Flexible assessments allow users to upload a previously created assessment into DnA, create an answer key and administer the assessment online or via paper and pencil. This allows users to work from content that already exists and have the ability to utilize prebuilt reports for purposes of evaluating student performance. This lesson covers creating a Flexible Assessment.
Where to Start
- Select Assessments.
- Select Create Assessment to see all assessment creation options.
- Select Flexible Assessment.
- Enter a Title and select Create.
Flexible Assessment Overview
- Select Add a Description to add more information about the assessment.
- To add keywords or criteria to help filter and find this assessment later, select Add Tags.
- Filter Standards allows standards to be added to the assessment. Later, the standards can be aligned to the questions.
- To attach a digital copy of any materials, select Upload Materials. This is an important step to making the assessment available for online testing.
- To begin adding questions and building the answer key, select Add.
- To quickly create multiples of different item types, select Lightning Add.
- Review and manage the flex assessment tools and options by selecting Settings.
- When at least one answer is created, the ability to Preview the student portal view of the assessment will appear.
- When finished with building the answer key, select Done.
Lightning Add opens automatically when creating a new assessment.
Add Item(s)/Question(s)
There are two options when building an answer key. It can either be built one item at a time in conjunction with material(s) or built as a single item type in mass.
When building the answer key, select from a variety of Question or Item Types that match the expected assessment results. Below is a quick summary of each kind of type that can be selected when building the answer key.
To get a more detailed view of each type before you build, visit Flexible Assessment Question Types Overview.
Item Type | Score Method | Details |
Multiple Choice | Auto-Scored, Computer Graded |
Default: 5 answers, A-E; 1 point score; Only 1 answer can be correct, all others are incorrect. Best For: Single Answer Questions |
Multiple Choice (Partial Answer) | Auto-Scored, Computer Graded |
Default: 5 answers, A-E; 1 point score; Only 1 answer can be correct, all others are incorrect. Option for incorrect scores to deduct points. Best For: Providing points on the correct answer and answers that are close or “almost” correct |
Multiple Choice (Advanced) | Auto-Scored, Computer Graded |
Default: 5 answers, A-E; 1 point score; Ability to add alternative correct answers with allocated total points when selected. Best For: Questions that require a weighting of answer choices such as AE=2 but A=5. |
Constructed Response | Teacher-Scored, Teacher Graded |
Default: 2 answers, 0-1; 1 rubric score with weight of 1 point as max rubric score; Paper Answer Sheet options to include background options such as line, blank, or grid space from 1 line to multiple pages. Best For: Fill in the blank, short answer, matching; Questions where the answer may be subjective |
Constructed Response (Advanced) |
Teacher-Scored, Teacher Graded |
Default: 4 answers, 1-4; 4 rubric score with weight of 4 points as max rubric score (ie. 3=12, 2=8, 1=4); Ability to alter other rubric scores and their point values (i.e. 3 = 15 instead of default 12). Paper Answer Sheet options to include background options such as line, blank, or grid space from 1 line to multiple pages. Best For: Short Answer (Paragraph); Essay; Charts, Graphs; Performance measured on multiple criteria in a rubric |
Explicit Constructed Response | Auto-Scored, Computer Graded |
Default: 1 answer as entered; 1 point weight; Ability to add alternative correct answers and weight Best For: Fill in the Blank, Short Answer, Math, Vocabulary, Matching; Questions where the answered can be determined automatically, not subjectively |
Number Grid |
Auto-Scored, Computer Graded |
Default: 4 columns, 0-9 numbers and 4 characters. 1 point score. Ability to have 1-8 columns. Only available for paper/pencil administration. Best For: Math response questions |
Want to learn more about the Question Types? Visit the Flexible Assessment Question Types Overview for more detailed information.
By default, the item type will be Multiple Choice or MC, with 5 answer choices A-E and a weight of 1 point for the correct answer.
- Select Add to begin adding an item or questions.
- Modify or change the Label of the question.
- By default, the item type will be Multiple Choice or MC, with 5 answer choices A-E and a weight of 1 point for the correct answer. Update the Question Type as needed.
- Answer Choices are available in preset menu, defaulted to 5 with A-E.
- The weight or points possible for the item default to 1, but can be changed.
- (Optional) Align Standards to the item, if chosen before.
- (Optional) Align Question Group will tag and bundle the item into a group or area.
- If applicable, mark this item Extra Credit which will only count for not against a student if answered correctly.
Select Add again to add more questions. Continue this process until your whole answer key is set.
Want to learn more about the Question Types? Visit the Flexible Assessment Question Types Overview for more detailed information.
- To add multiple items at one time, select Quick Add.
- Enter the number questions of a particular question type to add.
- Select the Question Type.
- Select the X to remove a Question Type from the selection.
- Select Add Another to add additional questions of a different question type.
- Select Scan Answer Key to fill in the answer key via a bubble sheet.
- Select Cancel if you wish to not save the work and go back.
- To move forward with adding the number of items quickly onto the answer key, select Add.
Scan Answer Key is designed for Multiple Choice and Number Grid question types only.
Want to learn more about the Question Types? Visit the Flexible Assessment Question Types Overview for more detailed information.
A confirmation will appear at the bottom left of the screen. Select Click to Undo to remove the items just added.
Continue Editing or Done
Continue editing or select Done to get ready for administration.
Next Steps
Ready to see what's next? Visit the Assessment Landing Page Overview to get started.