Blackboard Tests are created by instructors on the course. Programme administrators will check the settings so that the test is released to students correctly and the timer has been set up.
This guide will cover:
- Details and Information
- Presentation Options
- Formative Tools
- Marking & Submission
- Assessment Results
- Additional Tools (Including Timer or Groups)
Test Settings
The test settings allow you to make the test fit your specifications for assessment. Most settings are unticked by default; by selecting some settings, some options are automatically ticked.
- No due date – allows a test to run without setting a due date
- Prohibit late submissions – In-progress attempts will be submitted automatically at the due date and time
- Prohibit new attempts after due date – students can’t start new attempts once the due date and time has passed
- Allow class conversations
Details and Information
Select the date and time for the Due Date of the test.
Select options by checking the box. The default is to allow students to complete the test after the due date. Choose whether to prohibit late submissions or new attempts after the due date.
Presentation Options
- Display one question at a time
- Prohibit backtracking – not recommended
- Randomise questions – don’t use if question order is relevant
- Randomise answers
- Randomise pages – pages can be added to a test using the page break option in the questions list.
- Do not randomise first page
Choose how to display the questions in the test to students. Question all at once or one at a time, in order or randomly.
Formative Tools
Choose whether you wish to mark this test as a formative test to remind students
- Formative assessment – tags the assessment as formative for use with filters in Gradebook etc.
- Display formative label to student – possible to tag as formative but not allow students to view that label.
Marking & Submissions
Choose the number of attempts students will have for the test.
Choose whether you wish to Mark using Points or Percentage
- Mark category – tag as a specific category of assessment
- Categories can be created in the Gradebook settings panel and will then appear on this list
- Attempts allowed – Number of attempts or unlimited attempts
- Mark using
- Complete/Incomplete
- Letter
- Percentation
- Points
- Maximum points – automatically calculated from question scores
- You can’t edit the maximum points for an assessment that contains individually scored questions.
- Anonymous marking – not possible when automatic posting is on
- Delegated Marking – use this to filter the inbox into groups if working with multiple markers.
- Post assessment marks automatically – only use for formative tests
Assessment Results
Click any of the Submission results options to edit when results and feedback are shown to students.
Use the drop down menus to set results and feedback timings to best suit your need.
All links under Assessment Results will open the results timing panel.
Assessment results timing
- Actions:
- Allow student to view their submission
- Show automated feedback
- show question scores
- Show correct answers
- Options:
- After submission
- After individual mark has been posted
- After due date
- After all marks have been posted
- On specific date
Additional Tools
In additional tools you will be able to set a timer for the test, and decide whether the work will be submitted when this time limit is completed or whether the student has extra time to complete the work.
- Time limit – add a timer to you test
- Goals & Standards
- Assigned Groups – only available if a timer has not been set
- Originality Report – enable Turnitin
Timer
Use the drop down box to set this post deadline timer.
- Add time limit – in minutes
- Submission rules
- option 1: work is automatically saved and submitted when the time expires
- option 2: students have extra time to work after the time limit expires
- Extra time
- When initial time expires, tell students that work submitted after the initial time limit may receive partial credit.
- + 50% of time
- + 100% of time
- Unlimited extra time
- When initial time expires, tell students that work submitted after the initial time limit may receive partial credit.
Groups
It is only possible to assign groups to a test if you are not using the Time limit function.
Follow the guidance for in our guide Create a Group Assignment to assign groups.
Guide last updated on February 24, 2025