The Resource Library contains Question Templates and Other Templates that you can drag into a test or testbank editing window. To use one of the prepared question templates while creating a test, display the Testbank Library on the left side of the screen and click the Resource Library tab. Then click the [+] sign next to Question Templates to display the names of the various question types you can drag onto your test.
Question templates let you add new, blank multiple-choice, short answer, true/false, bimodal, essay, matching, and vocabulary questions to a test or testbank.
To add a blank multiple-choice question to your test, drag the Multiple Choice template from the Resource Library into the test window. A pointer with a horizontal line between questions indicates the location for the new question when you drop it by releasing the mouse button. You can also select a question on your test, and then select "Question > Multiple Choice" from the Insert menu to insert a new question below the selected question.
Initially, the new question says "Multiple Choice" in the question field. Click on these words to place the cursor and begin typing your own question. In the same manner, click in each of the answer choice fields to fill in the answer choices. The question and answer choices fields expand as you type.
You can delete an answer choice by clicking to the left of the answer choice letter to make the answer choice background turn black. Then press Delete or select "Delete" or "Cut" from the Edit menu. When only two answer choices remain, you will not be able to delete any more choices, since every multiple-choice question needs at least two answer choices.
You can add an answer choice by dragging a "Blank Answer Choice" from the Other Templates section of the Resource Library. Drop the blank answer choice below another answer choice to position it in the list of answer choices for the question. You can also select a question on your test, and then select "Blank Answer Choice" from the Insert menu to insert a blank answer choice at the end of the existing answer choices. The letters for other answer choices adjust automatically, depending on where the blank answer choice is inserted.
To mark an answer choice as the correct answer, select the answer choice so its background changes color. Then right-click the answer choice and select "Mark/Unmark as Correct" from the pop-up menu. You can also choose "Mark or Unmark as Correct Answer" from the Question menu.
To add a blank short answer or essay question to your test, drag the Short Answer or Essay template from the Resource Library into the test window. A pointer and horizontal line between questions indicate the location for the new question when you "drop" it by releasing the mouse button. You can also select a question on your test, and then select "Question > Short Answer" or "Question > Essay" from the Insert menu to insert a new question below the selected question.
Initially, the new question says "Short Answer" or "Essay" in the question field. Click on these words to place the cursor and begin typing your own question. The question field expands as you type.
To fill in the answer for the question, the Answer field needs to be showing below the question. If it is not, select "Preferences > Test Options" from the Tools menu and click the Descriptors tab. Check the box next to "Correct Answer" and click OK. Below the short answer or essay question, click just to the right of the word "Answer:" to place the cursor and begin typing. The answer field expands as you type.
To add a blank true/false question to your test, drag the True/False template from the Resource Library into the test window. A pointer and horizontal line between questions indicate the location for the new question when you "drop" it by releasing the mouse button. You can also select a question on your test, and then select "Question > True/False" from the Insert menu to insert a new question below the selected question.
Initially, the new question says "True/False" in the question field. Click on these words to place the cursor and begin typing your own question. The question field expands as you type.
To mark True or False as the correct answer for the question, the answer choices need to be showing below the question. If they are not, select "Preferences > Test Options" from the Tools menu and click the Descriptors tab. Check the box next to "Correct Answer" and click OK. Below the true/false question, select either True or False so its background changes color. Then right-click the answer choice and select "Mark/Unmark as Correct" from the pop-up menu. You can also choose "Mark or Unmark as Correct Answer" from the Question menu.
To add a new bimodal question to your test, drag the Bimodal template from the Resource Library into the test window. A pointer and horizontal line between questions indicate the location for the new question when you "drop" it by releasing the mouse button. You can also select a question on your test, and then select "Question > Bimodal" from the Insert menu to insert a new bimodal question below the selected question.
Bimodal questions look like multiple-choice questions in the Resource Library, but they can also function as short answer questions if the answer choices are hidden. You control whether bimodal questions are displayed as multiple-choice or as short answer by setting a preference on the Questions tab of the Test Options dialog.
If your preference is to display bimodal questions as multiple choice, then fill in the question and answer choices on the test as you would for a multiple choice question, as described above. If the preference is set to show bimodal questions as short answer questions, then fill in the question and answer as you would for a short answer question as described above.
You can use the template for a matching question to create your own dynamic groups of matching questions on tests or to add matching items to testbanks.
When you drag the template for a matching question onto a test, two editing fields appear: a numbered question field in column 1 and a lettered answer field in column 2. Groups of matching questions on tests are dynamic, meaning that as you add matching items to a matching group, the answer choices in column 2, the right-hand column, automatically and randomly rearrange themselves so that most answer choices are not directly across from the questions they match. See the section on "Adding New Questions to Tests" for more information.
Matching items in testbanks include a field for the question that appears in column 1 and the matching answer that appears in column 2 on a test. Matching items are set up as individual items in a testbank, but related items share a common instruction that links them together on a test. For more information about adding matching items to testbank, see the section on "Editing Matching Questions."
To add a blank vocabulary question to your test, drag the Vocabulary template from the Resource Library into the test window. A pointer and horizontal line between questions indicate the location for the new question when you "drop" it by releasing the mouse button. You can also select a question on your test, and then select "Question > Vocabulary" from the Insert menu to insert a new question below the selected question.
Initially, the new question says "Vocabulary" in the question field. Click on these words to place the cursor and begin typing your own question—the vocabulary term. The question field expands as you type.
To fill in the answer for the question, the Answer field needs to be showing below the question. If it is not, select "Preferences > Test Options" from the Tools menu and click the Descriptors tab. Check the box next to "Correct Answer" and click OK.
Below the vocabulary question, click just to the right of the word "Answer:" to place the cursor and begin typing the definition for the term. The answer field expands as you type.
In addition to Blank Answer Choices, described above, the Other Templates portion of the Resource Library contains a Blank Note template that you can drag onto your tests in order to insert instructions, part headings, or messages for test takers.
To add a note to a test, display the Testbank Library and click the Resource Library tab. Click the [+] next to Notes and find "Blank note" in the list of items. Drag the Blank note onto the test and drop it above one of the test questions, where you want it to appear. The note contains the words "Blank note" until you click in the note field on the test and begin to type.