Assessment Settings
Learn has many options for how to customize assessments. To access settings for tests, assignments, and forms select Settings on the new assessment’s page. The Settings panel opens.
Different assessment types have different options. You may not be able to adjust a setting depending on the assessment type.
Some options in the Settings panel will bring up another panel. To exit the panel and go back to the main Settings panel, select the X at the top of the panel.
To learn more about the Formative Tools section, see Formative Assessments.
Contents of this help page include:
Details & Information
The Details & Information section of the Settings panel contains options to control due dates, submissions, attempts, and conversations.
By default, due dates are set to the next day at 11:59 p.m. in your time zone. In scenarios such as self-paced learning, you may choose to remove the due date.
Select the box beside any of the options to turn them on or off.
Other options include:
Display one question at a time
Careful assessment design is important. You desire flexibility in question presentation. For example, you may select a one-question-at-a-time presentation.
- Focus on a single question at a time
- Enhance browser performance for student access on older computers
- Enhance experience for students in remote areas with poor network connections
- Have an improved user experience when test taking from a mobile device, where touch scrolling can lead to mistakes
From the Settings panel, go to the Presentation Options section. Select Display one question at a time. You can’t choose this option until your assessment has questions.
Watch a video about the display of one question at a time in assessments
The following narrated video provides a visual and auditory representation of some of the information included on this page. For a detailed description of what is portrayed in the video, open the video on YouTube, navigate to More actions, and select Open transcript.
Video: Display one question at a time shows how an instructor may select a one-question-at-a-time presentation for students and its potential benefits.
Prohibit backtracking on questions
You can also force a sequence through questions in an assessment with the Prohibit backtracking option. A sequence is important when upcoming questions provide hints or reveal answers to earlier questions. Once students answer the question and continue to the next one, they can't go back.
If a student skips a question, an alert informs them that they can't go back once they've done so.
You must have at least two questions in your assessment and have Display one question at a time turned on. From the Settings panel, go to the Presentation Options section. Select Prohibit backtracking.
Randomize questions and answers
You can randomize questions and their answers to support practice activities and help students avoid academic dishonesty.
You can only randomize answers for Matching and Multiple Choice questions. If you want to randomize answers for True/False questions, use the Multiple Choice question type with True and False answer choices.
You can use one or both settings so tests appear differently for each student. A message appears on the test's Settings page about your randomize answers selection.
You must already have test questions in order to choose the randomization options.
Randomize questions
In Settings, go to the Presentation Options section. Select Randomize questions to present questions to students in a random order.
Questions appear in order as you create the test. Each time a student begins a test attempt, the questions appear in a different order. If you include references to the question numbers as they appear on the Content and Settings tab, don't use the Randomize questions option. The random order changes the question numbering and may cause confusion.
After students start their submissions, you may select or clear the Randomize questions setting.
Randomize the order of answers
In Settings, select Randomize answers to show Multiple Answer and Multiple Choice answer options to students in a random order.
Answers appear in order as you create the test. Each time a student begins a test attempt, the answers appear in a different order.
After students start their submissions, you can't select or clear the Randomize answers setting.
Randomize pages
If your assessment includes questions across multiple pages (for example a page of Multiple Choice questions followed by a page with Essay questions), Randomize pages randomizes the order in which these pages are displayed.
If your assessment is set to randomize pages, Do not randomize first page allows you to lock the first page in place. This is useful if the first page of the assessment includes instructions.
Grading & Submissions
The Grading & Submissions section gives you a variety of customization options for your grading. You can select:
- Grade category
- Attempts allowed — If you want to allow multiple attempts, enter the number allowed.
- For Attempts to grade, select which attempt appears as Needs Grading in the gradebook: First attempt, Last attempt, or All attempts.
- If you select All attempts, you must also select the calculation method for Final calculation.
- Grade using — Select the type of grade schema to use, such as Letter, Points, Percentage, and Complete/Incomplete.
- Maximum points — Enter the maximum allowed points for the assessment.
- Anonymous responses — Select this option to anonymize the results of responses to a form.
Anonymous Grading
Visit the "Anonymous Grading" topic for more information about the Anonymous grading option.
Evaluation options
Evaluation options include:
- 2 graders per student
- Peer review
- Delegated Grading
Visit the "Self and Peer Assessment" topic for more information about the Peer review option.
Visit the "Delegated Grading" topic for more information about the Delegated Grading option.
Assessment grade
You can choose to post assessment grades automatically when the assignment is graded. The feature includes automatically and manually graded assignments, as well as tests with auto-graded question types. Turn the setting off if you want to manually control grade publication.
Allow students to view their submissions
Supporting academic integrity and protecting assessment content is important. Go to the Settings panel and scroll to the Assessment results section to choose when you want to release the assessment results. Go to Submission View, then select the default setting of Available after submission to bring up the Assessment results timing panel.
In the panel, you can define when the student can view their assessment submission. Students can view their submission in the following ways:
- after submitting the assessment
- after the instructor posts the individual student's grade for the assessment
- after the assessment due date • after the instructor posts all the grades for the assessment
- on a specific date
To turn on the ability to view submissions on or off, select Allow students to view their submission. When you’re done choosing settings, select Save.
Scenario examples:
- You are delivering a high-stakes exam. Students should not be able to return to the exam questions after they submit their answers.
- Students take an exam asynchronously. You want students to review the questions, answers, and automated feedback after all grades are posted.
The default setting is that students can view the assessment results after submitting. Deselecting this option hides the student submission view. Other feedback options included in the side panel remain visible. This includes the overall assessment feedback, final grade, and originality report (if applicable).
Give automated feedback on assessment submissions
Automated feedback allows you to provide pre-scripted feedback on individual auto-graded question types. Students automatically receive your feedback based on the release settings you provide. By default, automated feedback displays after the student submission.
If you select Show correct answers, your automated feedback settings need to display at the same time or before your show correct answers date.
Creating automated feedback
Select the toggle under questions as you create them to write automated feedback.
Enter your feedback for Correct answer feedback and Incorrect answer feedback. Incorrect answer feedback also displays for partial credit answers. Select Save.
Question scores
By default, question scores are set to Available after all grades are posted. Select Available after all grades are posted to open the Assessments result timing panel.
Select or deselect Question scores to set whether or not question scores are shown to students.
You can control when question scores are shown. The options include:
- After individual grade is posted
- After due date
- Afterall grades are posted
- On specific date
Display correct answers on assessment submissions
You can allow students to see the correct answers to automatically scored questions after they submit. Alternatively, you can hide answers until all students complete their submissions.
By default, correct answers and scores per question are hidden from students.
Go to the Settings panel. Scroll down to the Assessment results section. Below Correct Answers, select Turn on setting.
Selecting Turn on setting brings you to the Assessment results timing panel. You have the following options for displaying correct answers:
- After individual grade is posted
- After due date
- After all grades are posted
- On specific date
Select Save.
After students complete an assessment and return to review it, a banner appears at the top of the assessment. They're informed that their instructor will reveal the correct answers after all students have submitted. Any feedback you've provided won't appear until grades are posted.
Security
For tests, Blackboard gives you options to add security.
Restrict location
You can require students to take a test or survey in a specific location. Students outside of this location aren't able to take the test or survey.
This option is based on a range of IP addresses created by your institution. If your institution hasn't created this range, this option doesn't appear.
IP addresses identify specific computers and are a good method to enforce location restriction requirements. On the Test Settings page, select a location from the Location Restriction menu.
Access codes
Add a layer of security to your assessments with an access code. Issue an access code to control when students and groups take an assessment.
Access codes are generated randomly by the system. You can't customize the access codes.
Assessments refer to tests and assignments, but not SCORM items.
Example:
You add an access code because you want some students to take the assessment before others. You can release the access code only to the first group of students. The students who take the assessment later can't preview the assessment before they take it.
Example:
You can add an access code for a supervised or proctored assessment. Students show proof of identity, receive the code from the instructor or proctor, and take the assessment in the classroom.
If several groups of students take the same test at different times, you can change the access code for each group. Be certain students haven't saved their work to continue later.
In the Settings panel, select Add access code in the Assessment security section.
Select the button beside Access code not required to turn on access codes.
The system randomly generates a 6-digit access code that you can't customize. By default, it appears as 6 asterisks: ******. Use the icons next to the access code to copy, generate a new random number, or display the access code. Hover over an icon to view its purpose.
Only instructors can generate and change the access code. If you turn the access code off and on again, the access code remains the same.
Select Continue. The access code now appears as required in the Settings panel. You can select the trash can icon to remove the access code. Students will now no longer need an access code to start or continue the assessment.
Reminder: Instructors or proctors provide the access code to students.
What do students see?
On the Course Content page, students can view the assessment unless you add release conditions or hide it. Students can open the Details & Information panel to view any instructions you've added. They can't start the assessment without the access code.
The access code isn't stored anywhere in the system. Students can only receive the access code from you or other roles you choose to give it to. You can change the access code as needed and let students know.
Students can use the same code if they save the assessment and want to return later. Students don't need the access code to view the grades and feedback you post.
LockDown Browser Dashboard
To add more security to your assessments, you can turn on both the Lockdown Browser and an access code and they'll work together. Students need to provide the correct access code before the LockDown Browser is launched.
Watch a video about Adding an access code
The following narrated video provides a visual and auditory representation of some of the information included on this page. For a detailed description of what is portrayed in the video, open the video on YouTube, navigate to More actions, and select Open transcript.
Video: Add an access code explains how to add an access code to assessments.
Additional Tools
Go to the Settings panel to access the Additional Tools section. Additional Tools includes:
- Time limit
- Grading rubric
- Goals & standards
- Assigned groups
- Originality report
Visit the "Grade with Rubrics" topic for more information about grading with rubrics.
Visit the "Goals" topic for more information about Goals & Standards.
Visit the "Create and Manage Groups" topic for more information about groups.
Add a timer to your test
A time limit can keep students on track and focused on the test because they have a limited amount of time to submit. The test attempts are saved and submitted automatically when time is up.
You can't add a time limit to group tests.
You can also allow students to work past the time limit. Additional time allows students to reconnect if they lose connectivity during their attempts. You can allow extra time to see if the original time you set is enough for students to read and answer all the questions. When you grade tests, you can see how much extra time each student used to complete the test. You can also see which questions were answered after the initial time limit. Students also see this same information when they access their graded tests.
In the Settings panel, select Add time limit in the Additional Tools section.
Enter a time limit in minutes. You must add time limits as whole numbers between 1 and 1440. Decimals aren't supported.
Next, select one of two options:
- Work is automatically saved and submitted when time expires: If a student doesn't submit within the time limit, the system saves and submits the test automatically.
- Students have extra time to work after the time limit expires: In the menu that appears when you select this option, choose the amount of extra time:
- 50%
- 100%
- Unlimited extra time
The 50% and 100% options display how much time is added to the time limit before the test is saved and submitted automatically.
For example, if you set 60 minutes as the time limit and choose 50% extra time, your students can work for an additional 30 minutes. Your students aren't alerted to the extra time allowed until the initial time limit is almost up. They receive a pop-up message that alerts them to the extra time allowed. They can choose to use the extra time or submit the test. They're informed that they may receive partial credit for work submitted after the time limit.
If you allow multiple attempts, the time limit applies to each attempt.
Select the X to return the Settings panel. You can view the time limit setting you made. Select the time limit if you want to make changes. Point to the time limit to access the trash icon to remove it. However, you can't edit the time limit after students have made submissions. The time limit also appears on the Course Content page with the test details, but the extra time doesn't appear.
Time limit accommodation + time limit
If students have a time limit accommodation and you allow more time to complete an assessment in the settings, the times are combined.
More about time limit accommodations
What do students see?
Students see the time limit with other test details on the Course Content page. They also see the time limit on the test's Details & Information panel and within the test as they’re working.
When students select Start attempt, they'll receive a pop-up window to start the timer before they can access the test.
The timer keeps running whether or not students are actively working on the test. The timer appears at the bottom of the window to let students know how much time is left. If they save a draft or leave the test window, the countdown continues and their work is saved and submitted when time is up.
