Explanation:
Scalability
One of the most important qualities of a good assessment is that it can scale. In other words, you want it to be able to handle thousands of assessments at once. This is the whole purpose of online assessments. You need to be able to control testing remotely and in larger numbers than you can do in the physical world. The ability of assessments to scale up to what you expect is a key to having a reusable testing platform.
Data Security
Another chief factor in assessment longevity is the level of security that you have within your testing assessment methods. With so many students or job applicants with information in the database, you will want to make sure that it is secure. Remember that the more you scale up, the more you will need to increase the security level. This keeps all testers and their data safe from third parties and lowers the risk of data loss.
Reliability & Validity
Another test of credibility when it comes to finding assessments that work over the long-term is their reliability and validity. Both of these testing qualities are considered important by the educational world on both the primary and post-secondary levels. A good assessment should have both of these qualities to prove itself over time.
Reliability is the ability of a test to render reliable results over time. For example, if a test shows that a candidate or student is skilled at the computer or technical skills, and they were to take the test over again three months later, it should render similar results. This means the measurement could be used again later and still be considered a valid measure of what you are trying to test.
Validity is slightly different than reliability and addresses how much a test assesses what it is supposed to. This involves looking at specific test questions and scrutinizing what the questions are asking so that the test provides the right information needed for the purpose of the assessment.
Strong UI
Lean UI and UX are terms often used in hardware and app design to mean that the products should have a high level of user-friendliness and a user-friendly interface. The design and the format of a test are important. But it is most important how the user interacts with the systems you have in place and whether they are comfortable taking your tests. The navigation, search, and data accessibility should all be equally easy to use. If your user experience is a positive one, you are going to be more likely to reuse the tests over time than if users are frustrated with the process.
Adequate Categorization
Categorization is any important component in any well-organized assessment. If it is an academic evaluation, it should be categorized by subjects or topics. If it is an assessment for job applicants, the categories would likely span the various topics or skill areas that they might encounter on the job for which they are applying. Find an assessment system that allows you to have multiple options in categories so that you can design the test to fit your institution’s needs and goals.
Grading & Feedback Options
In addition to the other attributes, a good assessment should offer a sound way to grade the tests. Feedback should also be accessible and valuable to the test-taker. In HR and talent recruiting, for example, one purpose of the test may be to weed out less desirable candidates. But it may also be for the purpose of retraining or correcting current employees. So a good test of longevity needs to address both of these things.
Versatility
Another factor that affects an assessment’s longevity is its versatility. The ability of a test to be used in some situations and purposes is more likely to be valuable to your organization than one that you can only use one time. Versatility also means that the test applies to some different contexts, including new applicants, current employees, mid-level managers, and entry-level workers as well.
Customizable Features
Finally, if a test is going to be valuable over the long term, it needs to be customizable. Since there are so many different contexts and subgroups an organization may need to test at different times, you need to be able to change the input information so that it is adaptable to new situations, as they arise. This allows business managers to keep control of their testing process, as well as schools and colleges. By having a customizable test solution, you will be able to maintain the control at the top while changing the data and test questions as needed to fit the context.
The Solution
If you are looking for a high-yield all-in-one testing solution, Testofy.com has features that address all of these longevity features. From the basic standards of testing such as reliability and validity to versatility and feedback, our online testing system does it all. Testofy takes into account that each user is different, while also keeping the big picture in mind when it comes to testing large groups.
