CBT Author Module Features

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

The Author module is a easy to use software designed to create and distribute question databases. There are lot of operations that can be performed using author module, right from creating a new exam to, popluating questions, adding students, creating groups, assigning exams and many more.

Get more information here


Below are some of the main features of author module. (Please click on the images to enlarge them)

1. Login Modes :

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

Login into Author module can be done in Admin/Author mode. Admin will have full access to all the exams created, students and groups added, where as Author will have access only to exams he/she is assigned by the admin. Admin can assign any number of authors to any exam to help him populate the question database. Any edits made by the author to the question database will be documented.

2. Adding Author(s):

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

Any number of authors can be added by administrator by providing name and email id details. Once the author account is activated they can be assigned to any number of exams, post which they will be able to populate and edit questions in assigned question database. Authors also have ability to add students, create groups, setting exam configurations and exporting exams for distribution.

3. Adding Candidates(s):

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

This feature can be used by the author to create any number of candidates which can take the exam. Each candidate will have a separate login using his/her email id and password, they can also be assigned unique user id which can also be used to login along with password. Also each candidate can be assigned to any number of groups/classes.

4. Adding Group(s):

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

This feature can be used by the author to create any number of groups/classes/sections to organize students. Groups are created by giving unique name. Then groups can be assigned to exam so that all the candidates present in that group can take the assigned exam. One exam can be assiged to any number of groups.

5. Adding Categories/Subcategories :

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

Each question entered in the exam must belong to one category (topic) and a sub category (optional) under main category. While entering the questions authors can select the category/subcategory to which that paticular question belongs. The result analysis shown to the candidate at the end of the exam will contain category wise score and time analysis to help candidate understand how he performed in each of the topics.

6. Adding Questions :

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

Currently Computer Based Test Software supports Multiple Choice Single Answer (MCSA) and Multiple Choice Multiple Choice Multiple Answer (MCMA) question types where question and answer options can be entered as plain text, rich text format using HTML editor and PDF file. Each question can have exhibit images, audio/video file for question part and for the explanation.

7. Review Questions :

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

Review feature can be used to view all questions at once with option to edit and delete a question. It allows to click on any question to open the question editor, option to select and delete any question. Once questions are deleted from the database they cannot be recovered. Review screen gives a glance of entire question database at once and makes it easier for the authors to find a paticular question for editing/ deleting.

8. Preview Questions :

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

Preview feature is useful for author to view how the questions entered by him will be shown to the candidate taking the exam. Along with previous and next navigation button it has option to view correct answer(s) and explanation if provided by the author. It also displays the information about who is original author of this question and who last edited this question.

9. Setting Exam Configurations :

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

This feature allows the author to set the parameters for the exam environment which include number of questions in exam, time allowed to take exam, and pass percentage. Author can also set if students are allowed to view exam questions only in learn mode, exam mode or both. Author can also set features available to students while taking exams like using previous button, reviewing questions, bookmarking questions, pausing timer. It also includes some optional settings like setting exam to online/offline mode, use of OTP sent to student's registered email id when they try to login, enabling geolocation tracking and image casting for monitoring online exams.

10. Creating Sub Tests :

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

This feature is helpful to create multiple question sets from master question database. For example Author has populated a "Maths" question database with 500 questions. Using this feature author can create subtests with different set of questions from the main database. say "Maths SET 1" is created with 50 questions and is assigned to section A students, "Maths SET 2" is created with another 50 questions and is assigned to section B students. Questions can be selected manually or in random order. It also shows how many questions are selected from each topic.

11. Importing/Exporting Questions :

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

Author module provides feature to import questions in bulk from a excel file, and to export existing questions to excel file. Excel file format is provided in the program and can be used by authors to enter questions. This option allows author to take a copy of all the questions entered by them for backup purpose.

12. Exporting Exam for Distribution :

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

This feature is used to create a .auth file which has to be distributed to candidates. Once author has finished entering questions into the exam database, he/she needs to Export the question database to any known location. All the related files are saved in that directory. You can also provide version number of the export file and a password which will be required for starting the exam in exam engine.

13. Configuring Author to use own server database :

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

Enterprise edition of CBT software provides a feature to setup author module to use your own server side database. To use this feature admin will have to create their own MySQL database and use server side scripts provided by us to complete the setup. Once server side setup is done configuration details can be entered in author module to use created MySQL database.

14. Full Backup/Restore :

SimExam CBT Author Module Features

This feature can be used by author to take full backup of their work on Author Module including all the exam questions, any images, videos files, audio files, and pdf documents used in question database. It will also take backup of all the student and group details. It is recommended to take full backup on regular intervals. This back up file can be used to do a complete restore incase you face any issue.