Question pools and question banks in Blackboard tests

The terminology used in Tests in Blackboard Learn Ultra has changed. Two main terms that are different are Question pools and Question banks:

In Ultra, a collection of questions from which a random selection can be displayed is called a Question pool. Question Pools ensure each student receives a different version of a test.

A Question Bank is a database of questions that can be reused in multiple assessments. These collections of questions are stored for repeated use across multiple tests.

Take a closer look at how they are used below.

Question pools

Question Pools can be used to present students with a different version of a test. When creating a Test, you can use the Pools setting to enable you to choose multiple questions from another test or from a Question bank and select a set number to display to students.

For example, you can set the Pool to display 10 questions from a test with 100 questions.

1. Create a New Test.

2. To add a question pool to the test, select the plus sign at the point in the test you wish it to appear. Select Add question pool from the menu.

Open

2. On the Add Question Pool page, select Filter to open the Filter Criteria panel and choose individual questions, from selected assessment and/ or question banks. You can also filter by question types to select specific questions to include in the pool. As you make selections, the number of selected items appears above the panel next to Filter. Select the X to close the panel and increase the area to view questions. 

Open

3. Click Add Questions.

4. On the next screen, indicate the number of questions to display to students and click Save.

Before students open a test, you can add, remove, and edit individual questions in a question pool. When you remove a question in a pool, the question isn't deleted from your course. You can also delete a pool or move a pool to a new location in the test.

Question banks

In Blackboard Learn Ultra, a Question bank is a collection or database of questions that can be reused in multiple tests. You can create new question banks or import existing ones to use in your courses.

You can view, edit or add new question banks via Manage banks in the Details & Actions section of your course's main page. 

The following options are available in Question Banks:

1. Create new, empty question banks in your Ultra courses

2. View and search for questions within a question bank

3. Add, edit, and delete all aspects of a question within new and existing question banks

4. Copy questions from other banks or assessments into a question bank

5. Import Question pools from Original courses to Ultra by selecting the plus + sign on the Question Banks panel. Then select New from the dropdown menu.

Create a Question Bank

1. To create a question bank from scratch, choose + New and begin to add questions manually.

2. To import an existing question bank, it must be saved as .zip and then you can upload it from your device or from an online folder.

Reusing questions 

You can reuse questions from other tests or question banks in any test that you create. When you re-use questions you are creating a copy of questions. This means that if you choose to re-use the question and edit it in a new test, edits will not be replicated in the original question.

1. Select + Reuse questions from the dropdown menu when you are in the test.

2. On the Reuse questions page, you can browse, preview, filter, and select questions created or imported into your course.

3. You can view the questions, but you can't make edits until you copy the questions to your assessment.

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Useful Links

• Reuse Questions  

• Question Banks  

• Question Pools  

• Blackboard Help video: Create Tests