Feedback Options for Blackboard Tests

Blackboard has several different test feedback options which determine what students see once they receive their test scores. 

Please note that whatever settings you choose in “Show Test Results and Feedback to Students,” students will always be able to see their test scores (numerical) after they complete an automatically graded test (in My Grades).

Types of Assessment

If the exam or quiz is formative (ex, a weekly quiz), we recommend that the student is allowed to see the questions and all possible answers, points earned per question, their submitted answer and the correct answer, and feedback per question (if provided). We recommend that the “After Submission” option  is selected so that students can view their results immediately. The “One-Time” view should be avoided so that students can review the results as often as they’d like. 

The below recommendations are for Summative Assessments such as high-stakes tests, or a final exam:

*Click on the image for enlarged view.

Accessing the “Show Test Results and Feedback to Students” area 

  1. To access the Test Options, click the drop down arrow next to the test title and select “Edit the Test Options”.

2. Then, scroll down the page to “Show Test Results and Feedback to Students”.

Feedback Option Rules

You will see two feedback option rules. You might use both feedback rules when you only wish students to see their score immediately after submission, but full details of their attempt including the correct answers and feedback to each question once all attempts have been graded at a later date (see above table for specific recommendations).

Summary of “When” Options

  1. Immediately After Submission. Students can see their test results immediately after they have submitted their answers, subsequently if they still have access to the test link, and in the My Grades tool where the grade column isn’t hidden from student view
  2. One-time View only. Students can see their test results once only after submitting their answers. After students submit their test, the selected results and feedback options are in effect for students to view ONCE. However, students can always view the scores they earned unless you hide the Grade Center column from students. Immediately after a student navigates away from the test or survey, any other results and feedback are restricted. 
  3. On Specific Date. Students can see their test results on or after a specific date set by you, e.g. the date when you know that all students will have taken the test and all attempts are  graded
  4. After Due Date. If a Due Date has been applied to the test and this option is chosen, this will be the date from which students can see their results. Remember students can still attempt Tests after the Due Date if they have not yet completed their attempt or where multiple attempts are permitted. If you only wish students to see the test results after the test is no longer available use the After Availability End Date option
  5. After Availability End Date. If an Availability End Date is specified for the test and this option is chosen, this will be the date from which students can see their results
  6. After Attempts are Graded. If the test includes Essay, Short Answer or File Response question types which must be manually graded, the results will only be available to student after all attempts have been graded by the instructor. If one or more students do not submit an attempt, you must assign a grade of 0 so that all students can view the chosen results and feedback.

Feedback Settings

  1. Score per question (Automatically set by default) – Shows the overall test scores and the scores earned for each individual question. PLEASE NOTE: if you leave this default box checked, ALL of the exam questions (but not the answer choices) will be available for the student to view after they submit their exam.
  2. Score per question (Automatically set by default) – Shows the overall test scores and the scores earned for each individual question. PLEASE NOTE: if you leave this default box checked, ALL of the exam questions (but not the answer choices) will be available for the student to view after they submit their exam.
  3. All Answers – Shows the questions and all answer choices.
  4. Correct – Shows the questions and correct answers.
  5. Submitted – Shows the questions and the answer choices selected by students.
  6. Feedback – Shows the questions and any instructor feedback messages for each question.
  7. Show Incorrect Questions – Shows the questions and the answer choices selected by students with an indication that the answer is incorrect.

If you check NONE of the Check-boxes –(only the overall test score displays):

Visual guide of feedback options if all options are selected:

  • Scores per question – Yes
  • All answers – Yes
  • Correct answers – Yes
  • Submitted answers – Yes
  • Show Incorrect questions – Yes

*Click on the image for enlarged view.