Method and system for computer based testing using an amalgamated resource file

A system for computer based testing for at least one test, the at least one test having a presentation format and data content, comprising:

• a storage device comprising a first storage location, a second storage location, and a third storage location, the first storage location storing a first segment of a test definition language, the second storage location storing a second segment of the test definition language, and the third storage location storing a third segment of the test definition language, wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment comprise at least one of the data content, the presentation format, progression, scoring, printing, timing, and results reporting of the at least one test;
• a validation expansion module, in operative data communication with the storage device, that validates the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment of the test definition language, and stores the first segment to one of the first storage location, the second storage location, and the third storage location, the second segment to another one of the first storage location, the second storage location, and the third storage location, and the third segment to another one of the first storage location, the second storage location, and the third storage location;
• a test packager, in operative data communication with the storage device and the validation expansion module, that, during production of the at least one test, transmits the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment of the test definition language to the validation expansion module such that the validation expansion module is capable of validating the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment, determines to which of the first storage location, the second storage location, and the third storage location in the storage device the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment are stored by the validation expansion module, amalgamates the first storage location, the second storage location, and the third storage location and stores an amalgamated segment of the test definition language in a first virtual storage location, and transmits the amalgamated segment to the validation expansion module such that the validation expansion module is capable of determining a complete and valid set of the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment of the test definition language;
• and
• a test driver, in operative data communication with the storage device and the validation expansion module, comprising an executable code that controls functionality performed by the test driver that enables the test driver to deliver the at least one test to an examinee using a display device, manage the at least one test, control progression of the at least one test, control scoring of the at least one test, control printing of the at least one test, control timing of the at least one test, and control reporting of test results based on the test definition language, the test driver, during delivery of the at least one test, amalgamating the first storage location, the second storage location, and the third storage location into a second virtual storage location such that the validation expansion module is capable of retrieving the amalgamated segment from the second virtual storage location to enable the functionality of the test driver.

A system for computer based testing for at least one test, the at least one test having a presentation format and data content, comprising:

• first storage means for storing a first segment of a test definition language;
• second storage means for storing a second segment of the test definition language, wherein the first segment and the second segment define information comprising at least one of the data content, the presentation format, progression, scoring, printing, timing, and results reporting of the at least one test;
• validation means, in operative data communication with the first storage means and the second storage means, for validating the first segment and the second segment of the test definition language, and storing the first segment to one of the first storage means and the second storage means and the second segment to another one of the first storage means and the second storage means;
• test packager means, in operative data communication with the first storage means, the second storage means, and the validation means, for, during production of the at least one test, transmitting the first segment and the second segment of the test definition language to the validation means such that the validation means is capable of validating the first segment and the second segment, determining to which of the first storage means and the second storage means the first segment and the second segment are stored by the validation means, amalgamating the first storage means and the second storage means and storing an amalgamated segment of the test definition language in a third storage means, and transmitting the amalgamated segment to the validation means such that the validation means is capable of determining a complete and valid set of the first segment and second segment of the test definition language;
• and
• test driver means, in operative data communication with the first storage means, the second storage means, and the validation means, for amalgamating the first storage means and the second storage means into a third storage means such that the validation means is capable of retrieving the amalgamated segment from the third storage means, the test driver means comprising an executable code that controls functionality performed by the test driver means that enables the test driver means to deliver the at least one test to an examinee using a display device, manage the at least one test, control progression of the at least one test, control scoring of the at least one test, control printing of the at least one test, control timing of the at least one test, and control reporting of test results based on the test definition language, wherein the validation means enables the functionality of the test driver means.

A system for computer based testing for at least one test, the at least one test having a presentation format and data content, comprising:

• first storage means for storing a first segment of a test definition language;
• second storage means for storing a second segment of the test definition language;
• third storage means for storing a third segment of the test definition language, wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment define information comprising at least one of the data content, the presentation format, progression, scoring, printing, timing, and results reporting of the at least one test;
• validation means, in operative data communication with the first storage means, the second storage means, and the third storage means, for validating the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment of the test definition language, and storing the first segment to one of the first storage means, the second storage means, and the third storage means, the second segment to another one of the first storage means, the second storage means, and the third storage means, and the third segment to another one of the first storage means, the second storage means, and the third storage means;
• test packager means, in operative data communication with the first storage means, the second storage means, the third storage means, and the validation means, for, during production of the at least one test, transmitting the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment of the test definition language to the validation means such that the validation means is capable of validating the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment, determining to which of the first storage means, the second storage means, and the third storage means the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment are stored by the validation means, amalgamating the first storage means, the second storage means, and the third storage means and storing an amalgamated segment of the test definition language in a fourth storage means, and transmitting the amalgamated segment to the validation means such that the validation means is capable of determining a complete and valid set of the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment of the test definition language;
• and
• test driver means, in operative data communication with the first storage means, the second storage means, the third storage means, and the validation means, for, during delivery of the at least one test, amalgamating the first storage means, the second storage means, and the third storage means into a fourth storage means such that the validation means is capable of retrieving the amalgamated segment from the fourth storage means, the test driver means comprising an executable code that controls functionality performed by the test driver means that enables the test driver means to deliver the at least one test to an examinee using a display device, manage the at least one test, control progression of the at least one test, control scoring of the at least one test, control printing of the at least one test, control timing of the at least one test, and control reporting of test results based on the test definition language, wherein the validation means enables the functionality of the test driver means.

A method for computer based testing for at least one test, the at least one test having a presentation format and data content, the at least one test being controlled by a test driver, the test driver having an executable code that controls the test driver and functionality that enables the test driver to deliver the at least one test to an examinee using a display device, manage the at least one test, control progression of the at least one test, control scoring of the at least one test, control printing of the at least one test, control timing of the at least one test, and control results reporting of the at least one test based on a test definition language, the test definition language comprising a plurality of segments, the method comprising the steps of:

• validating a first segment of the test definition language during a test production cycle;
• validating a second segment of the test definition language during the test production cycle, wherein the first segment and the second segment define information comprising at least one of the data content, the presentation format, progression, scoring, printing, timing, and results reporting of the at least one test;
• amalgamating the first segment and the second segment of the test definition language during the test production cycle, wherein an amalgamated segment is formed;
• validating the amalgamated segment during the test production cycle, wherein a validated amalgamated segment is created and wherein the amalgamated segment is valid if the amalgamated segment forms a complete and valid set;
• and
• amalgamating the first segment and the second segment of the test definition language during a test delivery cycle, wherein the validated amalgamated segment is reformed and retrieved by a validation expansion module to enable the functionality of the test driver.

A method computer based testing for at least one test, the at least one test having a presentation format and data content, the at least one test being controlled by a test driver, the test driver having an executable code that controls the test driver and functionality that enables the test driver to deliver the at least one test to an examinee using a display device, manage the at least one test, control progression of the at least one test, control scoring of the at least one test, control printing of the at least one test, control timing of the at least one test, and control results reporting of the at least one test based on a test definition language, the test definition language comprising a plurality of segments, the method comprising the steps of:

• validating a first segment of the test definition language during a test production cycle;
• validating a second segment of the test definition language during the test production cycle;
• validating a third segment of the test definition language, wherein the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment define information comprising at least one of the data content, the presentation format, progression, scoring, printing, timing, and results reporting of the at least one test;
• amalgamating the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment of the test definition language during the test production cycle, wherein an amalgamated segment is formed;
• validating the amalgamated segment during the test production cycle, wherein a validated amalgamated segment is created and wherein the amalgamated segment is valid if the amalgamated segment forms a complete and valid set;
• and
• amalgamating the first segment, the second segment, and the third segment of the test definition language during a test delivery cycle, wherein the validated amalgamated segment is reformed and retrieved by a validation expansion module to enable the functionality of the test driver.

A method for computer based testing for at least one test, the at least one test having a presentation format and data content, comprising:

• validating by a plugin at least partial exam source information that is received;
• amalgamating exam resource data associated with the at least one test and validating the exam resource data that has been amalgamated to provide a substantially complete amalgamated exam specification and content;
• and
• delivering the substantially complete amalgamated exam specification and content validated by the validating step.

A method for computer based testing for at least one test, the at least one test having a first presentation format, a second presentation format, a first data content, and second data content, comprising:

• defining the first presentation format and the second presentation format in at least two locations comprising a plugin element and actual usage of the plugin element on at least one unit of the at least one test, the at least one unit comprising form, section and group associated with the at least one test;
• defining the first data content and the second data content in at least two locations comprising the plugin element and the actual usage of the plugin element on at least one unit of the at least one test, the at least one unit comprising form, section and group associated with the at least one test;
• and
• amalgamating at least one of the first and second presentation format and the first and second data content defined in the two locations by at least one test driver to deliver the at least one test to an examinee.