Adding sections to a test form

In a test form, a section is an item container. All test forms contain a minimum of one section. In Test Creation, you can configure each section for different delivery purposes.

This article explains how to add sections to a test form in Test Creation and the settings available in Section Properties.

In this article

1. Add a section

Select your test form name in the Test Rules area of the Test Form Rules tab.

Select Add to add a new section to your test form.

2. Choose a section type

Select a section type in the menu.

Each section type behaves differently. Read the following to learn more about each section type.

Standard sections

Standard sections contain question items. These can be used in any test form.

Survey sections

Survey sections contain non-scored items that gather data from candidates. You can add any HTML-compatible items to a survey section and they are automatically converted to non-scored items.

In a timed test, survey sections have their own timers independent of the test’s timer. Candidates can select the countdown clock to switch between survey and test timers.

If candidates run out of time on their test, they can still complete any remaining survey sections.

Survey sections do not affect the test’s progress bar and always show 100% completion.

Section selectors

Section selectors allow candidates to choose which section they complete. You can choose how many sections candidates must attempt.

For more information section selectors, read Adding section selectors to a test form.

3. Edit section properties

Edit the settings in the Section Properties dialog to configure your section.

Section Details

You can edit the following settings in Section Details.

Setting	Description
Name	The name of the section. The first three characters appear to candidates in delivery.
Description	A description of the section. You can enter a maximum of 50 characters.
Content rules	Determines the section’s content type. You can choose Fixed, Dynamic, External Optimiser, or Adaptive. You should keep the following in mind if you change the content type when the section contains content: You can only convert a Dynamic section to Fixed if each rule uses the Specific item parameter. You cannot convert a Fixed section to Dynamic if it contains groups or item sets. Items or rules are not automatically deleted when you convert to an External Optimiser section. You must manually delete these for the test form to validate.
Total items	Sets how many items are in the section. You must edit this for dynamic sections to specify the total number of items you want the rules to select.
Randomise items	Presents section items to candidates in a random order.  NOTE: This does not affect items in a group. Grouped items always appear in the same order.
Pass Mark	Sets the threshold for candidates to pass the section. You must select a score type from the drop-down and enter a numerical value in the Pass Mark field. There are two score types: Score – a numerical mark Percentage – a ratio of correct to incorrect answers expressed as a fraction of 100 NOTE: If using grade boundaries, candidates must pass each section to pass the test even if their total mark for the test is a pass with one or more failed sections. For more information on grade boundaries, read Setting up grade boundaries. IMPORTANT: You can only apply a pass mark to test forms with a timed section.
Total marks	The total number of marks of all items in the section. This value is automatically calculated from the section item’s total marks.
Number of items to mark	Select the number of items you want to include in a candidate’s final mark. The default value is All, but you can select a value between 1-5 from the drop-down menu.  If you apply this setting, a candidate’s overall score is calculated in the Results and Audit screens of Test Administration. EXAMPLE: You might offer candidates a choice of five Essay items, but you only expect them to answer two. Set  Number of items to mark to 2 to ensure that only the two highest marks are used when calculating the final score. NOTE: You must tell candidates separately how many questions they should answer. You can do this using an Information or Introduction Page.
Section duration	Determines the length of the section in minutes. IMPORTANT: You can only apply a section duration if the test form has timed sections.
Unlock section	Unlocks SecureClient only for this section, allowing candidates to access apps (including the internet) and their local files. TIP: This setting is designed for use in test forms with timed sections. This means candidates cannot freely navigate between locked and unlocked sections.
Forward only section	Prevents candidates from returning to items that have already been answered. Candidates can only progress to the next item in the test.  WARNING: Do not enable Forward only section for a test form’s last section if previous sections have not had the Items require response setting enabled. This could lead to candidates being unable to complete all items in the test.
Allow item review	Allows candidates in a forward-only section to view previously answered items in a read-only mode.  IMPORTANT: You can only apply this setting if you enable Forward only section.
Items require response	Prevents candidates from submitting a test if they have not attempted all items. If the test or section is forward only, candidates must attempt the item before they can move onto the next question. WARNING: Items require response is only supported in HTML timed section tests. TIP: You might want to include an Information Page to inform candidates that they must answer every question.

Section Break Details

If a test form has timed sections and you enable breaks, you can also edit the Section Break Details.

For more information about breaks, read Adding scheduled breaks to a test form.

4. Save the section

Select OK to save the section’s settings and add the new section to the test form.

The new section appears in the test form structure, ready for you to add content.