To Create a Manual Test in Schoolnet
Log onto PowerSchool
To the left of the screen choose Schoolnet
Choose Assessment Admin
Choose Create
Under Option 2 choose Start Now
Enter the test Information:
 Test Name
 Subject – choose form the drop down menu
 Choose a grade level (there is no multi-grade option)
 Choose Test category (choose My Classroom; the other option has to do with
Extend II)
 Choose whether or not you want unanswered questions included in the score –
most of the time you probably will want them included.)
 Choose the score type options are: proficient, raw, or total score
 Choose the preferred standards (Choose the correct standards from the drop down
box; try to match your curriculum.)
 Choose Answer key only yes or no
Under “Test Item” choose one of the following: (Probably will use “Use Test Items”)
Use item settings
Enable test formatting for all open response
Disable test formatting for all open response
Enable special character palette
Then answer a series of questions pertaining to how you wan to format and use the test.
Enable student comments? yes no
Capture teacher comments on answer sheet? yes no
Enable student self assessment? yes no
Hide item content from test results? (All content is hidden from parents and students.)
yes no
Enable tools and manipulatives? yes no
Number of items? (put in the number of test questions you plan to have.)
Can choose at this point all multiple choice, true false, etc., but this can be changed as
you are making the test.) (The test question formats are; multiple choice, true false,
gridded open response, matching, hot spot single selection, hot spot multiple selection,
task, and lookup in item central.)
Enter an optional description of the test.
Then click on Generate Test
At the top there is a menu bar; the test stages are listed. At this point you should be in the
“Private Draft” section.
Now comes the Item Properties Section
Choose a question language
Choose a response language
Choose Standard or No Standard
Under that is a standard lookup menu button. A drop down menu appears. (So far we’ve
found you must choose a standard to proceed with the test. We’re not sure why.)
Scroll down to Question 1. It will show up as your initial choice of test format – say
multiple choice. You can change the format at that time.
Directly under that click on question content. A text box appears; type in your question.
Beside A click to enter the content for the multiple choice answer
Beside B Click to enter the content for B’s answer and so on for C & D
On the second line under each letter choice, choose the point value and indicate that
that letter is the correct answer.
Below that you can choose to have a formula reference sheet made available,
Or you can add a passage.
At this point to proceed to the next question, simply return to the top of the screen and
click on the next question number, repeat the process.
(If you mistakenly go to the bottom when you’ve finished adding a question and click on
a button that says test detail, click on actions and choose edit from the drop down menu.
This returns you to the original place to enter questions in the test.)
If when you get back to the top there is a triangle near the question number you need to
return to add a standard or add a point value for the question.
Once the test is complete, click on Return to Test Detail
If ready to schedule, click on the “Ready to Schedule” button to the right.
A box comes up and asks if you really mean it. It warns that you cannot make changes
after this point. Click OK if you are sure you are ready to go without any changes
needed. (If later you find you do want to change things in the test, you can copy it and
make changes in the copy, schedule the copy, etc.)
On the left of the screen click on Schedule This Test
Choose a Start Date
Choose an End Date
Choose a Score Due date (we made this the same as the end date.)
After that there are another series of boxes to click on concerning how you want the test
administered.
Prevent students from accessing the test results until after the test end date? (Do
not click here if you want them to be able to see their scores.)
Share scores with gradebook? Choose yes and grades should automatically be in
the gradebook.)
Online test options choose standard browser settings?
There will be a Test Code Visible on the screen – copy this down. You must give this
code to your students when they go on-line to take the test. (It looks like this only has a
number at the end of the string of characters, i.e., an I in the middle can look like a 1 and
a zero can look like an O, but so far there only the last digit is a number.) We think it is
case sensitive and that the code is in all capital letters.
Then there will be a series of questions to answer:
Choose to show the student scores upon completion. Usually yes.
Display this test on the take a test list on student home page? Answer yes
Prevent students from taking the test early or late? Usually yes
Enforce the test time? Answer yes and choices appear that allow you to specify
that the test can only happen during school hours. You would usually not want students
to be able to take the test outside of school.)
Timed Test? This allows you to limit the amount of time they spend on the test.
Scramble Test question order? (The order appears differently to different
students.)
Scramble answer choices?
Allow students to pause the test?
Allow only assigned students to take the test?
Edit Assignment
Choose the class you want to assign the test to from the drop down list. (Save?)
On the day of the test, you can open the test back up and it should say, “Test in
Progress.”
Problems we’ve run into:
A message on the student’s page that said, “No on-line tests are available at this time.”
We found that we had not saved the test after assigning it to a class.
No grades in the grade book: Did not click on the “share with my gradebook” option.
Students could not log in with their user ID and PW: The students did not follow
directions and were trying to log into the network. They must go through the
PowerSchool parent portal.
If students use Chrome, after they put in the test code, they must click on the maximize
button in the upper right hand corner to be able to see the Start Test Now” button.
Questions we have:
How to handle extra credit?
How the open-ended questions work, i.e., will teachers have to grade it?
Can an existing test be uploaded?