Test administration system using the internet

• US 20040146845A1
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Published: 07/29/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Performance Assment Network
• Original Assignee: Performance Assment Network
• Inventors: Pfenninger, David T., Hester, Chris J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,996,367 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/323
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F

Abstract

A test administration system comprises a central computer and associated database containing a plurality of tests that may be distributed to a test taker. The central computer provides a website to be accessed by the test administrator and the test taker at remote personal computers when using the test administration system. The website includes an administrator workspace for use by the test administrator and a testing workspace for use by the test taker. The administrator workspace provides the test administrator with the ability to order any number of the tests contained in the database. After ordering a number of tests, the test administrator uses the system to generate test identification codes for a chosen set of ordered tests. The system automatically provides the test identification codes to those test subjects taking a test, and provides the test subject with access information and instructions for using the system to take the test. The test administrator workspace also provides the test administrator with valuable test status information concerning the tests ordered by the administrator.

Claims

1. A test administration system providing communications between a test administrator and at least one test taker, the test administration system linking a plurality of remote computers and comprising:

a. at least one database containing a plurality of tests that may be distributed to the at least one test taker; and

b. a central computer communicating with the at least one database, the central computer providing an administrator workspace accessible by the test administrator at one of the plurality of remote computers, the administrator workspace operable to

(i) provide the test administrator with the ability to order the plurality of tests contained in the at least one database;

(ii) provide the test administrator with access information for delivery to the at least one test taker, the access information providing the at least one test taker with the ability to access one of the plurality of tests using one of the plurality of remote computers and take the one of the plurality of tests using one of the plurality of remote computers, the access information including a test identification code;

(iii) provide the test administrator with test status information, the test status information including information about the number of tests ordered by the test administrator and the number of tests that have been completed by the at least one test taker using one of the plurality of remote computers; and

(iv) provide the test administrator with the ability to match the test identification code with the at least one test taker and automatically send a message to the at least test taker after the at least one test taker is matched with the test identification code.