FACULTY: ULTRA: How do I format a Word Document to use the Blackboard Test Generator?

The Blackboard Test Generator helps you create tests and quizzes for Blackboard. It allows you to type up the quiz questions offline in a program like Word or Notepad and not have to go through the trouble of making long quizzes via the Blackboard web interface. 

Once you have formatted your questions according to the guidelines below, review this article for full instructions on using the Blackboard Test Generator.

Basic information:

  • Questions and answers start with an identifier (typically a number or letter), then a period or parenthesis, followed by the question prompt.
  • Answers should be on their own line(s) below with an identifier and period or parenthesis in front of it. Only put one answer per line.
  • Don't use new lines or return characters unless you are moving on to the next question or answer. This is especially important if you're pasting in questions from another program like Word.
  • Separate your questions with a blank line.

Question Types:

Multiple Choice

  • Question on a single line.
  • Answers immediately following the question.
  • Asterisk (*) in front of the correct choice.

Example:

1. Which of the following is a prime number?
a) 4
*b) 5
c) 6

Multiple Answer

  • Exactly the same as multiple choice, only with multiple answers marked correct.
  • Question on a single line.
  • Answers immediately following the question.
  • Asterisk (*) in front of all correct choice.

Example:

1. Which of the following is a prime number?
*a) 2
*b) 3
d) 4
*e) 5
f) 6
*g) 7

True/False

  • Question on a single line
  • The answer on the next line. Can be any of the following: T, t, True, TRUE, true, F, f, False, FALSE, false

Example:

1. 3 is a prime number.
True

Essay

  • This is simply a question with no answer given.

    Example:

    1. Tell me your life story.

Fill in the blank

  • Begin your question with the keyword: blank
  • Leave a blank somewhere in the question.
  • Give all of the possible correct answers.

    Example:

    blank 1. Two plus two equals _____.
    a. four
    b. 4

Matching

  • Begin your question with the keyword: match
  • Put the matched pairs separated by slashes (/).
  • You can have entries with no match, i.e. leave the other side blank.
  • The matches separated by slashes will all be randomized automatically so it is not obvious which is the correct pairs.

    Example:

    match 1. Match the number with its spelling. :)
    a. 3 / three
    b. 1 / one
    c. 12 / twelve
    d. 4 / four
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