An exam checks what members have learned and decides whether they pass. It lives in a course as its own module. Questions sit in tasks, and tasks sit in question pools, so you can write more questions than one attempt needs and let every attempt draw a different set.
Creating an exam
Open a course, go to Content, choose Create new Module and pick Exam-Module. Exam modules are created inside a course; the module library does not create them. The new exam starts with one pool, "Question pool 1", holding one empty task. Click the module to open the exam with its three tabs: Tasks, Settings and Submissions.
Creating the exam module needs the Create Module permission. Opening the exam needs Edit Module, and you reach it through the course's Content tab, which needs Edit Course.
Changes to an exam's tasks, pools and settings reach members right away. They do not wait for Update Course.
Pools, tasks and questions
A task bundles blocks. It can hold content such as a heading, text, an image, a video, audio or a separator, and the questions themselves:
- Multiple Choice and Multiple Select give points only when exactly the correct answers are selected. Answers appear in a new random order for every attempt.
- Fill in the blanks needs every blank right, unless you switch on Partial credit per blank. Case sensitive decides whether upper and lower case must match.
- Sort elements gives points only for the exact order.
- Video submission, Audio submission, File submission and Text submission collect work that you grade yourself.
Every new question is worth one point. Click the 1 point badge on the question to change it.
Pools group tasks, for example by topic. Use Create question pool and Create task on the Tasks tab, and Organize tasks to drag tasks between pools. A pool or task set to Hidden is left out of every attempt, and so is a task without any blocks. Set all tasks to visible and Set all tasks to hidden switch a whole pool at once.
How an attempt is put together
Under Task configuration on the Settings tab, Number of tasks decides how much of the material each attempt uses:
- All tasks puts every visible task into the exam.
- A subset of tasks draws a random selection for every attempt. Set the total in Number of drawn tasks, or give each pool its own Draw count in Organize tasks. As soon as one pool has a draw count, the draw works pool by pool, and pools without a count contribute all their visible tasks.
Order of the tasks offers Linear, Random, Random pools, linear tasks, Linear pools, random tasks and Random pools, random tasks. Under Generate sample exam, click Exam simulation to see one possible attempt with its points. Roll again draws another.
Each attempt keeps the tasks it was given, so editing the exam later does not change attempts that have already started.
Attempts, time and grading
Under Exam settings:
- Maximum attempts is 1 for a new exam. 0 allows unlimited attempts.
- Set a time limit takes 1 to 600 minutes. When the time runs out, the exam is submitted automatically.
- Grading method is Automatic grading or Manual grading. Automatic grading gives members their result right after the exam.
- Result display after grading decides what members see: Grade only, Grade and task details or Grade, tasks and solutions.
As soon as the exam contains a submission question, Grading method is fixed to Manual grading. An attempt that drew a submission question always waits for you, and the member sees the result only after you have graded it.
Members can start the exam only once its module is open for them. If an attempt is submitted twice, only the first submission counts.
The grading scale
Members do not pass on a fixed percentage. The Grading scale splits the score into grades, each with a range in percent and a Passed switch. The grade a score falls into decides whether the attempt counts as passed.
A new exam uses your default template if you have one, otherwise the Standard template: 50 percent and above passes, from "Sufficient" up to "Very good", and below 50 is "Insufficient". Passed / Not passed is a simpler two-grade scale. Save as template keeps a scale for your other exams, and Set as default template makes it the start for new ones. A scale always keeps at least two grades.
Pages before and after the exam
Under Additional pages, the Grading page shows the scale before the exam starts, Tips for the exam gives advice you can change with Customize tips, and the Feedback page asks members to rate the exam afterwards. All three are on for a new exam.
Reviewing attempts
The Submissions tab shows Average score, Pass rate and Average time needed, the list of attempts with the filters To grade, Passed and Failed, and the ratings under Member feedback. When an attempt needs review, administrators get a notification and an email. Submissions from lesson elements are graded in the Submission Center instead, see Submissions and lesson feedback.
Open an attempt to see every answer. Adjust the points per question, add feedback, and press Save grading. Submission answers you leave without points count as zero. The member is then notified of the result.
Delete submission removes the attempt and all its answers permanently. The attempt no longer counts toward Maximum attempts, and if it was the passing attempt, the exam no longer counts as passed. A certificate that was already issued stays.
Delete submission needs the Delete Module permission in addition.
A passed exam also counts toward course progress. Passing the same exam again later does not complete the course a second time.
