Automatically marked question. The question is answered by selecting a hotspot in an image.

Hotspot is a question type where the candidates answer by clicking on a specific point or area within an image or illustration based on given instructions. Their selection appears as a cross, which can be moved to change the answer. 

The Hotspot question type is ideal for visually driven assessments, where candidates need to identify specific locations on diagrams, maps, or illustrations. The question is created by uploading a background image and then defining clickable hotspot areas on it.

This article explains the layout of Hotspot questions, details how to create and configure hotspots, outlines their specific options and color considerations for accessibility, and covers known limitations.

Question layout

 In the question's edit mode, you can do the following: 

1. Replace text with desired question text.
2. Add math (LaTex), files, tables, links, PDFs, images, and/or audio clips to the question text.
3. Set general options for the question type. For more information, refer to the General options for questions article.

Spesific options

Clicking on the interaction element gives you specific options for the question type.

1. Enter an explanation text for the question. The text will appear in the workspace. Click the image is set by default.
   1. To edit text, select the Prompt text editor and enter your text.
   2. To add Rich text, click on Rich text.
2. Add an image as background (jpg, png, or SVG). The image should be 620x400 pixels in size for optimal display.
   1. To add an image, click on the Bakcground option, then click Add image.
   2. Click on Browse and select a file from your hard drive.
   3. Click on Insert to upload image. 

3. Within the Hotspots option, you can define the number of correct answers and the shape of the hotspots. Multiple shapes can be added to a single question.

   Choose How Many Correct Answers There Are

   To select how many correct answers there are for the question, click on the Single correct answer dropdown.

   You can choose between the following options:

   • Single correct answer
   • Multiple correct answers

   Choose a Hotspot Shape

   You can select from different shapes for your hotspots. Once a hotspot is created, you can click and hold it to move it around the image.

   1. To select a hotspot shape, select the Rectangle dropdown.
   2. Choose between the following options:
      • Rectangle
      • Circle
      • Polygon: With the Polygon shape, click on the background image to start adding points. There is no maximum number of points. A minimum of three points is required to close the polygon. Once the polygon shape is closed, you cannot add additional points to the existing shape.

   3. To add a hotspot, click Add hotspot +

      

      If you enter more than one correct answer, keyboard navigation is not supported.

4.  

   • Lower and upper mark limit: These can be set for each interaction element (hotspot). The value here will override any mark settings applied to the whole question. For more information, refer to the Advanced scoring article.
   • Interaction height: Change the height of the interaction element (hotspot). The default is 400 pixels (recommended height). In case the height needs to be increased to facilitate more elements, it is recommended that the question should be tested and previewed to ensure a good candidate experience.
   • Regard as unanswered outside defined hotspots: If the candidate clicks outside the defined areas, marks for missed will be awarded for this question. Unanswered marks are set in general options in the question's edit mode.
   • Mark hotspots: If enabled, the hotspot areas will be visually outlined to candidates, making the selectable areas visible.
     • Limit maximum selections: Limits how many hotspots candidates can click within the question.
     • Hotspot border color: Select the border color for the hotspot outlines.
     • Hotspot opacity: Choose the background opacity by sliding the opacity bar, or entering a number in the text field.
   Tip: Make sure the question works as expected by Previewing the question and test correct answers. Marks and correct answers can not be changed after the test has started.

    

5. An External Identifier is a unique string that helps link the question to external systems for data collection, without serving any internal purpose in Inspera Assessment.

   For more information on external identifier, read the External Identifiers article.  

Important Hotspot color considerations

When using the Hotspot question type, you can choose to display the hotspot areas to the candidates and select the color of the border that outlines the hotspot areas. This helps to visually distinguish the selectable areas from the background, making it clear to candidates which areas they can select from.

It’s important to choose a color that provides enough contrast against the background color, in order to ensure clear visibility for users with low vision or color blindness. The WCAG 2.1 Guidelines for accessibility recommend a minimum 3:1 contrast ratio between foreground and background colors.  By meeting the WCAG 2.1 guidelines, you can ensure that your Hotspot-type question is accessible to a wider range of users, including those with visual disabilities.

To check if your chosen color meets the recommended contrast ratio, you can use a Color contrast checker or a similar tool. By meeting these guidelines, you can ensure your Hotspot question is accessible to a wider range of users.