(NLD) Setting Up Test Administration

This chapter provides an overview of Test Administration and discusses how to:

Activate Test Administration.
Define tests and calculated results in the catalog.
Create test trees in Tree Manager.
Link test trees to programs.
Create test lists.
Define evaluation rules.

Understanding Test Administration Setup

The Test Administration functionality allows institutions to create a catalog of tests, similar to the course catalog. The test catalog consists of tests and calculated results. Calculated results are either the end result of a test or can be used to calculate the average result of multiple tests. Test can be repeated and the repeat rules set for a calculated result tell the system which result to use for calculation. The calculation results can be run by individual student, by program, or by student group.

Common Elements Used in This Chapter

Academic Career	Enter the appropriate academic career for the test or calculated result offering, test list, or requisite. Define careers on the Academic Career Table. See Defining Academic Careers.
Academic Institution	Enter the appropriate academic institution for the test or calculated result offering, test tree, test list, or requisite. Define institutions on the Academic Institution Table. See Defining Academic Institutions.
Academic Organization	The system populates this field from the academic organization linked to the subject entered in the Subject Area field. You can override the value. See Defining Academic Organizations.
Subject Area	Enter the subject area of the test or calculated result offering, test list, or requisite. Subject area values are defined on the Academic Subject Table page. See Defining Subject Areas.

Activating Test Administration

Using Test Administration is optional. Activate the functionality on the Installation table.

Page Used to Activate Test Administration

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
SA Features	SCC_INSTALL_SA2	Set Up SACR, Install, Student Admin Installation, SA Features	Activate the Test Administration functionality and enter the last test ID numbers used.

Activating Test Administration

Access the SA Features page.

Test Administration

Select this check box to activate the Test Administration functionality.

Last Test ID Assigned, Last Test List ID Assigned, and Last Requirement ID Assigned

These fields are visible only when the Test Administration check box is selected.

When you activate Test Administration, enter the number prior to the number with which you want to begin the ID counting for these fields. For example if you enter 99 in each of these fields, the system will begin assigning the ID for each at 100.

After activation, these fields display the last test, test list, and requirement ID numbers assigned by the system.

Note. If you leave these fields blank, the system will begin counting for each of these IDs with 1.

Defining Tests and Calculated Results in the Catalog

In the test catalog, define all of the tests that will be used in test programs. Also define calculated results which link tests and other calculated results together with calculation rules for the system to use to calculate final test grades for students.

Calculated results can also be linked to the course catalog so completed grades can be written to the student enrollment record.

Pages Used to Define Tests and Calculated Results in the Catalog

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Test Catalog	SSR_TST_CAT_NLD	Records and Enrollment, Test Administration NLD, Set Up Test Administration, Test Catalog, Test Catalog	Create, view, or update tests or calculated results.
Test Catalog - Offering	SSR_TST_CAT_OF_NLD	Records and Enrollment, Test Administration NLD, Set Up Test Administration, Test Catalog, Offering	Define the academic institution, group, catalog number, career, and subject for the test or calculated result.
Test Set	SSR_TST_CAL_NLD	Records and Enrollment, Test Administration NLD, Set Up Test Administration, Test Catalog, Test Set	This page appears when Calculated Result is entered in the Test Type field on the Test Catalog page. Link the calculated result to tests and other calculated results from which the grade is calculated, and enter information about the calculated result.
Course Link	SSR_TST_CRS_NLD	Records and Enrollment, Test Administration NLD, Set Up Test Administration, Test Catalog, Course Link	This page appears when Calculated Result is entered in the Test Type field on the Test Catalog page. Link the calculated result to a course.

Defining Tests

Access the Test Catalog page.

Test Type

When entering a new value in the catalog, select whether you are creating a Test or a Calculated Result.

When you save the test or calculated result, this field becomes view only.

Exam Type

Select the exam type for this calculated result. The options are Central End Exam, End Exam, Partial Qualification, Qualification, and School Exam.

Grading Basis

Select the grading basis to be used with this test or calculated result.

Units 1 and Units 2

Enter the number of units that the student will be credited after completing the test or calculated result.

These fields are used in the evaluation process based on how each individual institution needs to use them.

Test Level

Select the test or calculated result's level of difficulty. The options are A level, B level, C level, and D level.

These levels are used for reporting purposes only and are not part of the calculation process.

Grade Valid

Select the period for which the grade is valid. The options are Unlimited and Years After Term End. If you select Years After Term End, the Years Valid field appears.

Years Valid

Enter the number of years the grade assigned to a student for this test or calculated result is valid. This field appears if you select Years After Term End in the Grade Valid field.

Defining Test Offerings

Access the Test Catalog - Offering page.

Catalog Nbr (catalog number)

Enter the catalog number for this test or calculated result.

This field is ten digits. The system reserves the four left digits exclusively for numeric characters, and the right six digits for both alpha and numeric characters. A field edit enforces this programming.

See Defining Course Offerings.

Academic Group

Enter the academic group to which this test or calculated result offering belongs. Academic group values are defined on the Academic Group Table page.

See Defining Academic Groups.

HEGIS Code

Enter the CREBO code associated with the test.

Approved

Select the test or calculated result approved status. Values for this field are delivered with the system as translate values. Do not modify these values in any way. Any modifications to these values will require a substantial programming effort. Select Pending or Denied to prevent anyone from scheduling the test or calculated result. Select Approved to enable scheduling of the test or calculated result offering.

Long Description

Enter a long description of the test.

The text in this field can be used in crystal reports.

Defining a Test Set for Calculated Results

Access the Test Catalog - Test Set page.

Representation

Select whether to Round or Truncate the calculated result.

Decimals

Select the number of decimals to which the calculated result must be rounded or truncated. Your options are 0, 1, and 2.

Handle Insufficient Grades

Indicate how you want the calculation process to handle empty grades and grades that do not meet the minimal value. The options are:

Conditional: Only grades that satisfy the minimum value are used in the calculation process.

Do Not Calculate: If there are grades that do not meet the minimum value or if required grades do not exist, the result is not calculated.

Exclude from Calculation: If no grade exists, the grade is not used in the calculation process. If the grade is below the minimum value, the grade is used in the calculation process.

Include in Calculation: If no grade exists, the minimal value from the corresponding grade table is used in the calculation process.

For all options except Do Not Calculate, if all requirements are met and all required grades exist, the grade is calculated with the status ‘Complete’. Otherwise with the status ‘Incomplete’.

Use Only Grades within Term

Select if only the tests taken within the same term will be included in the result.

Sum Grades

Select if the calculated result of all underlying tests will be a sum of the tests instead of an average.

Note. The calculation process will calculate an average of all test grades if this check box is not selected.

Seq Nbr (sequence number)

When you add a new row, the system increments this field by 10, however, you can change the value to any number to change the order of the rows.

Weight

Enter the weight of the test compared to the others tests in the grid.

Child Test ID

Enter the test ID or other calculated result ID that you want in the test set of the calculated result.

Operators

Select an operator to determine the minimum grade a student must earn in a test for it to be used in the calculation process. The options are = (equal to), > (greater than), and >= (greater than or equal to).

Minimum Value

Enter the minimum grade a student must earn in a test for it to be used in the calculation process.

Repeat

Indicate which test result must be considered if a student has repeated the test. The options are Average, Highest, and Latest.

Linking a Course to the Test

Access the Test Catalog - Course Link page.

Course ID

Enter the course ID, from the Course Catalog, of the course to which this test or calculated result will be linked.

Course Offering Nbr (course offering number)

Enter the course offering number to which this test or calculated result will be linked.

Create/Update Student Enroll

Create	Select this option to have the calculation process create a new row on the Student Enroll table.
Update Existing Only	Select this option to have the calculation process update the existing row on the Student Enrollment table.

Creating Test Trees in Tree Manager

The Create Test Tree process creates test trees based on the information you enter in the Test Catalog. The system then uses the structure of a test tree to calculate test grades for students.

Pages Used to Create Test Trees

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Create Test Tree	SSR_CRE_TRE_NLD	Records and Enrollment, Test Administration NLD, Set Up Test Administration, Create Test Tree, Create Test Tree	Run the Create Test Tree SQR process (SRCRTRNL) to create a test tree. Note. Create and update test trees using only this process. Do not create new test trees or add nodes to existing test trees through Tree Manager.
Validate Test Tree	SSR_VALID_TRE_NLD	Records and Enrollment, Test Administration NLD, Set Up Test Administration, Validate Test Tree, Validate Test Tree	Run the Test Tree Validation SQR process (SRVALDNL) to validate the test tree. A test tree is valid when the structure of the tree in Tree Manager matches the structure of the tree in the Test Catalog.
View Tree Validation Results	SSR_TEST_TREE_NLD	Records and Enrollment, Test Administration NLD, Set Up Test Administration, View Tree Validation Results, View Tree Validation Results	View test tree validation results.

Creating a Test Tree

Access the Create Test Tree page.

Test ID

Enter the calculated result that will be the root node of the tree. The system will create the tree using the tests and other calculated results that you linked to this calculated result on the Test Set page.

Only those test IDs for which a user has access based on academic organization security are available.

Effective Date

Enter the effective date of the test tree. Assigning the test tree an effective date enables the user to record different versions of calculated results.

Tree Structure ID

The test structure TEST_ADMIN is delivered. If you create additional tree structures, they must be set up exactly like the TEST_ADMIN structure.

Tree Name

Enter a name for the test tree.

Validating Test Trees

Access the Validate Test Tree page.

Tree Name

Enter the name of the test tree for the system to validate.

Effective Date of Tree

Enter the effective date of the tree. Test trees can have multiple effective dates to accommodate several versions of the same test tree.

Viewing Tree Validation Results

Access the View Tree Validation Results page.

Linking Test Trees to Programs

Link test trees to programs to automate the process of linking students to test trees. When an applicant is matriculated, the system looks at the combination of institution, career, program, campus, load, and term for the individual and automatically links the student to the test tree with the same combination.

Pages Used to Link Test Trees to Programs

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Link Test Tree to Program	SSR_PROG_TREE_NLD	Records and Enrollment, Test Administration NLD, Set Up Test Administration, Link Test Tree to Program, Link Test Tree to Program	Link test trees to academic programs.

Linking the Test Tree to a Program

Access the Link Test Tree to Program page.

Campus

Enter the campus for this test tree.

See Setting Up Campuses.

Academic Load

Select the academic load for this test tree.

See Defining Academic Level and Load Rules.

Term

Enter the term for this test tree. Linking the test to a term enables the system to automatically link students to a test tree when they are matriculated.

See Establishing Terms and Sessions.

Tree Name

Enter the test tree for this academic program, campus, academic load, and term combination.

Tree EffDt

Enter the effective date of the tree. Test trees can have multiple effective dates to accommodate several versions of the same tests.

Default

Select if this test tree should be used as the default for this academic program.

Creating Test Lists

Test lists are used for 2 purposes:

To enroll students in multiple tests at one time during the enrollment process.
During the evaluation process.

Pages Used to Create Test Lists

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Test List Information	SSR_TST_LIST_NLD	Records and Enrollment, Test Administration NLD, Set Up Test Administration, Test Lists, Test List Information	Enter test list information, such as subject area, academic organization, and course ID.
Test List - Tests	SSR_TST_LISTLN_NLD	Records and Enrollment, Test Administration NLD, Test Lists, Tests	Add tests to the list, either individually or by test tree.
Copy Tests	SSR_SEL_COPY_TESTS	Click the Copy Tests button on the Test Lists - Tests page.	Select the test list that you want to copy for this test list.

Creating a Test List

Access the Test List Information page.

Test List ID

When you create a new test list, this number will be all zeros. When you save the test list the system will assign the next sequential number from the Next Test ID field on the Installation table.

Test List Use

A test list can be used to enroll students in tests or in the evaluation process. The options are:

Both. Enables this test list to be used during the evaluation process and to enroll students into the tests on the list.

Evaluation. Enables this test list to be used during the evaluation process only.

Place. Enables this test list to be used to enroll students into the tests on the list only.

Course ID

Select a course ID to link this test list to a course.

Adding Test to a Test List

Access the Test List - Tests page.

Copy Tests

Click to add tests by copying the tests in another test list. The Copy Tests page appears, where you can select a test list ID.

Tree Name

Enter a test tree to add tests to the list by tree.

Tree EffDt (tree effective date)

Enter the effective date of the tree that you want to use to add tests to the list. Only valid effective dates for the tree you select are available.

Fetch Data

Click to populate the grid with the tests and calculated results that comprise the test tree.

Sequence

The system increments this number by 1 for each row. Change the order of the rows by changing the sequence number.

Test ID

Enter a test ID to add to this test list. This field is automatically populated when you click the Fetch Data button if you have entered a test tree ID and effective date.

Defining Evaluation Rules

Before you can use the Evaluate Students process to determine if students have passed all of the requirements for a course, a test or calculated result of a test, or for graduation, you must define the evaluation rules, or requisites. The requirements for the evaluation are linked to test trees.

When the system evaluates students, the Evaluate Students SQR process (SREVAENL) will use the evaluation requisites defined for the student's academic career, subject, academic organization, and academic program.

Pages Used to Define Evaluation Rules

Page Name	Object Name	Navigation	Usage
Requisites	SSR_REQUISITE_NLD	Records and Enrollment, Test Administration NLD, Set Up Test Administration, Requisites, Requisites	Define evaluation requirement by institution, career, program, subject area, academic organization, and test tree, and test effective date.
Requisites Lines	SSR_REQUIS_LN_NLD	Records and Enrollment, Test Administration NLD, Set Up Test Administration, Requisites, Requisites Lines	Define the requisite lines for an evaluation requirement.
Copy Requisite Lines	SSR_SEL_COPY_REQ	Click the Copy Requisite Lines button on the Requisite Lines page.	Select a requisite ID from which to copy lines into this requisite.

Defining Evaluation Requisites

Access the Requisites page.

Academic Program

Enter the academic program to which this requirement applies.

Release Restriction

Indicate whether the grades used to satisfy this requisite, that are also restricted, can be used in other requisites. The options are:

Keep: Grades used in this requisite that are restricted cannot be used in other requisites.

Release: Restrictions from this requisite will be released so grades used in this requisite can also be used in other requisites.

Evaluation Type

Select the evaluation type of this requisite. The options are:

End. The requisite applies to an end of term evaluation.

In Between. The requisite applies to evaluation milestones during the term.

This field is informational only and is not used in any processing.

Tree Name

Enter the test tree for this requisite. Students linked to this test tree will be evaluated based on the requisites defined here when you run the Evaluate Students process.

Tree EffDt(tree effective date)

Enter the effective date of the test tree for which you are defining evaluation requisites.

Defining Evaluation Rule Details

Access the Requisites Lines page.

Copy Requisite Lines

Click to select an already created requisite to copy. The Copy Requisite Lines page will appear.

Requisite Lines Tab

Seq Nbr (sequence number)	The system increments the sequence numbers by 10 for each line added. The Evaluate Students process evaluates the lines in this requisite in the order established by the sequence numbers. To change the order of the lines, change the sequence numbers.
Operators	If needed, select a boolean operator to group requirements. The options are AND, AND NOT, OR and OR NOT.
((open parenthesis)	Use parentheses to group requirements. You can use up to three levels.
Not	Select if this line must not be true.
Type	Indicate whether this requisite line pertains to a Calc Res (calculated result), Req (requisite), Test, or Test List. You can create a line that pertains to a another requisite because you can have nested requirements.
Item ID	Enter a calculated result, test ID, requisite ID, or test list ID, depending on what you selected in the Type field.
Description	The description of the calculated result, test, requisite, or test list.
Operators	Operators enable the system to evaluate grades on a minimum or maximum condition to determine insufficient grades. For test lists, the choices are < (less than), <= (less than or equal to), = (equal to), >= (greater than or equal to), and > (greater than). For calculated results, requisites, and tests, the choices are > (greater than), = (equal to), and <= (greater than or equal to).
Value	Enter the minimum or maximum value of a grade.

Details Tab

Access the Requisites Lines page - Details tab.

Function

Functions are used with test lists, and together with the minimum and maximum values, make it possible to link conditions to a group of courses, tests, or calculated results such as a minimum or maximum number of tests that a student must pass, or a minimum or maximum number with a specific calculated result.

The options are:

Average: the average of the tests or courses in the list.

List: the number of tests or courses that have to be in the list.

Sum 1: the sum of Units 1.

Sum 2: the sum of Units 2.

Minimum Value

Enter the minimum number for the selected function.

Maximum Value

Enter the maximum number for the selected function.

Restrict

Designate whether or not the grades used to satisfy this line can be used to satisfy other lines in other requisites. If the grades can be used to satisfy other lines in this requisite, leave the field blank.

Select All Result if the grade used to satisfy this line cannot be used to satisfy other lines. The test or calculated result in this line is blocked for further evaluation within this requisite.

Select Restricted if the grade used to satisfy this line cannot be used to satisfy other lines within this requisite, but can be used to satisfy lines in other requisites. The test or calculated result in this line is blocked for further evaluation within the requisite.

)(close parenthesis)

Select to close group of lines.

Comments tab

Access the Comments tab.

Comments

Enter any text that you want to appear on the Student Evaluation page.

Test Type	When entering a new value in the catalog, select whether you are creating a Test or a Calculated Result. When you save the test or calculated result, this field becomes view only.
Exam Type	Select the exam type for this calculated result. The options are Central End Exam, End Exam, Partial Qualification, Qualification, and School Exam.
Grading Basis	Select the grading basis to be used with this test or calculated result.
Units 1 and Units 2	Enter the number of units that the student will be credited after completing the test or calculated result. These fields are used in the evaluation process based on how each individual institution needs to use them.
Test Level	Select the test or calculated result's level of difficulty. The options are A level, B level, C level, and D level. These levels are used for reporting purposes only and are not part of the calculation process.
Grade Valid	Select the period for which the grade is valid. The options are Unlimited and Years After Term End. If you select Years After Term End, the Years Valid field appears.
Years Valid	Enter the number of years the grade assigned to a student for this test or calculated result is valid. This field appears if you select Years After Term End in the Grade Valid field.

Catalog Nbr (catalog number)	Enter the catalog number for this test or calculated result. This field is ten digits. The system reserves the four left digits exclusively for numeric characters, and the right six digits for both alpha and numeric characters. A field edit enforces this programming. See Defining Course Offerings.
Academic Group	Enter the academic group to which this test or calculated result offering belongs. Academic group values are defined on the Academic Group Table page. See Defining Academic Groups.
HEGIS Code	Enter the CREBO code associated with the test.
Approved	Select the test or calculated result approved status. Values for this field are delivered with the system as translate values. Do not modify these values in any way. Any modifications to these values will require a substantial programming effort. Select Pending or Denied to prevent anyone from scheduling the test or calculated result. Select Approved to enable scheduling of the test or calculated result offering.
Long Description	Enter a long description of the test. The text in this field can be used in crystal reports.

Representation	Select whether to Round or Truncate the calculated result.
Decimals	Select the number of decimals to which the calculated result must be rounded or truncated. Your options are 0, 1, and 2.
Handle Insufficient Grades	Indicate how you want the calculation process to handle empty grades and grades that do not meet the minimal value. The options are: Conditional: Only grades that satisfy the minimum value are used in the calculation process. Do Not Calculate: If there are grades that do not meet the minimum value or if required grades do not exist, the result is not calculated. Exclude from Calculation: If no grade exists, the grade is not used in the calculation process. If the grade is below the minimum value, the grade is used in the calculation process. Include in Calculation: If no grade exists, the minimal value from the corresponding grade table is used in the calculation process. For all options except Do Not Calculate, if all requirements are met and all required grades exist, the grade is calculated with the status ‘Complete’. Otherwise with the status ‘Incomplete’.
Use Only Grades within Term	Select if only the tests taken within the same term will be included in the result.
Sum Grades	Select if the calculated result of all underlying tests will be a sum of the tests instead of an average. Note. The calculation process will calculate an average of all test grades if this check box is not selected.
Seq Nbr (sequence number)	When you add a new row, the system increments this field by 10, however, you can change the value to any number to change the order of the rows.
Weight	Enter the weight of the test compared to the others tests in the grid.
Child Test ID	Enter the test ID or other calculated result ID that you want in the test set of the calculated result.
Operators	Select an operator to determine the minimum grade a student must earn in a test for it to be used in the calculation process. The options are = (equal to), > (greater than), and >= (greater than or equal to).
Minimum Value	Enter the minimum grade a student must earn in a test for it to be used in the calculation process.
Repeat	Indicate which test result must be considered if a student has repeated the test. The options are Average, Highest, and Latest.

Course ID	Enter the course ID, from the Course Catalog, of the course to which this test or calculated result will be linked.
Course Offering Nbr (course offering number)	Enter the course offering number to which this test or calculated result will be linked.

Test ID	Enter the calculated result that will be the root node of the tree. The system will create the tree using the tests and other calculated results that you linked to this calculated result on the Test Set page. Only those test IDs for which a user has access based on academic organization security are available.
Effective Date	Enter the effective date of the test tree. Assigning the test tree an effective date enables the user to record different versions of calculated results.
Tree Structure ID	The test structure TEST_ADMIN is delivered. If you create additional tree structures, they must be set up exactly like the TEST_ADMIN structure.
Tree Name	Enter a name for the test tree.

Tree Name	Enter the name of the test tree for the system to validate.
Effective Date of Tree	Enter the effective date of the tree. Test trees can have multiple effective dates to accommodate several versions of the same test tree.

Campus	Enter the campus for this test tree. See Setting Up Campuses.
Academic Load	Select the academic load for this test tree. See Defining Academic Level and Load Rules.
Term	Enter the term for this test tree. Linking the test to a term enables the system to automatically link students to a test tree when they are matriculated. See Establishing Terms and Sessions.
Tree Name	Enter the test tree for this academic program, campus, academic load, and term combination.
Tree EffDt	Enter the effective date of the tree. Test trees can have multiple effective dates to accommodate several versions of the same tests.
Default	Select if this test tree should be used as the default for this academic program.

Copy Tests	Click to add tests by copying the tests in another test list. The Copy Tests page appears, where you can select a test list ID.
Tree Name	Enter a test tree to add tests to the list by tree.
Tree EffDt (tree effective date)	Enter the effective date of the tree that you want to use to add tests to the list. Only valid effective dates for the tree you select are available.
Fetch Data	Click to populate the grid with the tests and calculated results that comprise the test tree.
Sequence	The system increments this number by 1 for each row. Change the order of the rows by changing the sequence number.
Test ID	Enter a test ID to add to this test list. This field is automatically populated when you click the Fetch Data button if you have entered a test tree ID and effective date.

Academic Program	Enter the academic program to which this requirement applies.
Release Restriction	Indicate whether the grades used to satisfy this requisite, that are also restricted, can be used in other requisites. The options are: Keep: Grades used in this requisite that are restricted cannot be used in other requisites. Release: Restrictions from this requisite will be released so grades used in this requisite can also be used in other requisites.
Evaluation Type	Select the evaluation type of this requisite. The options are: End. The requisite applies to an end of term evaluation. In Between. The requisite applies to evaluation milestones during the term. This field is informational only and is not used in any processing.
Tree Name	Enter the test tree for this requisite. Students linked to this test tree will be evaluated based on the requisites defined here when you run the Evaluate Students process.
Tree EffDt(tree effective date)	Enter the effective date of the test tree for which you are defining evaluation requisites.

Function	Functions are used with test lists, and together with the minimum and maximum values, make it possible to link conditions to a group of courses, tests, or calculated results such as a minimum or maximum number of tests that a student must pass, or a minimum or maximum number with a specific calculated result. The options are: Average: the average of the tests or courses in the list. List: the number of tests or courses that have to be in the list. Sum 1: the sum of Units 1. Sum 2: the sum of Units 2.
Minimum Value	Enter the minimum number for the selected function.
Maximum Value	Enter the maximum number for the selected function.
Restrict	Designate whether or not the grades used to satisfy this line can be used to satisfy other lines in other requisites. If the grades can be used to satisfy other lines in this requisite, leave the field blank. Select All Result if the grade used to satisfy this line cannot be used to satisfy other lines. The test or calculated result in this line is blocked for further evaluation within this requisite. Select Restricted if the grade used to satisfy this line cannot be used to satisfy other lines within this requisite, but can be used to satisfy lines in other requisites. The test or calculated result in this line is blocked for further evaluation within the requisite.
)(close parenthesis)	Select to close group of lines.