User Guide
Doc-To-Help Standard Manual
Cogent Computing Corporation
1: Introduction to CQuest LAN/PC
3: Creating Your First Test: CQuest DB
Authoring and Editing Questions
Hints or Notes for Students to View During a Practice Test
Making Tests Available for Students (Publishing)
4: Setting Test Options and Viewing Test Reports: CQuest Admin
Student Records: Adding and Editing New/Existing Students
CQuest Assessment Software is a set of teaching tools used for creating and administering computerized tests or exams, practice tests, preparation for certification tests, quizzes and questionnaires, or tutorials for any subject. Powerful and multi-media capable, this easy to use, flexible software package provides rapid question banking and test generation. CQuest saves all student responses, test times and scores, and provides statistical analysis and reports.
There are four programs within CQuest. CQSA.exe (located in the CQADmin6 directory is the launch pad to be used by Authors and Administrators (not those taking tests). From the Launch Pad you can view all documentation, create tests with CQuest DB, manage student records and set test properties with CQuest Administrator, and take tests with CQuest Test. Once tests have been taken, you can create a variety of reports with CQuest Administrator.
Below is an overview of the relationship of the CQuest DB, Administrator, and Testing programs.
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There are many new features in version 6, including rich text formatting for test questions, several new reports and the ability to organize, restrict and separate testing by groups or classes, with the new testpath feature, described on the next page.
CQuest Assessment software consists of three major program modules, CQuest DB, CQuest Admin, and CQuest Test. Each program module comes with a default password you must enter to use the program. For CQuest Admin and CQuest DB the initial password is cq6. For CQuest Test a default user name of 11111 and a default password of 11111 has been set up for you to use.
To begin using CQuest Assessment Software you will first want to create a test. To do so, double click the CQuest DB icon on your desktop.
Once you have opened CQuest DB you will be ready to begin creating tests. The following three sections walk you through the process of creating a new test, step-by-step.
1. Click the Create New Database button
2. Enter the name for the new database. A database is NOT a single test or a folder, it is a file that can hold multiple tests, much like a folder.
3. Enter the name of the first test in the database.
4. Click close. The database you just created is now ready for entering questions. The following section explains how to create test questions using your newly created database.
1. Click the Open Test Database button.
2. Select the new database you just created and click open. A new window will open.
3. To add questions to the database you just created, highlight the name of the test in the available tests sub-window and double click the test name or click the Edit Selected Test button.
IMPORTANT: If you click All Question Mode button to the right the test will open for editing but the questions that you type will not automatically be linked to a test. All questions must be linked to a test before a test taker can take a test containing the questions. It is suggested that you do not enter "All Question Mode" until you have become more familiar with CQuest Assessment Software.
4. You are now ready to begin authoring test questions. The following sections explains how to author questions.
1. The white space at the upper left hand side of the screen will say, "Replace this text with your first question. Insert future questions with CTRL-I, or the >? Toolbar button." This is where you will input your first question for the test. There are several different types of questions you can select with the mouse to the right of this white box.
2. You will also need to input an answer to the question in the spaces immediately below the question area. In order for the computer to grade the test you must also check the correct answer. (The correct answer will not be shown when the student takes the test.)
3.
After entering a question and answer(s) you can begin a new question by
typing "Ctrl-I" or by clicking the new question button 
on the toolbar.
4. All questions in CQuest DB are saved automatically. When you begin a new question or you close the editing window the questions are saved.
· Information Only: This type of question allows instructors to input text such as an introduction or special notes or instructions. These types of "questions" are not questions, there is no answer to be entered, they are just as the name suggests, information only. Information only questions appear on tests that students actually see.
· Multiple Choice: This type of question allows instructors to input a question and up to five possible answers. Once the question and answer choices have been entered, simply click the circle corresponding to the correct answer.
· Check All That Apply: This type of question allows instructors to input a question and up to five possible correct answers. In Check All That Apply type questions the instructor will write a question and up to five possible answers, and then click the box corresponding to all answers that are correct for that particular question, leaving answers that are incorrect unchecked. The student must check all correct answers for the question to be scored as correct.
· True/False: This type of question allows instructors to write a question that is either true or false. The instructor needs to select whether the correct answer is true or false by click the corresponding circle.
· Text Answer: This type of question allows instructors to write a question and a short answer in the answer area. The answer must be enclosed in brackets [] and the student response must be EXACT to have the test automatically graded by the computer. For example, the question may be: "What is 25 times 5?". Then in the answer area the instructor would write [125] and maybe a second choice of [125.0]. In the event that a student feels he or she got the correct answer the instructor may choose to review the student's response at a later time and change the grade if necessary. This is true for all question types.
1. CQuest DB gives users the option to add pictures, short video clips, or audio clips to tests. First, click the Media tab in the edit questions window, and then click Edit.
2. In
the new window you can choose to add a picture, video, or audio clip. Click
the appropriate folder button 
for either a picture or
multi-media file.
3. Once the media has been selected you have the option to resize it to better fit in the test screen.
4. Click Save and Close and the media will be added to the test.
1. If you wish to provide students with additional information, hints, or notes for a specific question you may click the Notes/Ref tab in the edit questions window.
2. In the appropriate box add either a note or reference for the student to view during the test. The notes/references will be saved automatically.
3. The Notes/References will show only in a practice test and in the test review for all tests. The Notes/References will NOT be visible during actual tests.
1. Before you will be able to take tests that you have created you must publish the test. From the main screen for CQuest DB click the Publish Databases to Test Folders button.
2. Locate
the test database you wish to publish on the left. Click the Add button
3. Remember to click the Include Media Files checkbox to also copy the media files associated with any tests in the database.
4. Select the folder in the top right box that you wish to publish the test to. Since this is your first time publishing tests you probably want to just publish to the default folder that is already selected. NOTE: You must publish the tests to either Data in CQuest Test or a subdirectory of Data. Tests not in this location will not be available for testing. You may however create as many subdirectories under data as you would like.
5. Once all the previous steps are complete click the Publish button at the bottom of the screen. Tests are now published and you may exit the publish screen.
CQuest Administrator allows users to create and edit student records, set options for specific tests, view test reports in a number of different categories, to manage the way data is stored, and back up files.
To begin using CQuest Administrator double click the CQuest Administrator icon on your desktop.
NOTE: Recall the PASSWORD for CQuest Administrator is cq6.
1. In order for students to take tests they must each have a unique I.D. CQuest software allows you to attach a name and other information to each student I.D. number. To begin creating student I.D. numbers open CQuest Administrator and click the Student Records button.
2. At the top of the screen click add new I.D.
3. A window will open with various fields to be filled out for a student. You are only required to fill out the student I.D. and password. NOTE: The default password for each student is cquest, unless this password is changed in this screen the student's password will remain cquest. Fill out whatever other fields you need. Reports can be selected and sorted by many of these fields.
4. Click save and you are done.
1. To edit an existing student's records open CQuest Administrator and click the Student Records button.
2. At the top left of the window that opens up, a drop down box will be highlighted. Scroll down to the student I.D. that you would like to edit and click it.
3. Make changes and click save to exit.
CQuest Assessment Software version 6 allows instructors to view numerous computer-generated reports on students. If this is your first time using CQuest Assessment Software and no tests have been taken there will be no data in any of the reports. The best way to make use of this portion of the software package is to take a couple sample tests for yourself and view the data in various ways to see what reports are available.
This option allows users to view test data in tables similar to the tables seen in Microsoft Excel software. Data may be viewed for individual students as well as for entire groups. You may also filter the data to show one specific test or all tests.
At the bottom of the screen there is also an option to Export Data to Tab Delimited File. This allows the user to easily copy the data from the table to a .txt file viewable in notepad. The exported file may be used to import into other software applications, such as spreadsheets.
To export the data to a tab delimited file select the filters you want (i.e. one student/all students etc…) and the directory in the lower right of the window that you want to export the file to. Name the file and click the big Export Data button.
Student Category Reports allows users to view attractive, printable reports of test data with many categories to sort by including student's department, administrator, I.D. number, etc… The reports can be viewed for specific dates or for all dates. These reports are very easy to view, arrange, and use. For even more detailed reports there are many other ways to view student reports, such as the View Test/Response Table Data report category.
Student Test Reports are very useful reports. They allow instructors to view reports on either specific students or entire classes and allow instructors to select a date range. There are also up to four optional categories, such as I.D. number, test name, and score to have the report display. These reports are printable.
General Test Statistics allow instructors to view student grade statistics for specific tests. For example, the instructor can select which test to view statistics for, and a certain date range. Statistics such as the minimum and maximum score and the average will be displayed.
To view General Test Statistics for a particular test click the General Test Statistics button under Test Reports in CQuest Admin. Select the test from the drop down menu and click Show/Refresh Statistics. Anytime a different test is selected you will need to click Show/Refresh Statistics. Users also have the option to print the on-screen statistics.
Question Analysis Reports allow instructors to view reports for individual tests, which highlight how the students did overall for each question. Users will be able to see, for example, how many students checked B instead of A on a multiple choice type question. This allows instructors to identify weak areas in students' knowledge of the subject, or question validity.
To view Question Analysis Reports for a certain test click the Question Analysis Reports button under Test Reports in CQuest Admin. Click the Open Test File button and navigate to the test you wish to view reports for. Then click the large Question Analysis Report button. A printable report will be generated.
In CQuest Administrator you may set options for particular tests by clicking the Set Test DB Options button. Test options include, but are not limited to, things like setting time limits for test, setting a pass/fail percentage, and choosing to display or to not display scores to students at the end of tests. To begin using these features open CQuest Administrator and click the Set Test DB Options.
1. There are many options to configure within this screen. First, you will need to open a test database by clicking Open Question db at the top of the screen. Navigate to the test database you wish you open, and click open.
2. When you begin to configure options in this screen the options will apply to all tests in the database you select. Most of the options available in this screen are very self-explanatory. The options available in the purple mid-section of the screen only apply to practice tests.
3. Test randomization is a very useful option. Many times instructors wish to have test questions appear in a random order to help avoid cheating or to generate a different sub-set of questions each time a list is taken. The options in the black area are for randomizing questions.
a. You may choose to randomize the questions on each test in the database, or to randomly select questions from multiple tests in the database.
b. To automatically randomize questions for any test in the selected database check the bubble next to "Shuffle question order for any test in this file, when the test is taken in CQuest Test."
c. To have CQuest assessment software randomly choose questions from multiple tests check the bubble next to "Randomly select questions from table below; enter name for random test." The test names for the tests in the database will be displayed in the table at the bottom right. For each test you can select how many questions to put on the randomized test. You must select at least one question from at least one test. To select the number of questions for each test double the data field under "#Q" and type in the number of questions in the window that is displayed.
i. You will also need to type a name in the text box labeled Name for Random Test.
4. Once you have finished configuring the test options click Save File Options in the lower right hand corner. Your test options will be configured and you do NOT need to publish the tests again.
CQuest Administrator features a database utilities manager. From the database utilities screen users can manage test data, back up important files, compress and repair databases. This utility has proved itself to be very useful, but because it is an advanced feature details concerning this feature's use are provided in the CQuest Administrator User Manual available through the help file in CQ Administrator.
CQuest Test allows users to take tests authored in CQuest DB, take practice tests if the administrator has allowed it, and to review tests if the administrator has allowed it. Each student I.D. is allowed to access only the test databases that administrators have given permission for.
To start using CQuest Test double click the CQuest Test icon located on your desktop.
Once you have opened CQuest Test you may click the Take or Review Tests button. A new screen will appear.
1. From the drop down menu students will need to select their I.D., and enter their password in the password box. Students may then click the button immediately below the password box labeled Open Test File.
2. A window will open and the students should double click the appropriate test database. The test names in that database will appear in the white box immediately below the Open Test File button.
3. Next, students should single click to highlight the appropriate test.
4. If available, students may choose to click the bubble for Take Practice Test in order to take the test as a practice test.
5. Once the appropriate test has been selected click Start Test.
6. Taking tests is very simple. Select the correct answer with the mouse and click the next arrow at the bottom of the page. Question responses are saved automatically and students can go back to previously answered or unanswered questions. Once a response has been entered for all test questions, click the Finish Test button at the top right portion of the screen. Testing is then complete.
Students have the option to review tests they have already taken if the administrator allows them to.
1. From the drop down menu students will need to select their I.D. number, and enter their password in the password box. Students may then click the button immediately below the password box labeled Open Test File.
2. A window will open and the students should double click the appropriate test database. The test names in that database will appear in the white box immediately below the Open Test File button.
3. Next, students should single click to highlight the appropriate test.
4. At the bottom right of the screen students will see the review options. To review a test, first select whether or not to review all questions, or just the questions that were missed. Click the Review Test button.
5. A table will appear, double click any field in the table to view a report for the particular test you are interested in. Once you are finished close the report.
When it comes to choosing assessment software we encourage you to e-mail us at support1@cogentcorp.com.
If you have purchased a Software Update and Maintenance Agreement, you are eligible for priority technical support. Please refer to that document for contact information, and make sure to have your customer number ready. Your customer number is displayed on the CQuest Launch Pad (CQSA.exe)
We also offer a support area with Frequently Asked Questions on our website http://www.cqtest.com/support
Visit our Web Site for information on new releases, new products, existing products or other customer-related notes.
We welcome suggestions for enhancements/improvements to our software.
Web Site
Support Site
support1@cogentcorp.com
Telephone
(505) 556-8518 Voice
(951) 257-7661 Fax
Mailing Address
Cogent Computing Corporation
2455 E. Missouri Suite A
Las Cruces, NM 88001