Updated 4/24/09
TestBank Known Issues
When writing a TestBank for a new edition of a textbook, it may help to make authors aware of the following issues. If these issues are addressed, conversion into online programs such as Mastering, Blackboard and CourseCompass will be considerably smoother. Think of this document as a reminder or a check-list for authoring TestBank content that will easily migrate to the web. In each case, we have listed the issue and then made a few suggestions about how to fix it.
Issue 1: Multiple questions refer to the same figure, and that figure is not repeated
In these cases, a number of questions follow the appearance of a single figure. Though it is more cumbersome, it would help to repeat this figure for each question separately. In the case that this cannot be done without sacrificing usability of the printed TestBank, these types of questions should be flagged as they are written so that we are aware of their existence and can make sure that the figure is repeated appropriately in the online format.
Editorial teams can now decide whether to make one multi-part problem with these types of questions, or make many standalone problems. This decision will apply to all “shared image” items in the TestBank, and editorial teams should indicate which version they’d like when they deliver the .bok for conversion.
**Note – If the Word to .bok file is properly configured, our existing TestBank conversion script can handle these types of issues. We should note these types of issues while authoring, but the onus is on Tamarack to properly flag them in the Word to .bok conversion.
Issue 2: A question refers to a figure or table that is in the main text of the book
There are times when the TestBank asks the user to refer to the main textbook in order to find a figure or table that will help them answer the question. Ideally, this information would be repeated in the TestBank. If this is not possible due to printed space restrictions, then these questions should be flagged. When providing all materials to us for conversion to online format, please include any figures or tables from the main body of the text so that we can place them appropriately in the online format.
Issue 3: There is one preamble for multiple questions
In these cases, one explanatory paragraph precedes multiple questions. Ideally, the paragraph would be repeated for each question so that each is self-contained. The reasoning behind this is that online, previous questions are not necessarily assigned and so the preamble would be missing if it has not been repeated. If this is not possible due to printed space restrictions, please try to flag these questions so that we can make sure the preamble text is repeated in each related question in the online format.
Editorial teams can now decide whether to make one multi-part problem with these types of questions, or make many standalone problems. This decision will apply to all “shared preamble” items in the TestBank, and editorial teams should indicate which version they’d like when they deliver the .bok for conversion.
**Note – If the Word to .bok file is properly configured, our existing TestBank conversion script can handle these types of issues. We should note these types of issues while authoring, but the onus is on Tamarack to properly flag them in the Word to .bok conversion
Issue 4: Answer choices refer to letter answers, but no letter choices exist online
In this case, an example is worth a thousand words. Let’s say that the printed TestBank is written this way:
Which fruit do you eat weekly?
A. Apples
B. Bananas
C. Oranges
D. A and B only
E. A, B and C
When this translates online, the letter choices often disappear in favor of checkboxes or radio buttons. Therefore, in more complicated examples than the one I’ve provided, users might be confused when trying to decipher values for the letter answers. The question would look more like this:
Which fruit do you eat weekly?
o Apples
o Bananas
o Oranges
o A and B only
o A, B and C
Ideally, questions would be written to avoid this scenario by repeating choices. Please include the actual answers when possible, and refrain from using letters to denote the choice. If we use our existing example, here is what we’d see:
Which fruit do you eat weekly?
o Apples
o Bananas
o Oranges
o Apples and Bananas only
o Apples, Bananas and Oranges
Issue 5: The stem of the question refers to one of the answer choices by letter
This issue is similar to issue 4 in that online, answer choices are not displayed by letter. If the question stem refers to a particular letter choice, a user might be confused. Ideally, the contents of this choice would be written out in the question stem.
Issue 6: A question refers to another question
In this case, a question refers to or is dependent upon another question. Similar to issues 1 and 3, we cannot assume that the instructor has assigned the referenced question. If the instructor has not assigned this referenced question, a student may not be able to access it at all. Questions should be written to repeat important information rather than refer the student to another part of the TestBank.
Issue 7: Answer Choices need be set in a fixed order
On conversion, a test bank may have its answer choices randomized. This may cause answer choices that should be displayed in a fixed order to rotate out of sequence. For example, if the answers are numeric, they are often sorted in order from lowest to highest in value, and should remain that way. Similarly, answer choices like "all of the above" and "none of the above" should remain fixed at the bottom of the answer choice list.
**Note – If the Word to .bok file is properly configured, our existing TestBank conversion script can handle fixed position answer choices. The onus is on Tamarack to properly configure them in the Word to .bok conversion.
Issue 8: A question asks the student to draw the answer
Questions that require drawing should be flagged to be removed from the Mastering online TestBank.
Issue 9: A Short Answer question has two or more correct answers
If you are working with a short answer question with two or more correct answers, each answer needs to be noted separately as a correct answer.
Here’s an example:
For example: In ______one substance is transported into the cell, and another is transported out. Answer: countertransport or antiport.
We currently have 3 possible solutions within Mastering:
· Add several alternate answers: countertransport; antiport; countertransport or antiport; antiport or countertransport;
· Add instructions like “If there is more than one answer, separate them with commas”
· Change answer type from short answer to multiple select, so that students can choose to check off all answers that apply, and add several distractors.
Editorial teams should decide how to handle these items. We encourage teams to choose one of the solutions and apply it throughout the entire TestBank.
Issue 10: A Figure in the TestBank has several numbered elements on it and asks for a short answer response.
These items simply need to be flagged so that they can be changed to a multiple choice response with letters from the figure as options.
Example: Multiple Choice 48.16 from Campbell 8e