# Build or Generate Tests
VEGA AI provides two types of tests for educators: **Practice Tests** and **Structured Tests**. Both are designed to meet specific assessment needs, from quick evaluations to comprehensive exams. In this guide, we will explain every feature and option available in detail to ensure educators can use this feature effectively.
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#### **Practice Tests**
**Overview**
Practice tests are designed to help students strengthen specific skills or concepts. VEGA AI offers multiple ways to create practice tests:
1. **Generate Practice Tests Using AI**: Automatically create tests by specifying topics, difficulty levels, or other parameters.
2. **Build Practice Tests Manually**: Customize your test by selecting specific questions from the Question Database.
Practice tests include options like:
* **Exit Ticket Generator**: A quick assessment tool to measure students' understanding at the end of a lesson.
* **Quiz Generator**: Create quizzes to assess knowledge on specific topics.
* **Assignment Generator**: Design detailed assignments covering multiple concepts.
* **Homework Generator**: Create tasks for students to practice at home.
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**Step-by-Step Guide for Practice Tests**
**Access the Practice Tests Section**:
* Go to the "Practice Tests" tab on the course dashboard. This section shows the test creation options and a list of previously created tests (if any).
**Create a New Practice Test**:
* You can either:
* **Generate with AI**: Click on one of the test generators (e.g., Quiz Generator) to create a test automatically based on your inputs.
* **Build Manually**: Use the "Build Manually" option to create a test by selecting specific questions from the Question Database.
**Generate a Test Using AI**:
* Choose the type of test (Quiz, Assignment, etc.).
* Select the **question type** (MCQs, Passage-based, or Open-ended Questions).
* Specify the **number of questions**.
* Optionally, upload reference material like syllabi or notes or provide a brief description of the topic and desired difficulty level.
* VEGA AI will generate a test based on your inputs. You can preview, edit, or finalize the questions before saving the test.
## **Build a Test Manually**:
* Click on "Build Manually" and provide a name for the test.
* Select the type of test (Assignment, Quiz, Homework, or Exit Ticket).
* Use the **Question Database** to pick specific questions:
* **Filters Available**: You can filter questions by difficulty level, topic, type (MCQ, Open-ended), and verification status.
* **Preview Questions**: Before adding, you can preview each question to ensure it fits your requirements.
* Add questions one by one to the test.
1. **Finalize the Practice Test**:
* After adding questions, review the list in the "Selected Questions" section.
* You can remove any question by clicking the delete icon next to it.
* Once the test is finalized, click "Create" to save it.
2. **Assign the Practice Test**:
* Assign the test to a batch of students or specific individuals.
* Set the **start and end date** for the test.
* Decide if you want the test to be available for free to all students.
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#### **Structured Tests**
**Overview**
The **Structured Test** feature on VEGA AI empowers academic institutions and educators to design summative assessments that simulate real-world exams such as the SAT, GRE, or institutional mock tests. These tests are modular, customizable, and ideal for benchmarking learner performance across multiple skill areas.
This guide walks you through the full lifecycle of creating a structured test, selecting questions, configuring modules, and applying performance analytics all within VEGA Prep.
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**Step-by-Step Guide for Structured Tests**
#### Step 1: Navigate to the Structured Test Section
From the left sidebar, navigate to **Courses → Structured Tests**. This section lists all your existing structured tests with metadata such as section and module counts.
Click on the **“Create New Test”** button on the top-right to begin test creation.
#### Step 2: Add Basic Test Info
You’ll land on a two-step setup process:
1. **Add Basic Test Info**
2. **Define Metrics (Optional)**
In the first step, fill out the following:
* **Test Name:** Use a clear naming convention like `SAT Reading – Passage 1`.
* **Test Description:** Briefly describe the purpose of the test, number of sections/modules, and what students can expect.
*Example:*\
`This SAT Reading section includes a passage-based comprehension test with 1 section and 1 timed module.`
* **Test Instructions:** Provide guidance to the learner. Markdown is supported.
*Example:*\
`Read the passage thoroughly. Answer the questions based on textual evidence, vocabulary in context, and author’s intent.`
* **Number of Sections:** Default is 1. Increase if building a full-length test.
Click **Create** to proceed to section setup.
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#### Step 3: Configure Section Details
Each section is where you define the layout and rules of the test's logical segments.
**Fill in:**
* **Section Name:** e.g., “Reading Comprehension”
* **Section Instructions:** Custom instructions specific to the section.
* **Section Reference Information:** Use this to describe any context or passage attached.
* **Section Reference Image (Optional):** Upload any diagrams or visual context.
* **Is this section adaptive?** Select “No” for SAT-style static modules.
**Module Setup:**
Each section supports 1–2 modules.
* **Module Name:** e.g., “Module 1: Passage A”
* **Module Duration:** Typically 20 minutes for 10 questions.
* **Question Count:** Set to 10 for a mini-assessment.
* **Access to Calculator:** “No” for Reading and Writing modules.
* **Section Interval:** Enable if you want to space sections (default 10 seconds between).
Click **Next** after setting up the modules.
#### Step 4: Add Questions to the Module
Once your module is defined:
1. Click into the module and select “Choose Questions.”
2. Use filters like **Question Type**, **Subject**, **Topic**, and **Difficulty**.
3. Select relevant questions from the database. You can select up to 10 (or as needed).
4. Click **Done** to save your selections.
Questions are now linked to your module. You’re ready to move on to performance analytics.
### Adding Test Metrics & Analytics
Once your test structure is in place, VEGA AI allows you to embed **data-rich performance analytics** through *Ring* and *Box* visualizations. These metrics help educators, students, and institute admins assess test performance with clarity, precision, and insight.
You can access this by proceeding to the **“Define Metrics (optional)”** stage of the test creation flow.
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#### Why Metrics Matter
Structured Tests are not just static assessments—they’re diagnostic tools. With the help of **metrics**, VEGA AI:
* Visualizes learner performance using smart charts
* Provides scaled scores & percentile benchmarks
* Enables mastery tracking
* Helps educators intervene with precision
There are **two metric sections**:
1. **Ring Section** – Visual analytics (Apple Watch-style donut charts)
2. **Box Section** – Tabular breakdowns for detailed reporting
Let’s break down how to configure both.
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#### Ring Section: Visual Summary Analytics
**What It Is:**
The **Ring Section** displays up to **4 key metrics** in a concentric circle chart. This gives learners and educators a snapshot of how the student performed overall.
**How to Configure:**
* **Section Name**: e.g., `Ring Section 1`
* **Select Metrics**: Click the dropdown and choose up to four.
**For example: Recommended Metrics for SAT-style Tests:**
| Metric Name | Description |
| ------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Digital SAT Scaled Score** | Combined score out of 1600 (based on reading, writing, math) |
| **Digital SAT Reading and Writing Scaled Score** | Scaled performance in verbal sections |
| **Digital SAT Mathematics Scaled Score** | Scaled performance in math sections |
| **Digital SAT Scaled Score and Percentile** | Includes both score and percentile relative to others |
> Tip: The ring section works best when used to *summarize* top-level performance, so select metrics that give learners an immediate pulse check.
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#### Box Sections: Detailed Score Reports
**What It Is:**
**Box Sections** provide a grid-style performance breakdown. You can add multiple box sections if needed.
**How to Configure:**
* **Box Section Name**: e.g., `Box Section 1: Short Diagnostics`
* **Select Metrics**: Choose from the same list as Ring Section but structure them across row/column pairs for precise analytics.
**Suggested Use:**
* **Box Section 1**:\
\&#xNAN;*Metric:* `Digital SAT Short Test Diagnostics Scaled Score and Percentile`
* **Box Section 2**:\
\&#xNAN;*Metric:* `Digital SAT Short Diagnostics Test Math Scaled Score and Percentile`
You can even break metrics down by subject, time spent per question, mastery levels, or custom institutional scores—depending on the sophistication of your diagnostic strategy.
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#### 🎯 Best Practices for Metrics
* Always include at least one scaled score metric in the **Ring Section**
* Use **Box Sections** for detailed insights, especially for instructors during review
* Name your sections clearly so students can interpret the charts without confusion
* Avoid adding metrics you don’t plan to explain or act on
Once metrics are set, click **Save** to finalize your test.
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Once your structured test is built and metrics are in place, the final phase involves **publishing**, **assigning**, and **tracking** test delivery. VEGA AI ensures that this process is smooth, time-bound, and completely auditable.
This section covers:
* Test dashboard management
* Student preview workflow
* Assignment flow & access control
* Important post-assignment constraints
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#### Test Dashboard Overview
From the **Structured Tests** panel under any course (e.g., `DIGITAL_SAT`), you’ll see a centralized list of all created tests, with critical summary data:
| Column | Purpose |
| ------------------ | ------------------------------------------- |
| **Test Name** | Internal title used for filtering/searching |
| **Sections** | Total logical parts in the test |
| **Modules** | Total timed blocks inside sections |
| **Type** | `STRUCTURED TEST` |
| **Action Buttons** | `Preview`, `Assign`, and `Edit` options |
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#### Previewing the Student Experience
Before deploying, you can always **simulate the student view** by clicking the **Preview** button:
* See each section and module as a learner would
* Confirm the number of questions per module
* Ensure instructional copy and layout is clean
* Identify and resolve any setup issues *before* it goes live
This is crucial for maintaining test integrity and UX quality.
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#### 📤 Assigning the Test
Click **Assign** to open the assignment modal. This is where you set:
**1. Batch/Student Selection**
* Assign to entire **batches** or individual **students**
* Use dropdowns to search & select
* Ideal for staggered release to different cohorts
**2. Date & Time Window**
* **Start/End Dates:** Define a testing window during which students can access the test
* **Start/End Time:** Controls hourly access per day
* **Timezone:** Defaults to admin locale; adjust as needed
**3. Critical Note**
> **Once assigned, the test is locked. No changes can be made.**\
> This ensures data sanctity and consistency across performance tracking.
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#### ✅ Recap: Assignment Best Practices
| Do | Avoid |
| ---------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- |
| Preview every test before assigning | Assigning without a time window |
| Use clear test titles (e.g. DSAT Mock 12) | Renaming tests after assignment |
| Match metric titles using recommended patterns | Using ambiguous or non-standard metric names |
| Assign in advance with a defined access window | Assigning to the wrong cohort without review |
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With the test created, assigned, and metrics live, you're fully equipped to **analyze performance** and deliver high-quality assessments that are standardized, scalable, and student-centric.
