Worksheet question

Introduction

A worksheet question is a question type where the candidate is shown a worksheet on the screen. Here answers can be filled in. These answers can be set by the author in various ways. For example, a candidate can choose from a drop-down menu or has to fill in their own answer, depending on the settings.

The worksheet question can be used for accounting questions and general ledger accounts, and for conjugating verbs, for example. This document explains how to create a worksheet question, along with some worked-out examples that can serve as a handle for designing new questions.

The worksheet question is automatically checked. If you do not want this, there is also a worksheet question available that is checked manually. See the article Worksheet open.

Creating a worksheet question

This section explains how to create a worksheet question and how the associated functions work. This requires a number of steps, which are explained here.

1. Select the question type “Worksheet” as shown in figure 1.

2. After creating a worksheet question, a new screen will appear. On the left of this screen are the elements of the question. These elements can be edited by clicking on them.

Clicking on the worksheet will make it possible to edit it. It contains a number of standard functions that are needed for a worksheet, such as indicating the type of data in the cells. It is possible to shade borders, merge cells and move the content within or between cells. Figure 3 shows what these functions look like, together with the standard layout of the worksheet. A new worksheet has a 5x5 cell layout. Adding and removing new rows or columns can be done by right-clicking on the worksheet.

3. The “Allow Candidate Input” function gives a cell a yellow color as in figure 3 (Cell A1). This means that a candidate can enter an answer here. In general, you leave a highlighted cell empty, because the candidate will enter an answer here. For cells without a color, the candidate cannot do this. Cells where no candidate input is expected can be used, for example, to show data that the candidate needs to answer the question.

Click on a cell and then on “Allow Candidate Input” to highlight the cell. Click the button again to unhighlight a cell.

4. The function “Add scoring range” (see figure 3) opens a new screen under the worksheet with the title Answer model, as in figure 4. Enter the correct answer of the cell in question here. In this case, the range is cell A1. The scoring range can also be made larger if the correct answer can be in any cell of a row or column, or of a part of the worksheet (rows/columns). If multiple values ​​in cells in the worksheet need to be checked, multiple scoring ranges need to be added.

Clicking on the worksheet will open it in the edit screen. It contains some standard functions needed for a worksheet, such as indicating the type of data in the cells. It is possible to shade edges, merge cells and move contents within or between cells. Figure 3 shows what these functions look like, along with the default worksheet layout. A new worksheet has a 5x5 cell layout. Adding and deleting new rows or columns can be done by right-clicking on the worksheet.

In the box “Cell Values”, the correct answer must be indicated. The candidate must ultimately enter this exact answer in order for points to be awarded. For example, if the answer could be X or Y, click on “Add Cell Value” to add an additional answer option for this cell.

5. Figure 4 shows two more options: “Search by” and “Apply score as”. The options can be found in Figure 5 and Figure 6.

• The “Search by” function indicates in how the software should search for answers.
• “Match value by cell” indicates that the answer is in one specific cell.
• “Match value by row” is used when the answer must be in one of the selected rows.
• “Match value by column” is used when the answer must be in one of the selected columns.

When searching for “Match value by row” or “Match value by column” for an answer model, the option ‘Cell values’ (see Figure 4) is called “Row values” or “Column values” respectively.

• The “Apply Score If” function (figure 6) indicates when an answer should be marked as correct. These options are the same for a cell, a row or a column.
• Apply score when cell / row / column is found: the answer is marked as correct when at least one of the specified values ​​in the range is filled in.
• Apply score when all cells / rows/ columns are found: if all entered values ​​within the range are filled in, the answer will be marked as correct.
• Apply different score per cell / row / column: this gives a value to a correct answer per cell / row / column. This option can be used to assign different scores to different answers. An extra “Score” option will appear next to the answer options where this can be entered. Where the score is normally indicated (next to the range), “Bonus Points” will now appear. These are awarded when all answers are correct. See example B (at the bottom of this page) for a setup for this scoring setup.

Creating lists

An important function for the worksheet question is the creation of lists. A list is for creating a special cell function, where the candidate is presented with a drop-down menu of choices. An answer must be selected from this drop-down menu, which can consist of one or more cells. This will be explained later in Example C. Figure 7 highlights the two corresponding buttons.

• Button 1 is used to assign a cell a search list function. This automatically gives the selected cell or cells the "Allow candidate entry" property, as this cell property is always for a candidate. To select from a list, it must first be created.

• Button 2 is for creating and managing lists. A list contains the options a candidate will later have to choose from. Multiple lists can be created per question. These cannot be used with other questions in the same question bank.

A list can contain a different number of cells. It is possible to enter an answer for only one cell or an answer consisting of several columns. The maximum width of an answer from a lookup list is 5 cells. RemindToets will also indicate this with a warning. The number of rows when managing a list is not equal to the number of rows on the worksheet, but to the number of different answers that will appear in the list.

Figure 8 shows the screen that appears after selecting the "Lists" button. Each list can be given a specific name, which returns when creating a response option. Each column can be assigned a name. This will be displayed to the candidate when an answer is selected. It can be specified whether a column contains text, numbers or amounts. A maximum of 5 columns can be included in a list.

Adding a new column can be done by using the "Add Column" button. These columns are automatically linked to the answer in the first column. This means that all columns are filled in on the worksheet when the candidate chooses an answer, even if they are not shown in the look-up list (see also example C). The function "Display column in look-up list" allows specific columns to be hidden from the candidate. At least one column must be visible, otherwise RemindoToets gives a warning.

Figure 8 shows three answer options set as an example. These are shown to the candidate in that order when used with a question. Answers can be entered in these three areas. Adding a row adds an extra answer option, which then also becomes visible to the candidate.

When no more adjustments are needed, all lists can be saved by clicking "Save lists".

After the lists are saved, they become visible when using the lookup list function (see figure 9). The screen shown in Figure 10 then opens. Here you can select from the created lists. It can also show which column should be selected from the list. This way it is possible to retrieve answers from different columns. Below that, there is the function to no longer show answers that were previously filled in in the list. Use this option when a candidate is allowed to use an answer option only once. Thus, when this function is not used, the candidate can choose the answer options several times.

The "Value for linked cells" function allows multiple columns to appear when the candidate has selected an answer. This can be done by specifying a cell on the worksheet in the "Cell" box. At "Include value from", a column can be selected. The value in that column then appears in the selected cell. These values are already linked when the list is created, it is not possible to adjust that here. See figure 8 to customise a list, or see example C to see what a look-up list with multiple values will look like.

Three examples

These examples are intended to give insight into the possibilites with the use of a worksheet question. They discuss how the question is structured and how the answer options are set up.

Example A: Formatting a balance sheet

Figure A1 shows a worksheet question. This worksheet contains eight cells where the candidate has to fill in an answer. The idea is to extract these answers from the text that appears above the worksheet and place them in the correct location.

The worksheet uses various formatting features, such as bold and italic words. Cells A1, B1 and C1 were merged using the "Merge Cells" function, see the symbol in figure A2. To do this, select all three cells by left-clicking on cell A1, holding it down and dragging it towards C1. Then click on the symbol to merge the cells.

 Some edges of cells have been thickened to create planes on the worksheet. This can be useful in a balance sheet, for example, as it allows the candidate to better distinguish between parts. This function is under the "Edges" button (figure A3).Again, it is possible to add edges to several cells at once by clicking on a cell, holding it down and dragging it to another cell. 

Figure A4 shows how the settings for cell F2 are arranged. The candidate is supposed to enter an amount in the cell because the "Allow candidate entry" option is enabled. By clicking on the cell and then setting it to "Treat data as: € (amount)", the candidate is required to enter a number. As soon as a letter is entered, it is automatically deleted. In addition, a euro sign (€) is automatically placed in front of the number when something is entered, so that it can be immediately seen that it is a monetary amount.
The answer model for this task has a separate scoring range for each completion area.

These appear side by side. Figure A5 contains the labels for each score range in Figure A1. Each range contains a single cell, whose name is identical to the cell's location on the worksheet. If the settings of a score range need to be adjusted, click on the corresponding label.

The answer model associated with cell F2 is shown in figure A6. There is 1 point to be earned for the correct answer. A match to this particular cell is searched, with the score applied if the correct answer is found in this cell. In this case, the answer is €100,000. A euro sign (€) is automatically placed in the cell value, because this is also how it is set on the worksheet.

These settings are set this way for all score ranges in this example, though with custom ranges and specific cell values.

Example B: Conjugate verbs

Figure B1 shows a worksheet question. This worksheet contains three columns of six cells each where the candidate has to fill in an answer. The idea is for the candidate to fill in the conjugated forms of the three verbs in the cells. See example A to see how cells are merged and how edges are made bold.
The answer model (Figure B2) for this question is set up so that a bonus point is awarded if all answers are correct. This means seven points are earned for six correct answers, but five points are earned for five correct answers, and so on.

The range is the same as the 12 cells in A2:B7, but only the cells in column B can be filled. The reason is that if only column B were in the answer model, "I walk" will also be approved. As the answer model is currently set up, RemindoToets also looks at column A. This column has already been filled in on the worksheet by the author and it is not possible for the candidate to modify it, as seen by the colour of the cell. With this setup, the specific combinations from the answer model are searched for, so only these are marked as correct. Please note that the given answers are capital sensitive! This applies to both column A and B, so be sure that the worksheet and answer model match.

It is also an option to create a separate scoring range for each cell as in example A, however, this would create 18 different ranges which hinders the overview. Also, bonus points cannot be awarded this way. If the answer model has to approve both 'loop' and 'LOOP', create multiple answer options. Think carefully about the best way to set up an answer model for a worksheet question.

Example C: setting up list answers

Figure C1 shows a worksheet question. This worksheet contains two columns of 10 cells each where the candidate can select an answer. In addition, there are two separate cells, B12 and D12, where an answer must be entered. The aim is for the candidate to fill in all available options in the list in the appropriate column. See Figure 7 in this manual to give a cell a 'Look-up List' function. There are ten fill-in options in columns A and C so as not to give away to the candidate how many values each column should eventually contain. In addition, the candidate has to add up the numbers that will appear and enter a number next to 'Total'.

The list used for this question is shown in Figure C2. Column 1 contains text that will be shown as an option to the candidate. Column 2 contains amounts associated with the option in column 1. These amounts will not be shown when the candidate selects an answer, as this option is not on. The columns show the ten answers with the amounts next to them. The yellow asterisks in column 1 indicate that those values were used in an answer model.

Figure C3a shows the settings for cell A2. The list selected concerns the one in figure C2, called 'Test'. When a candidate would select this cell, a look-up list would come up on the screen. This is shown in figure C3b, and as indicated earlier, the linked amounts are not visible here.

Figure C3a shows that cell B2 should contain the linked value from column 2. As shown in figure C2, the linked value to the 'Transport' option was €10.00. This therefore appears in cell B2, shown in figure C3c. This can be tested by saving the question and thus returning to the question bank overview. Note here that in cells B2 to B11 the "Treat data as:" function is set to 'Amount' (as had already been highlighted in figure A3). There is no need to turn on "Allow candidate input" for B2 to B11.

In this case, the answer model (Figure C4) checks whether the indicated six row values are in cells A2 to A11. This does not require the answers to be in this specific order, as long as each answer appears. The other four options from the list are entered in the same answer model, however, they have to be put in cells C2 to C11 (see figure C1). A separate scoring area has been created for this.

Disclaimer: This text was automatically translated from the Dutch version.