Blackboard Ultra: How to Create a Test

Creating a New Blackboard Ultra Test

  1. On the Course Content page, select the purple plus sign (+) wherever you want to add a test. You can also expand or create a folder or learning module and add a test.
  2. A small menu will pop up, select Create to open the Create Item panel.
  3. On the right side of the screen, The Create Course Content Items menu will pop up. Select Test. The New Test page will open where you can view the test settings.

Plus Icon & Dropdown Highlights: Red boxes highlight the "+" (plus) button at the top of the course content list and the "Create" option inside its opened pop-up menu. Create Item Side Panel Highlight: A red box highlights "Test" under the "Assessment" section inside the "Create Item" panel on the right. Create Item Menu Structure: Course Content Items: Learning module, Folder, Document, Link, Teaching tools with LTI connection, SCORM package Assessment: Test (highlighted), Assignment, Form Participation and Engagement: Discussion

 

When you create a test, a gradebook item is created automatically. A test’s score consists of the sum of all the questions’ points.

 

After you post test grades, students can view their scores on their grades pages or in the activity stream. They can also access a test, their submissions, your feedback, and their grades from the test link on the Course Content page and via the Gradebook.

The New Test page

There are 3 customizable components on the new test page:

  • add test content
  • control test visibility to students
  • apply test settings

Provide a descriptive title so students can easily find the test among your course content. On the Course Content page, the title appears as the link students select to view the materials. If you don’t add a title, “New Test” and the date appear in the content list. If you don’t add content, the test won’t appear on the Course Content page.

 

Adding Test Content

Select the plus sign to open the menu to add questions and more.

Highlighted Callout: A red box highlights the central "+" (plus) button located along the divider line directly below the "Create your assessment: Select the plus icon to get started" prompt. Canvas Area: Displays the active "Content and Settings" tab alongside options for "Submissions (0)", "Student Activity", and "Question Analysis". Below the plus icon is a toggle for "Allow students to add content at end of assessment". Assessment Settings Panel (Right Sidebar): Displays configurable options including: Due date: No due date Grade category: Test Grading: Points | 0 maximum points Attempts allowed: 1 attempt Originality Report: Enable SafeAssign

 

You can choose a question type, add a question pool, upload questions from a file or reuse questions and content from existing assessments. You can also add files and text, such as instructions for the test. You can also add files from cloud with Blackboard Ultra's cloud storage article.  This content can include files in your OneDrive and Google Drive.

Dropdown Menu Highlight: A red box outlines the full vertical menu of assessment options: Question Types: "Auto-generate question", "Add question pool", "Add Calculated Formula question", "Add Calculated Numeric question", "Add Essay question", "Add Fill in the Blank question", "Add Hotspot question", "Add Matching question", "Add Multiple Choice question", "Add True/False question", and "Add Jumbled Sentence question". Import & Reuse: "Reuse questions" and "Upload questions from file". Content & Media: "Add text", "Add local file", and "Add file from Cloud Storage". Layout Controls: "Add Page Break". Canvas Background Context: Above the menu line, the header displays "Create your assessment" with the subtext "Select the plus icon to get started", alongside the "Allow students to add content at end of assessment" toggle switch on the left.

 

 

Once you’ve added a question to a test, you can choose if you want students to add additional content, like text, supporting files, or attachments. By default, this feature is turned on for your test. Toggle this feature off if you don’t want students to add additional content.

 

Highlighted Callout: A red box highlights the toggle switch (currently disabled) located next to "Allow students to add content at end of assessment". Setting Description: Beneath the toggle label, the description text reads: "Add an editor for students to create their submissions or add comments and files to support their answers, such as a list of sources." Test Content Area: Above the highlighted setting, "Question 1" (worth 10 points) is displayed with the question "What type of bonds hold a single water molecule together?" featuring four choices, with "C. polar covalent bonds" marked as the "Correct answer".

 

Test Settings

The right-hand side of the page outlines Test Settings. To choose and apply settings, select the Settings icon to open a new panel.

Accommodations. If any students in your course have accommodations, this number of students will appear in the in the Test Settings section. You can set accommodations for students and make them exempt from certain course requirements, such as test due dates and time limits. To modify accommodations, go to the Roster and access the student’s menu. You can also access it from the Submission page or Gradebook.

Highlighted Callouts: A red box highlights the gear icon in the top-right corner of the "Assessment Settings" panel header. A red box highlights the "Accommodations" section near the bottom of the panel, displaying "1 student". Assessment Settings Panel Overview: Due date: Fri May 1, 2026 11:59 PM (CDT) Grade category: Test Grading: Points | 10 maximum points (Post grades automatically when assessment is graded. Change grade posting setting.) Time limit: 60 minutes | Automatic submission Attempts allowed: 1 attempt Accommodations: 1 student (highlighted) Originality Report: Enable SafeAssign

 

When choosing your settings, select the Save button at the bottom of the panel when you finish.

 

 

Details & Information

The section Details & Information provides options for test submission. 

Due date: Input fields set to "5/1/26" and "11:59 PM". No due date: Checkbox (unselected). Prohibit late submissions: Checkbox (selected). Includes explanation: "In progress attempts will be submitted automatically at the due date and time." Prohibit new attempts after due date: Checkbox (selected and disabled). Includes explanation: "Students can't start new attempts once the due date and time has passed." Allow class conversations: Checkbox (selected).

 

Provide a Due Date

 

Due dates appear on the calendar and in the activity stream. Late submissions appear with a Late label in the course gradebook. Encourage students to review what’s due now and what’s ahead so they can ask questions as soon as possible.

Prohibit Late Submissions 

Enforce a hard deadline and prevent a late submission. In-progress and saved attempts will auto-submit at the due date. Students will receive a submission receipt email. Specified accommodations are still honored.

Prohibit New Attempts After Due Date 

Prevent students from beginning a new attempt after the due date. Specified accommodations are still honored.

Allow Class Conversations

If you allow class conversations, students can discuss the test with you and their classmates while the test is available. Students can contribute to the conversation before, during, and after the test. As the conversation develops, it appears only with the relevant test.

 

Contact Support

This article was created and is maintained by the Office of Academic Technology.
If you have found an error in this article or need assistance incorporating this article in your course, please contact an Educational Technologist.

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