Test Generator Best Practice
Test Availability Checklist

Definitions

We’ve published a Test Generator Definitions page for your review.  If you have questions, or simply need a refresher regarding some of the elements, please visit this page, or contact us.

Assumptions

You are a test author / admin and you ...

• Have received TG admin client training 
• Have A TG admin client installed on your computer
• Have your TG admin client pointing to your account’s database
• Created have created a Course / Class in TG 
• Created, saved and published one or more tests under one or more courses
• Enrolled t.takers into your course and they have taken one or more of your tests
• Are familiar with TG Reports and the various report settings

Versions and Screen Displays

This document displays screens and content found in TG2.4.20.  Version and release information can be found on our Updates History page. 

Your current version # and release can also be found under TG's home page > Help > About Test Generator

Depending on which version of TG you happen to be using, the layout and information described in your copy of TG may vary from the information presented in this document.

 

Scenario

A t.admin has created a Course and created and saved a Test under the course. 

They have activated the test and enrolled t.takers in the course; however when the t.taker logs in to the Tester they receive a message telling them “There are no tests available for you to take at this time.”

Checklist: 1 - 4

1- Has the Permit Testing checkbox been enabled?  Where: Test Properties > Schedule tab: Permit Testing.  

2- Is the Activation > From date and time set to (or before) the day and time the t.taker is attempting to take the test?

Where: Test Properties > Schedule tab: Activation (From and To) dates and times.

3- Is the t.taker logging in to the Tester from a different time zone than the time zone defined on the server where the database is located? 

For example, if a t.taker attempts to log in to a test that is set to begin June 28^th, 2013 at 12:00PM Eastern and the t.taker (in California) attempts to log in at 8AM Pacific time, the test will not be available until 9AM Pacific time.  These test dates/times are even more pronounced for organizations that are delivering tests globally.

4- Is the t.taker enrolled in the test?  By default, when a t.taker is enrolled in a Course the course property, Test Takers enrolled in this Class… is enabled; however, the checkbox may have been disabled by a t.admin in order to control t.taker access to one or more tests saved under the course.  Where: TG home page > highlight a course > Class information, highlighted in yellow, below.

If the Test Takers enrolled in this Class… checkbox is disabled when the t.taker is enrolled in the course, the t.taker is not automatically enrolled in a test; the t.admin must manually enroll the t.taker.  

 For more details regarding enrollment, contact us.

Checklist: 5 - 7

5- Check test’s Eligibility date/time.  Is their Eligibility date/time set to the current date and time, or is it set to some future date/time?

Where: TG home page > highlight a test > Test Takers tab > Eligible, right column

If the t.taker needs to take the test today, and their eligibility is set to some future date/time, the t.admin can highlight the user in the Test Takers eligible… column, un-enroll (<<Remove) them, and re-enroll (Add>>) them based on the date/time that appears at the bottom of the Test screen.

The default date/time is based on the date/time on the t.admin’s computer.  IF the t.admin is in the same time zone as the TG server, no adjustment is required; however, the t.admin does need to consider any time differential between the time zone that the server is operating under, the time zone that the t.admin is in and the time zone that the t.taker is in.  This mainly applies to organizations using TG Web.

6- User IDs and passwords.  Is the t.taker using the correct UserID and Password to log in to the Tester?  The mistyping of a t.taker’s credentials is a common error.  

If the organization purchased and has implemented AD/LDAP as part of their testing system, the t.admin cannot re-assign a new password – that would have to be done by the IT person that manages AD/LDAP.  

7- Test Prerequisite setting.  Have you enabled a Prerequisite setting?

Where: Open a test in TG > Test Settings > Test Properties > General tab: Prerequisites

In our example, below, this test has a prerequisite enabled for test, “A Test” under “Course-2”

In order for your test takers to be eligible to take the new test, they must first pass “A Test”.