Generate a Test Automatically

If you want to quickly create a new test, you can use the test generator wizard in Authoring to automatically create one. This tool allows you to specify which standards a test should assess and how many items should be included for each standard. Then it will automatically build a test based on your chosen parameters. You can also generate a test based on an existing template, in which the properties, standards, and item count are preselected.

After generating a test, you can add or remove items in the same way that you would when building a test manually.

1.To generate a new test, select Test Generator Wizard on the Dashboard or Tests tab. The test generator wizard opens to the Get Started panel.

2. In the provided fields, select the grades and subject for the test. The selected properties appear in the Selected Options panel on the right.

• A generic name is automatically provided for the test, but you can enter a custom name to make it easier to locate on the Tests tab and in the Test Administration Site.
• If the Test Language dropdown appears, select which language the test items will use.

3.After selecting all the required test properties, select Next Step. The Select Standards panel appears.

4.On the Select Standards panel, you can use the Guided and Quick Key options to select which standards the test should assess. You can repeat this step until you have selected every standard that the test should include. Each standard you select appears in the Selected Options panel on the right. If you need to remove a selected standard, select beside that standard’s name.

• If you know the ID for the standard you want to add to the test, select the Quick Key tab, then enter the ID in the search field. You can copy a standard’s ID from the Standards panel.
• If you don’t know the key for the standard you want to add to the test, select the appropriate standard categories from the dropdowns provided on the Guided tab. Then select the Align button for the standard or category you selected.

5.After you have selected every standard that you want the test to assess, select Next Step. The Item Distribution panel appears, displaying the number of items available for each standard you selected.

6.For each standard you selected, specify how many of its aligned items should be added to the test. You can enter a number in the # to Add to Test fields or use the arrow buttons that appear next to each field. The item count updates in the Selected Options panel on the right.

• The value you enter in the # to Add to Test field cannot exceed the value in the Available column for the corresponding standard.
• The total item count for the test cannot exceed 35 items.

7.After you have specified how many items should be included for each standard, do one of the following:

• If you are ready to generate the test, select Generate Test. Then skip to step 10.
• If you want to customize the tools and other available test properties, select Optional Test Properties. The Optional Settings panel appears.

8.On the Optional Settings panel, you can specify various test properties, such as the description, keywords, security rules, and test tools.

9.Select Generate Test. Authoring automatically creates a new test based on the number of items you chose to include for each selected standard. If the generated test includes any item sets, its total item count may be more than what you selected, since item sets can be linked with items aligned to additional standards.

a.Optional: If you want to reuse the selected standards and item counts as a template for generating future tests, select Save These Settings as a Template.

10.To review the test and adjust its items and properties, select Review Test in the confirmation message. The test builder appears, allowing you to add and remove items just like you would for a test built manually.

• The test will not be published to the Test Administration Site until you select the Publish Test button on the test builder page.
• After the test is generated, you can also access it from the Tests tab at any time.