Online Tests & Quizzes

The Online Test module gives students a secure, timed examination experience — with auto-save, server-synced timers, instant results, and detailed question-wise performance analysis.

1. Available Tests List

A filtered list of all tests assigned to the student's class, organized by status.

1.1 Test Status Categories

1.2 Test Card Details

• Test Name and subject
• Available From / To — exact date and time window
• Duration — e.g., "45 minutes"
• Total Questions — question count visible before attempting
• Instructions — expandable teacher notes about the test

2. Test Interface

When a student clicks "Take Test," they enter a secure, distraction-minimized examination environment.

2.1 Pre-Test Instructions Screen

• A full-screen modal shows test rules, duration, and question breakdown before the timer starts.
• "Start Test" Button: Clicking this starts the server-synced countdown timer. The student cannot pause the test after starting.
• Browser Tab Warning: A warning reads "Do not switch tabs during the test" — the system logs tab-switch events for teacher review.

2.2 Question Navigation

• One Question Per Screen (configurable by teacher) or all questions on a single scrollable page.
• Question Navigator Panel: A sidebar grid shows numbered buttons for each question. Colors indicate: Grey (not attempted), Green (answered), Amber (marked for review).
• Mark for Review: Students can flag a question for later review without submitting an answer — the navigator shows it in amber.
• Previous / Next Buttons: Navigate between questions freely. No linear lock (students can jump to any question).

2.3 Question Types Supported

2.4 Auto-Save

• Answers are auto-saved every 30 seconds via AJAX — no data loss if the browser crashes or loses connectivity momentarily.
• A small "Saved ✓" indicator appears in the corner after each auto-save.

2.5 Timer System

• Server-Synced Countdown: The timer is controlled by the server's clock, not the student's device time. Changing the device clock has no effect.
• Warning Levels:
  • 10 minutes remaining → amber timer background
  • 5 minutes remaining → red timer with pulsing animation
  • 1 minute remaining → full-screen red flash warning overlay
• Auto-Submit: When the timer reaches 0:00, all answers are automatically submitted. The student does not need to click anything — no answers are lost.

2.6 Manual Submit

• A "Submit Test" button is available at any time.
• Clicking triggers a confirmation dialog: "Are you sure? You have X unanswered questions."
• After confirmation, the test is submitted and the student is redirected to the results page.

3. Test Results

After submission, students can view detailed results immediately for auto-graded tests.

• Score Summary: "You scored 18 out of 25 (72%)" with a circular gauge.
• Question-wise Review: Each question shows:
  • The question text
  • The student's selected answer (green if correct, red if wrong)
  • The correct answer (shown in green)
  • Teacher's explanation (if the teacher added one)
• Performance Stats: Time taken, unanswered count, accuracy percentage.
• Class Average: How the student's score compares to the class average (no individual names shown).
• Short Answer Results: If the test had short-answer questions, results show "Pending Teacher Review" until the teacher grades manually.

Test Submission Flow

sequenceDiagram
    participant STU as Student Browser
    participant PHP as Test Engine
    participant SYS as System

    STU->>PHP: Click "Take Test"
    PHP->>SYS: Verify test window is active
    PHP->>SYS: Record test attempt start
    PHP-->>STU: Render questions (shuffled if configured)
    loop Every 30 seconds
        STU->>PHP: POST auto-save (selected answers)
        PHP->>SYS: Save answers
    end
    STU->>PHP: Click "Submit" OR timer expires
    PHP->>SYS: Mark attempt as submitted
    PHP->>PHP: Calculate score (correct answers × marks_per_q)
    PHP->>SYS: Save calculated score
    PHP-->>STU: Redirect to results page