Blackboard (Faculty) - Tests, Surveys, and Pools: Create a Test or Survey

This document provides an overview of creating a test or survey.

The following instructions will apply to both Tests and Surveys.

Create the Test Shell

  1. From the Control Panel, click on Course Tools.
  2. Click on Test, Surveys, and Pools.
  3. Click on Tests (or Surveys).
  4. Click on the Build Test button.

Name: Name the test. The name of the test should not only reflect the topic of the test, (Respiratory, as opposed to Chapter 1) but should be kept short (Ch1: Respiratory). The title of the test will appear as the column title in the Grade Center. The columns in the Grade Center do not expand to fit the length of the title, so longer titles will be cut off.

Description: The description is optional. This description will appear under the test link when it is deployed in a content area. This is editable both from the Test area and the deployed link by clicking Edit Test Options. Any information that the students need to see before they click on the test link should be placed in this area.

Add description to test shell

Instructions: The instructions are also optional. These will appear to students once they click on the test link, but before they begin the test.

Descriptions and Instructions for test

Click Submit at the bottom of the page.

Add Questions

Once the test or survey shell is created, the next step is to add the questions.

Question Settings

First, review the Question Settings. Click on Question Settings in the upper right corner of the screen.

Checking or unchecking boxes will determine what is seen or hidden with each question type.
The most notable option is the Default Points underscoring. All questions will default to 10 points and must be changed manually unless this setting is changed.

Add a Question

Hover your mouse over the Create Question button. A drop-down menu will appear. Select the type of question you want to add. Multiple Choice questions are the most popular, so that is the question described below.

Question Title: Optional.

Question Text: Type in the question text or copy from a Word document and paste the text in the text box. Some browsers, like Firefox, will not allow you to use the paste tool. You will need to use the keyboard shortcut of Control (Ctrl) and V.

Options: Select the option.

  • Answer Numbering: Select None, Arabic numerals, Roman numerals, upper case letters, or lower case letters.
  • Answer Orientation: Vertical or Horizontal
  • Allow partial credit
  • Show Answers in Random Order (this option is strongly recommended as it is one of the options that deters cheating)

Answers: The template defaults to 4 answers. If you want more, click on the "Number of Answers" drop-down box and select the number of answers.
If you want fewer answers, click the Remove button next to the extra answer.

Type or paste (Ctrl + V) your answers into each box.
Click the radio button next to the correct answer. Note, if you randomize the answers in the Options step, it does not matter what order you put the answers in the boxes, but you MUST select the correct answer by clicking on the radio button.

Feedback: Enter Correct Response Feedback and/or Incorrect Response Feedback. This is optional but recommended if you are using quizzes as an educational tool as well as an assessment tool.

Submit: Click Submit or Submit and Create Another at the bottom of the page.

Questions Points

The question will default to 10 points unless you change the default points in the settings. You may also change the points by clicking on the Points box to the right of the question and typing in a new number. Click Submit to change the points.

Deploy Test in Content Area

Click the + to expand the directions.

Deploy Test in Content Area

Deploy Test in Content Area

Once a test or survey is created, it must be deployed or linked within a content area or folder.

  1. Select the content area or folder you wish to deploy the test or survey (e.g. "Week 1").

  2. From the menu bar, click on Assessments, then click on Tests (or Survey).

    assessment dropdown select tests

  3. Select the test from the list. (The most recently created tests are at the bottom of the list. Tests are not in alphabetical order.) 

    Select test
  4. Click Submit.


After clicking Submit, you will come to the "Test Options" page, where you can set the availability, time, and feedback settings.

NOTE: The test is not available until you make it available within the settings.

Test Options

Test Information

Name: The name originally given to the test is displayed. You may change that name here if you wish.

Content Link Description: The description has also carried over from when you created the test if you created one. This may also be changed here.

Open test in a new window: This option defaults to no. Opening the test in a new window will allow students the option to search the course for materials or open other browser windows while the test is still open. If you do not want this, leave the option No.

Test Availability

Make link available: Set to Yes. This must be set to Yes if you have display restrictions set (see below).

Add a new announcement: Yes will send an announcement when the test becomes available.

Multiple Attempts: Check this box if you wish to allow your student to take a test more than once. Once the box is check, determine if you want to allow:

  • Unlimited attempts - useful if the quiz is meant for students to check their understanding or gain practice with material.
  • Number of attempts - useful if faculty wants to grade highest or average score of multiple submissions; also useful to use "on the fly" if a student loses access to quiz due to a technical or network issue and needs to get back into the test. Note: each attempt takes the student back to the beginning of the test. 

Each attempt will be saved and you will be able to see the results separately. 

Score attempts using: Select which attempt will be calculated into the Grade Center.

Forced Completion: Once started, the test must be completed. It can not be saved and returned. If this option is selected, students cannot close the test window for any reason - including a dropped internet connection. Once the window is closed, they cannot get back into the test, even if time is left on the timer. The faculty member would need to go back and  "Ignore the attempt" in the Grade Center to let the student back in. The student would start the new test attempt at the beginning. 

Set Timer: This option is recommended to limit the time students spend on the test. Estimate how long it should take students to answer each question and give a little extra time. For example, if the test has 25 multiple-choice questions, allow 30 minutes to take the test. This will help ensure that the students do not have time to look up answers online or from a textbook.

Auto-submit: When the auto-submit is on, the test will save and automatically submit when the time has expired. With auto-submit off, the user will be given the option to continue after the time expires, but the test will be flagged as "Late" in the Grade Center.

Display After and Display Until: The Display After and Display Until dates control when students are able to see your exam in the course. This does not determine how long a student can take the test (Set Timer). For example, if the link to a test is set to display until 10 p.m. and the students have 1 hour to take the test, the students can click on the test link as late as 9:59 p.m. and have until 10:59 p.m. (1 hour) to finish the test. (Note: If your test has images, students must complete the exam prior to the Display Until date or the images will be broken.)

Password: this is optional. A password typed in here must be given to the students or they will not be able to access the test. When using Respondus Lockdown Browser, do not put a password in this box.

Test Availability Exception

This area is used to override the above settings for individual students or groups. This is where you identify students who need extra time to take a test for accessibility reasons, or for a student that needs to retake a test or take it at a different time.  

Due Date

The Due Date will trigger notifications for students and will mark submissions as "Late" in the Grade Center, if you allow late submissions. Checking the box "Do not allow students to start test..." will make the test unavailable after the due date, no matter what settings are set in the "Test Availability" or "Test Availability Exception" sections. If you use Display After and Display Until dates, you do not need to select the "Do not allow students to start test..." setting.

Self-Assessment Options

Accept the defaults in this section.

Show Test Results and Feedback to Students

Set these settings for students to see the feedback after taking the test. To see what the students see as a result of the selected settings, see Test Setting from Student View knowledge base article.

Test Presentation

Choose between "All at Once" or "One at a Time." If you select "One at a Time" you have to option to select "Prohibit Backtracking." Note: if you are using Respondus Lockdown Browser, do not select "Prohibit Backtracking." There is a known issue with this combination.

Randomize Questions: This option is suggested as a way to help discourage cheating.

Click Submit when finished.

See Also


Keywordsblackboard, black board, bb, test, testing, survey, poll, surveys, assessment, review   Doc ID56888
OwnerCenter I.GroupSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
Created2015-09-29 09:35:15Updated2024-09-24 10:42:24
SitesSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville
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