Creating your first test
We will create a test for Chapter 3 with a few questions from Chapter 1 and 2.
This is the screen we use to start creating a test. Click on the + sign to see all the chapters.
Since this will be a Chapter 3 test, we will start with a few questions from this chapter. Click in the green + sign next to Chapter 3 to expand this chapter.
Many users prefer to pick one objective at a time when building tests. We will choose the objective "Situations to Tables, Graphs and Rules".
Unless you are on a slow dial-up account, choose the maximum number of search results per page (50) and "Both" (team and individual) questions.
Notice: 1) the testbank has 30 problems of this objective 2) Click in the check boxes to select questions you would like to include on your test 3) Leave boxes unchecked if you do not want to include them.
After you have selected the first few questions you would like, return to the top of the page, name the problem set and click "Save this set" before selecting more items.
Once the test has been saved, expand the chapter to choose the next objective you would like to get questions for.
This question only had 7 items available and we have chosen #1.
This time, we will add this question to the Chapter 3 Test that we have already started to create.
Do not enter a new problem set name in the box above unless you want to start a new test.
CPM recommends that 50% of every test come from previous chapters.
Repeat the process of expanding and selecting questions from previous chapters until your test is complete.
The additional questions can be added to the Ch. 3 Test by clicking on the indicated button as before.
When your test has enough questions, you will want to edit and print the test in your own word processing program such as Microsoft Word.
To download the selected questions, click "view/ modify saved sets".
Click on the Chapter 3 Test.
Now the test can be 1) renamed or downloaded as either a 2) MS Word file or an 3) "Open Office" file. (Open Office is a free program similar to Microsoft Office) If you have Microsoft Office, that is the preferred format to use. The Open Office format has fewer options for editing the questions. Equations, for example, are not editable in Open Office.
The test should download in the usual area of your computer designated for downloads.
Feel free to edit and customize the test to suit your needs. NOTE; If your graphics aren't showing up, switch to "Print Layout" in the "View" menu.
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Comments (11)
I would have loved having this tool available when our district first started using CPM, but I guess (as the saying goes) "better late than never"!! Thank you, thank you for this wonderful tool!!
PS I wonder if I am allowed to share this site with the participants at my next workshop?? I won't until I am told I can though!!
Pam, I'm glad you like the site. We are now creating testbanks for the middle school program and Geometry Connections as well as Algebra Connections. You may share this site with CPM teachers. They will need to create their own account using the password that CPM will provide for them. The site is not open to the general public to keep the testbank secure.
I have some questions...
Can a warning like "Are you sure you want test ??? be deleted permanently?" be created when you are viewing the saved tests list and accidently click "delete" square on any of the list?
Another comment/question: I get the part when creating a test, I select questions from the first page and then save it each time before moving onto the next page or else I will lose my choices selected from the first page. Also, I know to not choose more than one idea to view when making a test or else you can forget what was chosen. My question is this, can the questions I have chosen have some sort of indicator in the bank that they have been chosen as I scroll through the bank of questions to get to the next page(s) to add more. This is very similar to the Data Director system we use in our district.
I do like how we can save it on Word.
This bank sure does beat cut and paste. I like how I can insert a graph then add my own line art graphics to it once on Word.
Christy, I'm glad you like the functionality provided. I will look into the warning message you mentioned. I'm not sure I understand it, but I will try to do what you described and pass your comment on to the programmer.
If you are choosing one topic at a time, you probably won't see questions repeated. (I realize it is possible, but most questions are only categorized in 1 topic) Again, I'll ask the programmer about the indicator, but I'm not sure it is going to be very useful if you select one topic at a time.
I'm glad the interface is a familiar one to you.
Overall, I'm very impressed so far! Great tool!
I do have one issue though. I'm having trouble editing the equations. After downloading the test into word, how do I edit the equations? I have MathType on my computer in case that is an issue.
Thanks for the help!!
Jake,
As long as you are downloading the Word version and not the Open Office version you should be able to open the equations and edit them in MathType 6.0. I hope that helps.
This is such a nice AND easy way to create assessments! I have one issue: after I have created my test and download into word, it isn't showing all of the questions that are on my test. When I view them in the test generator, I see 12 questions. When I download to word, I see only 8 of them. Any ideas?
Stacey, this is an interesting problem that I haven't seen before. Are you sure you added the last 4 items to the saved version of your test? Let me know if this is still a problem and I'll have the programmer look into it. So far, you are the only person to have this issue. Thanks for writing! -Bill
HELP!! I can't print without the answers on the test. What am I doing wrong???
Most of the answers were designated as "hidden text". When printing, look for "Microsoft Word" "Word Options" and make sure hidden text is not checked. If the test item author did not designate the answer as hidden text, you can either do so yourself (Select the text and then Format..font...check 'hidden') or you can simply delete the answers and save the file as the student version. I hope this is helpful. -Bill
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