Taking Tests in Blackboard
Our Recommendations!
1. Take the test all in one sitting. Once you start the test, do not leave it or you may not be able to resume taking it later and your answers may be lost.
2. Be on a very reliable internet connection. Cell phone connections or WiFi can drop the connection and you could lose your answers and/or be locked out of the test. Use a computer that is plugged into the internet with a wired connection for best reliability.
3. Make sure all your answers are saved as you go through the test. Multiple choice questions will save automatically, but other types you will need to click the Save button for each one.
4. The Submit button is final. Once you submit the test, you cannot make any changes. Contact your instructor if you have any issues with your answers.
More About Taking Tests in Blackboard
Click on the title to expand the details!
Understanding Test Instructions
There are four settings that can vary depending on how your instructor chooses to deliver your tests and quizzes. They are described in more detail below, so take a look at these two images showing the different instruction messages then read on!
Timed Test
This instruction line tells you how much time is on the timer. Once you click Begin the timer starts, and the timer DOES NOT stop if you exit the test. If this instruction line is not shown then no timer exists, the test will end either on the DUE DATE, or a date and time that your instructor has set for the test to disappear from the course. Be sure to read your course calendar and contact your instructor about when tests must be completed.
Timer Settings
If a timer is present then either the test will submit automatically when the time expires, or you are allowed to continue past the time. If you are allowed to continue past the time available then your test will be marked appropriately. Your instructor will have information in their syllabus about how much is deducted for going past the timer.
Force Completion
If force completion is turned ON you cannot exit the test and resume later. This means that if you leave the test for whatever reason (clicked a link, closed your browser, lost connection, etc) the test submits. You will either need to begin a new attempt or contact your instructor if this was in error. BE AWARE: If force completion is turned OFF and you have an active timer you MUST return and finish the test before the timer expires. Timers continue to run even if you exit the test!
Multiple Attempts
This instruction line will tell you how many attempts you have at the test. Like the first image if the instruction line says "This Test allows multiple attempts" then you can take the test as many times as you wish. There will be a number if you only have certain amount of tries, and if this line does not appear at all in the instructions you have ONE attempt at the test.
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Taking Tests and Your Internet Connection
A good Internet connection is always recommended and here is the reason why. If you lose your connection for any reason while taking a test the answers you select on radio button questions (multiple choice, true/false) will not be saved. You will see a "Saving Answer" message that never changes to "Saved". When your connection returns you have to change your answer (and then back to the correct one!) for the system to go through the saving process. Another situation that may come up is with timed tests that auto-submit. You will see "This Test will save and submit automatically when the time expires." under the Timer Setting heading on the tests information page. If you lose your Internet connection while a test is submitting you will get a web page error message. If this happens some of your answers may not have been stored and submitted. Contact your instructor immediately!
This means that we recommend a hard-wired connection for major test taking. If you must use a WiFi or cellular connection we recommend to not move around a lot or move out of range with your laptop or tablet because you can lose the wireless signal. We also recommend to take your tests and quizzes in one sitting.
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Resuming a Test
Tests that can be saved and resumed later allow you to keep your answers saved and come back to the Test later to finish the rest. This is helpful if an instructor allows you to review test questions, study, and then come back and answer them. It also will allow you to continue a Test if you have an internet connection problem. In the Force Completion portion of the Test's instructions it will say "This Test can be saved and resumed later..."
1. Save all of your answers. To correctly exit and resume the Test you want to start by making sure all of your answers have been saved. You will see the green check mark and "Saved" in the top right corner of the question. You may need to click the "Save Answer" button to force the system to save your most recent answer!
2. Navigate away from the test. You can either click away from the Test or log out of Blackboard to exit the test. You may get an "Are you Sure?" type message from your browser. This is normal.
3. Return to the test. When you come back to the Test you should see an information panel like the one below:
NOTE: Keep in mind that the timer continues to run! For example if you have 20 minutes to take the exam and leave the test for an hour normally the test will have automatically submitted and you will not be able to continue the Test. This is why we always recommend taking a test in one sitting.
4. Click Continue. To continue the Test click the title again and then click on Continue.
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