Author Test Items

An item must contain at least one interaction, such as inline response. Items can also contain multiple interactions, such as a paired passages, an unscored drawing area for solving, and an extended text area for entering an answer. Authorized users can create a variety of item interactions in ADAM and assemble them into items. Below are general steps to create a test item.

See also:

Special Features Available Across Item Types
Duplicate, Edit and Delete Items for other actions, such as importing and exporting metadata and bulk updating item statuses
Pages for specific item types

To create a new item:

Select [AD] Authoring > Items.
Select the Bank where you want to create the item.
Click Create New.
Choose the layout for the interaction(s) in the item. As a best practice, put passages to the left of the item prompt.
Click Add Interaction
Select an interaction type, such as Choice.
Enter the prompt. The Prompt box for all item interactions provides several formatting tools. Select the More Rich icon to see additional formatting options:
- Insert Audio: Add audio by URL or upload an audio file. See also: Include Audio, Video or Images.
- Special Characters: Insert a variety of characters such as Latin, Greek, and Math characters.
- Insert Non-Breaking Hyphen: Insert to avoid text wrapping.
- Insert Non-Breaking Space: Insert to avoid text wrapping.
- Font Awesome: Insert a variety of icons.
- Insert Horizontal Line: Insert a horizontal line for aesthetic or functional purposes (such as creating sections within a prompt).
- Embed URL: Embed one or multiple URLs. A clickable thumbnail appears in the item.
Click the Properties tab
The selection options for Name, Status, Standards, and Metadata depend on bank configuration. Be sure to save occasionally and when done.

- Name: The field is automatically populated with a default prefix based on the item bank settings, but you can append the item to make it easier to identify.
- Status: The status of an item affects its visibility for certain user roles. The item bank settings determine what statuses are available.
- Depth of Knowledge (DOK): Select a DOK level from the dropdown.
- Metadata: Enter data for provided fields to make searching items easier.
- Standard: Click Add Standard and select a standard. You can repeat to add additional standards.
- Tools: Enable a Calculator, Protractor, and/or Ruler for the item. See also: Student Test-Taking Tools.
- Associated Exhibits: Click Modify Associations. Select from previously created Shared Stimulus. These will display in a ‘Exhibits’ button in the top toolbar when previewing a form. Multiple exhibits can be added.
- Source Documents: Attach source documents for reference if applicable.

Set Up Manual Scoring for an Item

Scoring considerations differ by item type. See Item Types below for links to each creation page. See also: Set Up Partial Scoring.

In an item, click the Scoring tab.
Select the Manual Scoring checkbox. More options appear.
Optionally select Feedback Box. When enabled, scorers can enter feedback and/or rationale for their score.
Optionally, select Reverse Score Points to arrange trait point ranges from highest to lowest.
Click Add Trait to create scoring traits and set their point range.
Click Save.