Tests & Scorings

About tests and scorings

With the scoring function in QUESTIONSTAR, you can automatically assign points to answers, sum them up at the end and — if you want — even calculate grades and show respondents their results directly in the questionnaire. That makes this function ideal for:

• Knowledge checks and exams — points are awarded for correct answers, and at the end the test taker receives a grade. Example: an online test for new employees — anyone who reaches 80% counts as onboarded.
• Psychological tests — the answers feed into a latent construct (e.g. stress level, motivation). The result can be shown directly in the questionnaire or analyzed later. Example: a stress assessment automatically reports the strain level after the last question: "Low", "Medium" or "High".
• Onboarding checks — after a training or introduction, you can check whether the content was understood. Example: after the e-learning module, participants answer 10 questions. Anyone who reaches 70% may move on to the next module.
• (Course) evaluations — participants rate a training or an instructor. Different aspects of a multi-item rating — e.g. organization, presentation and content — are automatically combined into individual scores and/or an overall rating.
• Quizzes & learning games — even entertaining or playful formats can be built, e.g. to energize a workshop or a class.

With this function you can not only capture answers, but also score them automatically and give feedback — without any manual analysis.

Counting points & setting up scorings

So that the points earned can be counted automatically, you — once you've set up your questionnaire for a test, a rating or a knowledge check — need to assign the relevant answers the corresponding point values. Here's how:

Open the "Scoring" view via the three-dot menu.

In this view you can:

• Rename the scoring category This is useful if you want to map several tests or psychological constructs within a single questionnaire that should be scored separately.

• Assign points to answers Several options are available for this:

  • Enter points manually Enter the desired number of points for each answer in the corresponding field. Fields left empty are automatically counted as 0 points.

  • Assign points automatically to a whole row or column Click the grey button showing the text of the respective row or column:

    • On the first click, ascending point values (e.g. 0–4) are assigned.
    • On the second click, the scale is reversed (e.g. 4–0).
    • On the third click, all points in the row/column are deleted.
    • Using the down-arrow icon in the button, you can specifically: – choose an order (ascending/descending), – fill all cells with a specific value, or – reset the points in this row/column entirely.
  • Assign points automatically for the whole question or the whole questionnaire This function saves time on large tests. If you're not happy with the result, you can reset the point assignment for individual questions or the whole questionnaire.

While the test taker fills out the questionnaire, the point values assigned to the answers are automatically summed — or, for negative values, subtracted accordingly. This gives each test taker an individual score in real time.

You can use this score directly in the questionnaire to show the test taker their personal result — for example at the end of the test, or within the questionnaire where it makes sense.

Showing test results based on the score achieved

You can give your test takers individual feedback directly in the questionnaire — based on the points they've achieved. To do this, you combine two powerful functions of QUESTIONSTAR:

• Piping, to display point values directly in the text.
• Display logic, to make matching feedback visible only within certain point ranges.

Here's how:

1. Display the score Use placeholders for test results, e.g.:

   ★

   Example:
   "In this test you scored {{S1.points}} out of {{S1.max-points}} possible points."

   → QUESTIONSTAR automatically replaces these placeholders with the values achieved when the questionnaire is filled out. You'll find more placeholders here: Test results & grading — placeholder overview

2. Create individual feedback For each point range (e.g. 0–9, 10–19, 20–39, 30–40), create an Info Block with matching feedback or interpretation.

   ★

   Example:
   "With 20–39 points, you have a good understanding of the basics."

   ★

   Tip: Make sure you cover all point ranges completely — so that everyone receives feedback, regardless of their test result.

3. Show individual feedback Use the display logic to define which Info Block becomes visible at which score. That way each test taker gets exactly the feedback that fits their result. As the condition type in the display logic, select "Scoring".

   ★

   Note:
   Avoid common mistakes when setting up complex conditions. You'll find help on this here: Common mistakes with display logic

   ★

   Tip: The placeholders (e.g. {{S1.percent-points}}) can also be used in Custom HTML/CSS/JS questions — for example in CSS style definitions like width — to display results graphically, e.g. as a progress bar.

Running multiple tests in one questionnaire

In QUESTIONSTAR you can also create tests made up of several topic areas. For example, a single questionnaire can test different subjects or include multiple psychological tests — each with separate analysis.

Here's how you do it:

• First assign points for one of the subjects, e.g. mathematics.

Then:

1. In the top menu, click the "Add Scoring Category" button.
2. Give the new scoring category a name (e.g. "Literature") and confirm with "Save".

Now assign the scoring points for the new subject.

Later, in the scoring area, you can easily switch between the scoring categories — use the dropdown menu (3) in the top menu bar.

Display logic and placeholders with multiple tests in one questionnaire

If you run multiple tests in one questionnaire, in the display logic you can specifically access the results of individual scoring categories (scorings) — for example to display individual feedback.

To do this, in the relevant display logic block select:

• "Scoring" as the condition criterion
• Then select the desired scoring category (e.g. "Mathematics", "Literature").

This lets you display separate feedback depending on the partial result or based on the total score.

Placeholders for multiple scoring categories

If you want to display the results as text, use the following logic:

• {{S1.points}} → points of the first scoring category (e.g. mathematics)
• {{S2.points}} → points of the second scoring category (e.g. literature)
• {{S.points}} → total score across all categories

This structure applies analogously to other placeholders such as:

• {{S1.percent-points}}
• {{S2.max-points}}

→To the full placeholder list

Assigning grades automatically

Based on the score achieved, you can grade your tests in a fully automated way. You define point ranges and the corresponding grades — e.g. "Very good" or "1" for 50 to 60 points achieved. Grading can be done either for an individual scoring category (e.g. mathematics) or for the overall test.

Create a grading scale

To create a grading scale:

1. Open the "Scoring" view and, in the top menu, click the graduation-cap icon — "Set up grading rules".

2. Click "+ Add Grading Scale".

   

3. Give the grading scale a name. This is especially helpful if you have several tests or scoring categories in the questionnaire.
4. Select the scoring category whose score the grading should be based on (e.g. "Mathematics", "Literature" or "Overall rating").
5. Set a grade — e.g. "Very good" or "1".
6. Define the point range for which this grade should apply — e.g. 50 to 60 points. Note: The boundaries are inclusive, so 50 and 60 are counted in.
7. If needed, add further grade categories to cover all point ranges.
8. Incorrect grades can be deleted at any time.
9. Save your grading scale by clicking "Save Grading Scale".

Edit a grading scale

Here's how to edit grading scales you've already set up:

2. Open the "Scoring" view and, in the top menu, click the graduation-cap icon — "Set up grading rules".

In the overview of grading scales you now have the following options:

• Edit an existing grading scale — click the pencil icon to adjust content such as names, point ranges or grade designations.
• Copy a grading scale — useful if you want to work with similar grading schemes.
• Delete a grading scale when it's no longer needed.
• View scale numbers — important for use in placeholders (e.g. {{G1}}, {{G2}} etc.).

Using grades in placeholders

The grade designations (e.g. "Very good", "1") that are assigned based on the score achieved can be shown to participants directly in the questionnaire — using a suitable placeholder.

Use the following placeholder for this: {{GXX}}

Here, G stands for Grade (grade) and XX for the number of the grading scale. You'll find the number of each scale in the overview from the previous section (see point 5 under "Edit grading scales").

Using grades in the display logic

Similarly to scores achieved, you can also display personalized feedback in the questionnaire based on the assigned grades. This way each test taker gets exactly the right information about their grade.

To do this, add display logic to the desired Info Block.

Then:

• As the condition criterion, select the "Grade" item.
• Select the appropriate grading scale.
• Define the desired condition — e.g. "if grade = 2 (good)".

For example, you can display a separate Info Block with individual feedback for each grade — without any manual analysis.

Test results

If you've set up point counting and/or automated grading in your questionnaire, the participants' test results are prepared automatically — much like in a digital class journal.

Here's how to access the results:

1. Switch to the "Analyze Results" view.
2. Select the "Scoring" tab. Here you can:
3. View the test takers' achieved points and grades in a table.
4. Show individual test runs, or download them.
5. Filter the display — e.g. by complete or incomplete questionnaires.
6. Export the table export — e.g. as an Excel or CSV file.
7. Define which columns (e.g. points, grade, response time) should be shown in the table.

Configuring the test results table

The default view of the test results table already contains the key information: times and duration of participation, points achieved and grades.

If your survey is linked to a contact list, the test takers' names also appear.

But you can adjust the table flexibly — add or remove fields — and thus tailor it individually: e.g. for result reports, a digital class journal or the archiving of exam data.

Here's how:

1. Click the gear icon "Select report fields" (1).

2. A dialog with two columns opens:

   • Left (2): All available fields you can add to the report.
   • Right (3): The fields currently included in the report.

3. Drag:

   • the fields you want from left to right to include them.
   • the fields you don't need from right to left to remove them.

The following content is available to choose from:

Scorings:

• Points per scoring category (e.g. "Mathematics", "Literature")
• Total score across all categories
• Percentage of points achieved
• Maximum achievable points

Answer-based metrics:

• Number of questions in which points were earned
• Percentage of those questions
• Total number of possible scorable questions

Time-related information:

• Start time of completion
• End time
• Total duration of completion

Grading:

• Assigned grade (e.g. "Very good", "2")
• Grade per category (if set up)

Answers to specific questions:

You can include specific individual questions in the report (e.g. a control question for identification).

Fields from the contact list (if linked):

• First name
• Last name
• Email address
• Personalized ID
• Other custom fields such as department, course group, school type, status, etc.

Useful additional functions for tests

You can use the following QUESTIONSTAR functions together with Tests & Scorings to make your tests even more efficient and pedagogically effective:

⏱️ Set a time limit

You can set a maximum completion time for the test. This makes it possible to run standardized knowledge checks, exams or aptitude tests with realistic time pressure. More on this → Time limit

🗓️ Make a test available during a specific period

Set a start and end date for the test's availability — ideal for exams that should only be accessible within a certain time window (e.g. on exam day between 9:00 and 12:00). Set an availability period

🔀 Randomize the order of questions, pages or answer options

Avoids position effects and copying — ideal for exams or trainings where participants shouldn't see the same order of questions.

Whole test blocks (e.g. different modules) can also be arranged randomly.

• Shuffle answer options
• Shuffle questions
• Shuffle pages

🎯 Present a random selection of questions

For example: you have 20 general-knowledge questions, but you want each test taker to see only 5 of them at random — keeping the test compact yet meaningful. Show random questions

🧪 A/B tests

With A/B tests you can deliberately present different variants of your test — e.g. different wordings of a question, alternative content or different areas of knowledge. More on A/B tests

📧 Send automatic notifications about test results

Both test administrators and test takers can be notified automatically by email about the result at the end of a test — e.g. about the score achieved or the grade assigned. Set up notifications

Placeholders like {{S.points}} or {{G1}} can also be used in emails. To the full placeholder list