Test generating and formatting system

A method of creating a test with one or more questions that contain one or more mathematical expressions using a data processor and a means for printing indicia coupled in data communication to the data processor, the data processor having a storage means and the storage means having stored thereon a collection of question data files, each question data file containing content items, label items, and a set of initial variables whose values are determined according to a set of variation rules, the method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a number of question data files;
• sequencing through the selected question data files;
• determining the placement of the content and label items of the selected question data files on a printed sheet;
• measuring the dimension of each content and each label item;
• transferring data containing the placement and dimension of the items to the means for printing indicia;
• and
• processing the variation rules and replacing each of the initial variables with a result variable.

A system for creating a test with one or more question, from a collection of question data files, each question data file containing at least one content item, at least one corresponding label item for the at least one content item, and a set of initial variables whose values are determined according to a set of variation rules, the system comprising:

• a data processor having means for storing at least one computer program;
• and
• means for presenting human readable output coupled in data communication with the data processor;
• the data processor including:
• a print engine having:
• means for sequencing through selected question data files;
• means for determining the placement of the content and label items of the selected question data files on a printed sheet;
• means for measuring the dimension of each content and each label item;
• and
• means for processing the variation rules and replacing each of the initial variables with a result value.

A method of producing a set of examinations having both dynamic content and dynamic presentation, the method comprising the steps of:

• creating a collection of question data files, each question data file containing at least one content item, at least one corresponding label item for the at least one content item, and a set of initial variables whose values are determined according to a set of variation rules,
• selecting a number of the question data files;
• sequencing through the selected number of question data files;
• determining the placement of the content and label items of the selected number of question data files on a printed sheet;
• measuring the dimension of each content and each label item;
• and
• processing the variation rules and replacing each of the initial variables with a result value.