Try smart tests: practical instructions

 

This page provides users with practical instructions about using smart tests and gives some examples showing what smart test questions are like, so that you can decide whether to sign up. Suggestions about using the tests for real educational advantage are found under the tab 'Using smart tests'.

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Sign up to use smart tests - do this from the home page.
Anyone can join. Currently there is no cost.
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What happens after I sign up?
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Equipment required
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List of tests currently available (with estimated appropriate year levels)
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Sample item on factors

Sample item on bar graphs

These illustrate the types of items in smart tests. Items are short and suitable for computer delivery. There are a variety of formats, including drag and drop, using sliders, typing short answers and choosing from drop down lists. The samples also show how student results are delivered. Results can also be downloaded to a spreadsheet. The explanation of stages and teaching advice for a test is also illustrated.

Hints for using smart tests

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No email after signing up?

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Students' names and teacher's name

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Pre-tests and post-tests
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Frequently asked questions

How to start using smart tests

Who can sign up?

Anyone can join. There is no cost.
Sign up to use smart tests from the home page.

What happens after I sign up?

You will receive an email. It will contain a password and direct link to your own smart test teacher page and instructions on how to choose and use tests. In brief, you choose tests from the menu on your teacher's page. Tests can be previewed before selection. A password is emailed to you for each test. Students use that password to log in to that test, and the results of any students using this email are available to you on your teacher's page as soon as they finish.

Equipment Required

Teachers: Teachers need an email address to register and to check their class's results on the internet.
Students: Students need internet access and a computer. Students can do smart tests at any time and in any location suitable to you: all at once in a computer lab, successively using a couple of classroom computers, at home for homework, a few at a time in the school library – any arrangement will work.

It is probably good practice for students to have pen and paper available when they are answering the questions. Most questions do not require this, but some students will do better on some items if they write some things down. There are on-screen calculators available in some tests. Hand-held calculators can be used but are probably not needed by most students.
Computer information: The smart tests have been carefully tested with the browsers Internet Explorer and Mozilla on PC machines. They nearly always work well with other browsers and machines, but we have not thoroughly tested them. Please check the tests on your own set up before giving them to the students. Please email us if you find difficulty with other browsers.
Tablets, iPads and smart phones: Most but not absolutely all smart tests work on a 'tablet' device such as an iPad. The exceptions are a few of the tests which contain 'drag-drop' items. Smart tests are not optimised for very small screens, so smart phones are not recommended.

Hints for using smart tests

No email from the smart office after signup?

Most likely, a mail filter in your email application has intercepted the message. You might find it in the "spam" or 'Junk E-mail" folder. If it is there, you need to right-click on the message, select "Junk e-mail" and then "Add sender to safe senders list". This will adjust the spam filter settings.

Students' names and teacher's name

The smart test system does not keep track of students. Names are only used when students log in so that teachers can identify students. Teachers can instruct students to use any name or code that they wish.

Hint: If multiple classes use the tests, results will appear in name order. If you wish to sort by class then ask students to log in using a code within their name. For example: first name Maria, second name 7e Roberts to indicate that Maria Roberts in is class 7e. Sorting on family names will then automatically sort your classes.

Teachers should be careful to give the name by which students know them when signing up. Students will see this name.

Pre-tests and post-tests

Very closely parallel version of the tests are available for most topics. These can be used before and after teaching. Occasionally teachers prefer to alternate tests to the students so they have different tests from their neighbours.

Frequently asked questions

Provides answers to practical questions about using the tests, as well as interpreting the results.

 

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