How to set up Multiple Attempts on a test

  • Updated

Multiple Attempts allow candidates to take a test multiple times. This feature helps candidates to learn and understand the topics better by allowing them to practice until they get it right. As a result, candidates can improve their understanding, confidence, and overall academic performance.

This article explains how to configure Multiple Attempts during test setup and how to manage the test after activation. We highly recommend reviewing the article on Known Limitations before activating your test.

This feature requires activation. Please contact the Service Desk to activate it for your Inspera Assessment tenancy.

Instructions

We recommend enabling Multiple Attempts at the very beginning of your test setup. This allows you to see immediately which other settings are compatible, as incompatible options will be grayed out automatically.

  1. First go to the Deliver module
  2. In the test setup choose Enable multiple attempts.
  3. When enabling Multiple Attempts for a test, Planners have three key decisions to make regarding its configuration. Read more about each configuration below.
    1. Choose method of attempt creation
    2. Choose how attempts are available to candidates
    3. Select the final results criteria
  4. Under General settings, click Enable Marking 2.0 for the test.
  5. If you are using an automatically marked question type, you will also need to configure the Post-submission review settings under the After test options. See information below.
  6. Under Assessment settings, you can use a Grading scale if you want to provide a grade for the overall test based on overall score. This works the same way as for regular tests, and Thresholds will be used as the basis for calculating a grade.

Note that the Multiple Attempts feature cannot be disabled after the test has been activated.

  •  
    • Test name
    • Question Set
    • Access Groups (optional)
    • Template (optional)
    • Test start time
    • Test end time
    • Duration (optional)
    • Test Information (optional but recommended)
    • Enable Multiple Attempts
      • Maximum number of Attempts
      • Setting final result
    • Invitation Mode
    • Add candidates
    • General settings > Marking 2.0 
    • Exam Day > Lost connection alert (optional but recommended)
    • After test 
      • Post-submission review (optional but recommended)
      • Final Results (optional but recommended)
      • Feedback (optional but recommended)
    • Grading workflow > General workflow
    • Assessment Settings (optional)

Multiple Attempts Configurations

When enabling Multiple Attempts on a test, you must define these three core behaviors: method of attempt creation, how attempts are available to candidates, and the final results criteria.

  • 1. Choose method of attempt creation

    This option determines how the administrative user schedules the attempts.

    • System automatically creates attempts: The system generates attempts automatically with the same time window as that of the overall attempt. This is common workflow in case of assessments or quizzes with automatically marked questions only, where a Grader is not required. 

      The attempts could all have the same time window as that of the overall assessment. 

      If this option is selected, you need to specify the maximum number of attempts. Maximum number of attempts can be set to:

      • Unlimited attempts (default).
      • Limited number of attempts.

    • I want to specify attempt time windows: The Planner has the flexibility to schedule attempts individually. This is a common workflow for assessments with manually marked questions, where a Grader’s manual intervention is required, and attempts are scheduled sequentially to allow Graders to manage their workflow effectively.

      The Planner can create attempts with their respective time windows using the add attempts widget.

      How to create attempts

      1. Click on Add Attempt to open the scheduling modal. 

      2. Specify the Attempt start and end time on the scheduling modal. 

      3. Click on Create Attempt on modal to create the attempt.

      4. You can add as many attempts as required. 

      Note:

      • The attempts can be added before or after the activation of the test.
      • The attempt time windows have to be within the overall assessment’s time window.
      • The start and end times of an attempt can be modified from the scheduling widget itself.

  • 2. Choose how attempts are available to candidates

    This comfiguration controls who decides if the candidate may get a new attempt.

    • Candidate Control: The candidates can decide if and when they want to appear for an attempt. The candidates will also be aware of the maximum number of attempts available to them on the assessment.

      Note that if you want system automatically create attempts, please choose Candidate control.

    • Grader Control: A Grader decides if a given candidate should get the following attempt based on their performance on the previous attempt. 

      To allow a candidate to proceed with the following attempt, the Grader must: 

      • Check the box for Permit New Attempt
      • Confirm the marking for the candidate

      Note: Candidates can only make subsequent attempts after submitting the prior attempt. For example, the second attempt can only be made after submitting the first.

  • 3. Select the final results criteria

    This option defines how the overall score for the Multiple Attempts test will be calculated based on the scores from each attempt taken. This information is also displayed to candidates on their dashboard.

    The options are:

    • Highest: The overall score is the highest score from all attempts.
    • Average: The overall score is the average score from all attempts.
    • Latest: The overall score is the latest score from all attempts.

    The logic for the final score (Highest, Average, or Latest) is always based on marks, not grades. The system first calculates an overall score using these marks, and if you choose, you can then assign an overall grade based on that final score. If your institution doesn't use marks, the Grader can manually grade each attempt and the overall assessment at their own discretion.

Post submission review settings

Managing when results are shared is critical for Multiple Attempts, especially for automatically marked questions. If candidates see the correct answers immediately after their first attempt, the integrity of subsequent attempts may be impacted.

Planners can modify the visibility of the Post-Submission Review (PSR) at any time before, during, or after the test.

Scheduling PSR Availability 

You can provide access instantly upon submission, or schedule it for a specific date and time. 

  • Availability Period Instant post-delivery access Availability from Availability to Example image
    Available instantly after candidate’s submission until forever Enabled [Greyed out] [Blank]

    Available instantly after candidate’s submission until a set date

    (e.g., 30 July)

    		 Enabled [Greyed out]

    Set Date 

    (e.g., 30 July)
    Available during a specific window Disabled Set Start Date Set End Date
    Available from a set date and forever Disabled

    Set Start Date

    (e.g., 10 July)

    		 [Blank]

To ensure your review scenarios work as intended, please follow the settings provided in the scenarios above and avoid using the 'Always' button found inside the calendar pop-up.

 

Test settings compatibility with Multiple Attempts

When setting up a test with Multiple Attempts, all the incompatible settings will get grayed out.

There are also error validations in place to make sure activation of Multiple Attempts is possible only when required settings are enabled/specified. The user will be shown information messages to make them aware of the impact of enabling Multiple Attempts.

  • These are the specific settings supported with the Multiple Attempts feature:
    • General settings
      • Marking 2.0: This is a mandetory setting
      • Candidate Report (Sep Release)
    • Exam Day
      • Lost connection alert
    • After test
      • Post-submission review
      • Feedback
      • Final results
    • Grading workflow 
  •  
    • Auto-submission is not supported in Multiple Attempts at this time. When Multiple Attempts is enabled, the option for auto-submission is greyed out.
    • Committees are not supported in Multiple Attempts at this time. While it is still possible to create and use committees, this will not restrict access to results and submissions outside the assigned committee. All Graders will have unrestricted access to all candidate data on the individual attempts
    • Lockdown Browsers: Multiple Attempts cannot be used with Inspera Integrity Browser (IIB) or Safe Exam Browser (SEB). These options will be greyed out automatically.
    • LMS Integrations: While tests can be launched via LTI, full support for automatic grade synchronization of multiple attempts is limited. We recommend manual exports for high-stakes results.
    • Individual End Times and planned Extra Time are not compatible with Multiple Attempts

Post activation

After activating the test, the Planner can access a summary page containing the following information:

  • Attempt name with hyperlink to test summary page of that attempt. 
  • Status
  • Start date
  • End date
  • Duration
  • More with call to action Go to Grade
  1. Summary page after test activation
  2. Attempts within the summary page

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