Levels and the placement test

A course can have levels, such as A1, A2 and B1. Each class teaches one of them, and the course’s placement test decides a new learner’s level: a short multiple-choice test they take after asking to join, whose score places them at one of the course’s levels.

Each course has its own levels and its own test. Open a course from Teaching → Courses by pressing its name.

Levels

1. Under Levels, press Add A1 to C2 for the usual six, or Add a level for a name of your own, such as Beginner or IELTS 6.

2. Put them lowest first. Move up and Move down change the order, and Remove level takes one out.

3. Press Save the levels. Levels saved. confirms it.

Renaming a level renames it everywhere: on its classes and in the test’s results.

A class then chooses its level. In the group form, Level lists the course’s levels; No particular level is for a class at none.

Set up the test

The test is under the course’s levels. It is off until you switch it on, and nobody sees anything while it is off.

1. Switch on Ask new learners to take it.

2. Give it a Title, and a Time limit (minutes) if you want one. Leave the time limit empty for no limit.

3. Under Questions, write each question and its options. Tick the Right answer: every question has exactly one, and 2 to 6 options. A test has up to 60 questions. Add an option and Add a question add more.

4. Under Score bands, Add a band for each level: From a score, it places into a level. Bands start at a score and run up to the next, so they cover every score from 0 to 100%.

5. Press Save the test. Saved. confirms it.

Each band places into one of the course’s levels, so save the levels first. With none yet, the test says Add this course’s levels first: each band places into one.

Only someone who can change courses can edit the levels or the test.

If something goes wrong

Save the levels refuses:

• every level needs a name, two levels are called B1: name each level once.

Save the test refuses a test that would not work, and says why:

• give the test a title before turning it on, add a question before turning the test on, add a score band before turning the test on: a test that is on needs all three.
• question 2 has no right answer chosen, question 2 has an empty option: fix that question.
• the first score band starts at 0%: the lowest band must start at 0, so every score places somewhere.
• two score bands start at the same score, every score band places into a level: each band needs its own starting score and a level.
• the time limit is between 1 and 240 minutes: or leave it empty.

What learners see

• A learner who asks to join your academy is offered your tests right after, and can take them later from your academy’s page until they have. With more than one course’s test, they choose the course.
• Taking it is optional for them, and they take each course’s test once: there are no retakes.
• When the time limit is up, what they answered is handed in.
• They see their level, not which answers were right.

When you invite a student by email, the invitation can ask them to take it too: tick Ask them to take the placement test after signing up. It is off unless you tick it.

Who took it

Who took it, at the bottom of the test, lists every learner who took this course’s test: the Learner, their Score, the Level it placed them at, and when they took it (Taken).

The result also shows on that learner’s request in Requests, where Accept lists the classes at their level first, and on their student profile.

Changing the test later does not change anybody’s result: each keeps the score and level it had.