SAM in MindTap Instructor HelpSkip to start of content.

Create an Exam

Create exams with tasks and questions that you choose.

  1. From MindTap, click + Add / Create > Activity > SAM-Assignment.
  2. Click Exams.

    The Exams page lists all existing exams.

    To do this Do this
    View exams from this course. Click Exams in this course.
    View exams from other courses. Click Other Exams.
    Sort the list Click a column heading.
    Preview an exam Click Preview beside the exam name.
    Find a specific exam Type part of the exam name in the search box.
  3. Click Add Exam.
  4. Enter your exam information.
    Exam Name
    Unique display name.
    Auto-generate companion training

    Create a training assignment covering the same content as your exam.

    If needed, change the training name.

    You must generate a companion training to create a SAM Path Assignment.

  5. Click Next Step.
  6. Select which content source to use for tasks and questions.
    • To filter tasks and questions by textbook, select up to three available textbooks.
    • To show all tasks and questions, select Make all SAM Tasks available.
  7. If you selected a textbook, click Make all SAM tasks available or select chapters to assign tasks from. Then, click Next Step.
  8. Select questions or tasks to use in your assignment.
    • To filter by chapter or subject, select a topic or subject from the tabbed list.
    • To filter by question or task type, select Testbank Questions, Tasks, or Custom Questions.
    • To preview a task, click preview.
    • To see all the questions and tasks you have added, click View All.
  9. Click Save.

    To save the exam to be scheduled later, click Done.

    To schedule the exam now:

    1. Click Schedule.
    2. Complete the assignment and scheduling options.
      Assignment Name
      Unique name for your assignment.
      Instructions
      Additional instructions for students.
      Scoring and Delivery Options
      Configure your exam.
      Pass/Fail
      Students must answer your percentage of questions correctly to receive a pass grade. Students who score below this threshold receive fail grades.
      Specify time limit
      Students have your number minutes to complete the assignment. The time begins when the student first launches their assignment.
      Allow SAM exam to be retaken
      Students can retake the exam 1-50 times before submitting it for a final grade.
      Randomize tasks / questions
      Students receive exam questions or tasks in random order.
      Display results at end of exam
      Show students their score after they finish the exam.
      Practice
      The assignment does not affect student grades.
      Restrictive Mode
      Students can only navigate to tabs, menus, or dialog boxes that lead to the correct answer. Students can still scroll, expand or collapse pane drop downs within the ribbon.
      Task Options

      Configure tasks in the exam.

      Scenarios
      To assign a specific version of the exam:
      1. Click Modify Scenarios.
      2. Select a scenario.
      3. Click OK.
      Note Not all tasks have multiple scenarios.
      Display feedback for each task / item
      Show students feedback after each task.
      Specify incorrect actions per task

      Students can attempt each task 1-10 times before it is marked incorrect.

      Students are shown the number of remaining attempts.

      Specify password for student access
      Prevent students from starting until they enter a password that you provide.
      Best Practice Leave this field blank and set a password in the Assign to Course window. Passwords set in that step are easier to retrieve and edit.
      Specify when students can view reports
      • Never make reports available to students
      • Make student reports always available beginning 12:00 AM

        Select the first date on which reports are available.

      • Make student reports available

        Select both start and end dates and times for reports to be available.

      Display Playback in Student Study Guide
      When enabled, students can view playback of their incorrect tasks in the Playback column in the Study Guide report after the due date or when all attempts are completed.

      Not available if Specify when students can view reports is turned off.

    3. Click Schedule.
    4. In the Editing Activity window, set the activity title, description, dates, and location in the learning path to assign the activity to your course.
      Title
      Label for the activity in the learning path.
      Description
      Information or instructions displayed when the activity is opened.
      Require Password
      Password protection for scoreable activities to prevent students from accessing them ahead of time.
      Available Date
      When students can start work on the activity.
      Due Date
      When students must end work on the activity.
      Associated Topic
      Textbook topic related to the activity.
      Order Within Topic
      Position in the learning path under the specified topic.
    5. Click Add.