YouTestMe GetCertified supports three different branching modes to help test creators control how questions are presented during a test. These modes allow you to link questions together or provide additional support for grading, depending on the scenario.
This article explains how each mode works, how to configure them, and how they appear from both the candidate’s and the test manager’s perspectives.
Overview of the Three Branching Modes
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Standard Branching:
Branching in online assessments, also known as adaptive testing, dynamically tailors the question flow based on a candidate’s answers. It starts with a baseline question and adapts the difficulty and content of the next question based on the response. This approach creates a personalized test experience.
For more details, see the full article: How to Create Branching Questions -
Linking:
This mode allows you to link a follow-up question to a main question. Unlike standard branching, it does not depend on the candidate’s answer. The linked question always appears next, and can be used to ask for clarification, give more context, or continue a scenario. -
Help for Grading:
This mode lets you add a follow-up question that is only visible to the test manager or grader. It does not appear to the candidate and is designed to assist with the grading process by offering extra evaluation prompts or internal notes.
Now that the three branching modes have been introduced, the following sections provide detailed instructions on how to configure and apply the Linking and Help for Grading modes.
How to Configure and Use the Linking Branching Mode (with Candidate Perspective)
To configure the Linking branching mode, simply follow the steps below.
Steps to Set Up a Linking Question
Navigate to Test Wizard or Question Pool, click Add Question, and choose the type of question. Fill in the main question details.
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Click Show More Settings.
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In the Branching Mode dropdown, select Linking.
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Click Add New Linking Question.
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Choose the question type , enter its content and save it.
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Click Add to the test .
Note: You can also perform the same procedure when editing a question on the Manage Test page or within the Question Pool.
Candidate Perspective
During the test, the candidate begins by answering the main question as part of the standard test flow. After selecting an answer and clicking the Next arrow, the linked question will automatically appear on the following screen. The display of the linked question does not depend on the candidate’s response — it is always shown as the next step in the sequence.
For more details on the overall test-taking process, see the article How to Take a Test .
How to Configure and Use the Help for Grading Branching Mode (with Grader Perspective)
To configure the Help for Grading branching mode, follow the same steps used for setting up a linked question. The only difference is that, in the Branching Mode dropdown, you should select Help for Grading instead of Linking. This setting ensures the follow-up question will only be visible to grading personnel, not the candidate.
Grader Perspective
Questions added through the Help for Grading mode are hidden from the candidate during the test. However, they are accessible to the test manager or grader during the evaluation phase. These questions can provide additional criteria, notes, or prompts to assist with more accurate and consistent grading. Follow the steps in this article: How to Grade a Test Attempt Manually. Once inside the personal report, locate the linked question. Since it was added as a hidden section, it will be displayed with the status “Not Graded”. From there, the grader can manually review the response and assign a score as needed.
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