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Learning Technology Team

Ultra Workflow 3: Blackboard Test

Information for Staff

Question Types

There are 8 different Question Types in Blackboard Tests.

The Essay types are manually marked. However these can have a Rubric added to them to aid in marking.

All the other Question Types  are Automatically marked by computer.

Available Question Types

At this time, you can create these question types in tests and assignments in your course:

  • Add Question Pool
  • Add Calculated Formula question
  • Add Calculated Numeric question
  • Add Essay question
  • Add Fill in the Blank Question
  • Add Hotspot Question
  • Add Matching question
  • Add Multiple Choice Question
  • Add True/False Question
  • Reuse Questions
  • Add text
  • Add local File (Upload)

For a Full Explanation and how to set up different Question Types; go to the following page:

https://help.blackboard.com/Learn/Instructor/Ultra/Tests_Pools_Surveys/Question_Types

 

 

Create a question file to upload

File format guidelines

Each file that contains questions to be uploaded must conform to these guidelines:

  • Each file must be a tab-delimited TXT file. You can edit this file in Microsoft® Excel® or in a text editor.
  • It is recommended that each batch file not exceed 250 records. 
  • Don't include a header row in the file.
  • Don't include blank lines between records. The blank line will be processed and return an error.
  • Include only one question per row.
  • The first field in each row defines the type of question.
  • Separate each field in a row with a TAB.
  • correctincorrecttruefalse, and other words that identify answers must be in English.

 

 

Question format guidelines

To upload successfully, the questions in the text file must conform to the guidelines in this table.

When uploaded to a survey, the correct|incorrect answer designation is ignored, but the file must follow the same format as described for tests and pools.

Questions that contain an error will fail to upload. Questions without errors will upload successfully.

 

 

 

 

Question Type

Structure

Multiple Choice

MC TAB question text TAB answer text TAB correct|incorrect TAB answer two text TAB correct|incorrect

Text within ( ) may be repeated for each of the answers that are part of the Multiple Choice question. The maximum number of answers is 100.

Multiple Answer

MA TAB question text TAB answer text TAB correct|incorrect TAB answer two text TAB correct|incorrect

Text within ( ) may be repeated for each of the answers that are part of the Multiple Answer question. The maximum number of answers is 100.

 

 

Advanced scoring options in multiple choice and multiple option test questions

When setting up multiple choice and multiple option test questions staff can select from the following options:

  • All or nothing – students must select all the correct answer choices to receive credit. If a student selects one or more incorrect answer choices, they earn no points;
  • Allow partial credit – students receive partial credit if they correctly answer part of the question;
  • Subtract points for incorrect answers – students will have points subtracted for incorrect answer choices, although the overall question score will not be less than zero.
  • Define a positive percentage value to award credit for a correct answer;
  • Enter a negative percentage value (up to a maximum of -100% ) to subtract credit for an incorrect answer;
  • Allow a negative overall score for the question.

 

 

Essay

ESS TAB question text TAB [example]

Text within [ ] is optional. You may choose to add a sample or leave this blank.

Matching

 

 

 

 

MAT TAB question text TAB answer text TAB matching text TAB answer two text TAB matching two text

Text within ( ) may be repeated for each of the answers that are part of the Matching question. The maximum number of answers is 100. The system will randomly order the answers and their question. When uploading a matching question, you must have a one-to-one relationship between questions and answers. If not, correct answers may be marked incorrect if more than one answer has the same value.

Fill in the Blank

 

FIB TAB question text TAB answer text TAB answer two text

Text within ( ) may be repeated for each of the answers that are part of the Fill in the Blank question. The maximum number of answers is 10

 

Fill in Multiple Blanks

 

 

 

 

Numeric Response

 

 

 

Sample File

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FIB_PLUS TAB question text TAB variable1 TAB answer1 TAB answer2 TAB TAB variable2 TAB answer3

The format consists of a list of variable-answers where each variable-answer is composed of the variable name and a list of correct answers for that variable. Variable-answers are delimited by an empty field.

The maximum number of variables is 10.

 

 

NUM TAB question text TAB answer TAB [optional]tolerance

 

 

 

MC    Which ocean is the warmest?    Atlantic    correct    Pacific    incorrect    Arctic    incorrect
MA    Choose all of the examples or types of carbohydrates    Galactose    correct    Fructose    correct    Melanin    incorrect    Sucrose    correct    
TF    Blaise Pascal was a 20th century sociologist who argued for the importance of identifying scientific laws that govern human behavior.     false
ESS    Give a few examples where you can help preserve marine ecosystems.     [Placeholder essay text]                            
MAT    Match the following animals to their native continent    Bullfrog    North America    Panda    Asia    Llama    South America
FIB    ___ is the silicate mineral with the lowest melting temperature and the greatest resistance to weathering.    Quartz
FIB_PLUS    "Four [a] and [b] years ago" is the beginning of the [c] delivered by [d].    a    score        b    seven        c    Gettysburg Address        d    Abraham Lincoln        
NUM    Approximately, how many species of birds are there?    10,000    1000        

 

 

Download the sample question file

 

 

 

Ability to reuse questions in Ultra question banks

Staff will be able to copy questions between question banks by selecting the new ‘Reuse Questions’ option. Additionally, staff will be able to copy questions from existing tests directly into their question banks.

Reuse Questions

In the Ultra Course View, you can reuse questions and other content from all existing tests, assignments, and question banks in your course. You can also copy question banks from other courses and  import questions into your course to add to your assessments.

On the Reuse Questions page, you can browse, preview, filter, and select questions created or imported into your course. You can view the questions, but you can't make edits until you copy the questions to your assessment. You can also reuse other content you added to assessments, such as text blocks, files, images, and videos.

You can't reuse questions when these settings or conditions exist:

Also, you can't reuse text blocks or files if you chose to randomize questions.

Search for questions

In an assessment, select the plus sign wherever you want to reuse questions or assessment content. Select Reuse questions from the menu. The copied questions and content are inserted at this point in the assessment.

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