize and classify test pages and exported reports. For instance, you may use a label such as ‘Confidential’.
- Test category type – Choose a test category. If there are multiple types of categories, you should choose the Test category type first. It is possible to create new types or add new categories to the predefined ones under System/Settings and customization/Custom properties/Test categories. If there is only one test category type, only the Test category field will be visible.
When configuring test information, click the Next button to proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Settings #
The Settings step contains the following options for configuring your test:
- Test template – When creating a test, you can save its settings and question pool configuration as templates. You can use one of the previously created test templates by choosing it from the drop-down menu, and all saved test configurations will be automatically applied. For more information, please visit Test templates.
- Duration type – Choose how you want to time-limit your test by selecting the duration type:
- Unlimited – the test will not be time-limited.
- Time per question – each question in the test will have its time limit. The exact time limit for each question can be configured during the question creation process.
- Time to answer all questions – set the time limit for the whole test.
- Page format – set how the questions will be displayed, whether you want to display each question on separate page, or you want all questions to be displayed at once. You can choose between:
- One question per page
- All questions on one page
Note: If the test contains branching questions, the option All questions on one page is automatically disabled. This option is recommended for tests up to 20 questions.
- Decide when the report will be available to candidates. Options include:
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- Immediately after finishing the test.
- Immediately after result grading.
- Immediately after result verification.
- On manager’s approval.
- Real-time grading.
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- Report content – define the content of the report the test-takers will receive. You can choose between two options:
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- Score and details – the candidates will see their score and all question and answer details – e.g., their answer and the correct answer.
- Score only – the candidates will see only the score and basic test details.
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- Workspace – If the application is organized through workspaces, here you can see the list of all available workspaces to which you can assign this test. Optionally select the desired workspace to make it available only to users from that workspace. Tests set to global can only be accessed by test managers and users with the system role permission Manage any test, survey, or training course. To make the test accessible to workspace instructors, turn off the global property and set the workspace. However, only users with the system role permission to Create test, survey, or training course can manage this property. Furthermore, users with manage system role permission can still access the test added to a workspace.
- Proctoring mode – If enabled a specialized proctoring tool is used to prevent cheating on the test. The system will receive the information from the user’s web camera microphone and screen and flag suspicious behavior (e.g., background noise and unauthorized faces in front of the camera). You can also examine the video recording afterward or live to monitor the users. The system will generate the video recording as a PDF report available for download. Depending on the application’s integration, the proctoring configuration can be YouTestMe Proctoring or Proctorio.
By clicking on the Show advanced options button, you can turn desired options on/off.
- Require instructions acknowledgment – users cannot start the test without acknowledging the instructions.
- Show test instructions – display predefined instructions that users can read before the test.
- Show test duration – display the time available for the users to complete the test.
- Show passing mark – display the passing mark required to be achieved by users to pass the test.
- Show the number of questions – display the number of questions in the test.
- Show remaining number of retakes – display how many times users can retake the test (if retaking is allowed).
- Enter the test instructions, which are specific rules or guidelines that students must acknowledge, in a pop-up dialog before starting the test. These instructions can be accessed under the instructions icon during the test-taking process and may cover details such as breaks, calculator usage, permitted learning materials, and other relevant information.
- You can use the advanced editor for test instructions, allowing you to format the text with bold, italic, underline, and more.
- Click the preview icon to review the test instructions and view the dialog appearing to candidates when they start the test. This allows you to ensure that the instructions are presented as intended and that candidates receive the necessary information before beginning the test.
- Change the acknowledgment text displayed on the instructions screen before the test starts. You can also use the advanced editor for test instructions, allowing you to format the text with bold, italic, underline, and more.
- Allow test continuation – enabling this option will allow users to save their answers, pause, and continue the test within the tests’ availability period. The availability period is set later in the testing session creation process.
Note: This option can not be combined with the Enable browser lockdown option. - Allow test retaking – by checking this option. Users can retake the test during the test availability period. You can limit this option by selecting the Limit for test attempts and setting the number of attempts and the time between attempts.
Note: By checking this option, users can retake the test during the availability period. You can limit this option by setting the option 17. and 18.
You can choose between two options.- Unlimited – the users can repeat the test an unlimited number of times.
- Limited – the users can repeat the test as often as you allow.
- Time between attempts – set the time required to pass between two test attempts.
- Retake interval in days – Define a time frame during which candidates can retake. For instance, if set to 2 days, retakes can only be done within the following two days after the initial attempt.
Note: This option will only be available if the Allow test retaking option is enabled. - Enable retakes for failed attempts only – The retake option won’t be available for candidates who passed the test initially or who passed after the retake.
- Enable limited number of free reschedules – Set a limited number of free reschedules users can use. After spending all of the free reschedules, they will have to send a request to reschedule again.
- Allow rescheduling even after the seat booking cancellation deadline has expired – Candidates can cancel and reschedule the test even if the cancellation deadline has expired, but they will have to send a rescheduling request.
- Enable “I don’t know” option – test-takers will be able to check the I don’t know box when answering the question to avoid negative points.
- Enable answer feedback – This option enables feedback for the selected answers during the test-taking process, which will be displayed upon moving on to the next question. Feedback should be defined during the question creation process.
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Show question attachments – Show question attachments to candidates during the test-taking process.
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Show question metadata to candidate – test-takers will be shown question points, type, and difficulty level during the test-taking.
- Enable notes – Allow test-takers to take notes during the test-taking. They will be presented with a text editor where they can write formatted and styled text. This option will only make the notes visible to the candidate during the test-taking process. If the test contains sections, you must enable notes on each one. Further, if the test or question has attachments, the test-taker can open the attachment as a note and write text underneath it by selecting the Open this attachment as note option.
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Make notes persistent – If checked, the notes will be saved and presented in the report for both instructors and candidates.
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Enable candidates’ feedback on questions – Allow candidates to leave feedback on each question during the test-taking process.
- Enable unanswered questions message – Upon selecting the Finish button, the candidate will be provided with a notification detailing their unanswered questions.
- Choose the calculator type that will be displayed in the test. (Simple/advanced calculator or non).
- Require answering all questions – If you choose this option, candidates will be notified that it is required to answer all questions before finishing the test. Still, they can click the Finish anyway button to finish the test.
- Disable going backward in the test – test-takers cannot go back to the previous questions while taking the test if you check this option.
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Disable deselect – do not allow the test-takers to deselect their answers once selected. This applies to the single-choice, multiple-choice, and true/false questions.
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Automatically logout candidate after finishing – the candidates will be required to log out of the application after test completion.
- Enable browser lock-down – the test-takers cannot cut, copy, save, or print anything from the screen during the test-taking process. Also, the web browser will be in full-screen mode, and if the users try to minimize it, the test attempt will be terminated.
Note: This option can not be combined with the Allow test continuation option. Also, this option will not function if proctoring is enabled.
- Hide assignment metadata – Enable this option to hide metadata on the Assignments page (logo, assignment type, location, certificate name, etc.).
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Configure report lifespan – set how long the question details are visible to the test-takers after they open their personal report for the first time.
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Require updating personal information – when initiating the test, a form with the test-taker’s personal information will appear. The test-takers can update their personal information before starting the test.
- Network access – you can limit access to the test only to people within your local (internal) network. Please see the internal network for more information on defining the internal network.
- Set Delivery preference – Delivery preference is a filtering label used for test categorization. Depending on the chosen type of delivery preference, the candidate will choose among the common testing containing tests that favor the chosen delivery preference. Delivery preferences include Online (Default), Paper-based, Pearson VUE testing center, Online AI-proctored, and Online live-proctored.
Method #
You can choose between the following methods for adding questions to your test:
- ‘Pick questions from pools or create them on the spot,’ or ‘Upload a test’.
- ‘Let the generator select questions’.
For more information about how to create a generated test, please view this article.
Adding questions #
We will show how to add questions manually to the test.
- You can create a question on the spot by selecting the Add new question and selecting the question type
- You can manually pick the questions from question pools by selecting the Import from Pools option.
Here is an example of how to add a single-choice question.
Once you fill in the question text field, add answer choices and select the correct answer. Add the question to the test by clicking the Add to test button on the page’s bottom.
To add questions to a test from an existing question pool:
- Select the Import from pools option.
- Select the question pool from which you want to import questions.
Once you choose a question pool, you can: - Preview each question.
- Add a single question to the question pool.
- Import all questions from the selected question pool.
- Import selected question(s) from the question pool.
- Change the question pool and repeat the steps to add more questions. All questions assigned from the previously selected question pool remain in the test.
Once you have created and/or imported questions, you can define the following options:
- Randomize question order – Each user will get questions in a different order. The report always has the same order of questions as when creating the test.
- Randomize answer order – Each user will get a different answer order for the same question.
The following rules apply to a manually created test:
- Answers of Ordering and Matching question types are always randomized.
- Answers of Essay, True/false, Matrix, Open-ended, and Hot Spot questions always have the same answer order, which cannot be changed.
- Multiple-choice and Single-choice questions always have the same answer order by default but can be randomized by enabling the Randomize answer order option.
- Both options are disabled when the page format is set to All questions on one page.
On this step, you can also:
- Change order of questions.
- Edit specific question.
- Remove specific question from question version.
- Add more test versions – You can manually create as many test versions as you want. Test versions will be randomly assigned to candidates, or you can manually assign test versions when assigning candidates to a testing session.
- Select the Current test version you want to edit.
- Rename the test version.
- Delete the test version.
Grading test #
On this step, you can define the passing criteria for your test. Use advanced grading configurations if needed, such as defining passing marks for each section, group of sections, etc. Optionally, select a grading scale you previously created to represent the test results as grades, e.g., from A to F.
For more information on configuring each grading setting, refer to the Grading configuration help page.
Certificates #
On this step, you can include certificates that will be awarded to candidates upon passing or meeting specifically defined completion conditions. Candidates have the option to download the certificate in PDF format, as an image, or share it via a link. To add an certificate to the test, click the Add certificate button, or Next button to move on with test creation without adding certificates.
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You can Choose the certificate from the list of existing certificates and add it to the test. Optionally, you can modify it before adding it to the test by using the fields below.
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Alternatively, you can create a New certificate by configuring all the fields. For more information about each field, refer to the Manage certificates help page.
Note: Click the Preview button to check what the certificate looks like. Be sure to click the Save button to add the certificate before clicking Next. For more information, please visit this article.
Review simple test #
The next step in the test creation process is Review. It contains a summary of the test settings and a list of questions or question pools used. If you are satisfied with your test settings, you can press the Next button to continue the test creation process. If you want to make changes to the existing test, you can still go back and edit them.
Save test #
The last step in the test creation process is the saving of the test:
- You can save the test settings as a test template
- Click the Finish wizard button to save your test
Creating sessions #
Testing sessions #
The testing sessions module allows you to organize the test for candidates located at different locations (e.g., different time zones, states, continents, etc.). For more information, watch this video.
Publish test #
Once you finish the test creation, the test needs to be published so the candidates can start the test.
Starting the simple test as a candidate #
- Select the Assignments tab and then the My tests tab.
- In the search bar, search for the desired test and select the Start option from the list of assignments for the test you want to take.
Note: For further information, please watch this video tutorial on creating a simple test without sections and assigning candidates.
