Test administration system using the Internet

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.

1 . A test administration system operable to link a plurality of remote computers and allow a test administrator to administer at least one test of a plurality of tests to at least one test taker, the test administration system comprising: 
 a) at least one memory operable to store the plurality of tests; and    b) a central computer operable to communicate 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) display the plurality of tests stored in the at least one database;  
 ii) provide the test administrator with the ability to order at least one of the plurality of displayed tests for delivery to the at least one test taker using one of the plurality of remote computers; and  
 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, the tests completed by the at least one test taker, and scores for the completed tests.  
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the one of the plurality of remote computers used by the at least one test taker is the same one of the plurality of remote computers providing the administrator workspace.  
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the one of the plurality of remote computers used by the at least one test taker is a different one of the plurality of remote computers providing the administrator workspace.  
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the test status information further includes information about the number of tests assigned to the at least one test taker or the number of tests available for distribution to the at least one test taker.  
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the test status information further includes information about the number of expired tests.  
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the test status information further includes information about the number of tests in progress by the at least one test taker at one of the plurality of remote computers.  
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the administrator workspace is operable to provide the administrator with a description of each of the plurality of tests.  
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of tests are different types of tests.  
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the administrator workspace is further operable to provide a test identification code for the at least one of the plurality of tests and allow the administrator to match the test identification code with the at least one test taker.  
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 9  wherein the administrator workspace provides the administrator with an option to automatically send an electronic message to the at least one test taker once the test identification code is matched with the at least one test taker, the message providing the at least one test taker with the test identification code.  
   
   
       11 . A test administration system operable to allow a test administrator to administer at least one of a plurality of tests to at least one test taker, the test administration system comprising: 
 a) means for storing the plurality of tests;    b) a central computer operable to communicate with the means for storing the plurality of tests;    c) a test administrator interface operable to communicate with the central computer, identify tests from the plurality of tests that are available to the test administrator for ordering, and provide the test administrator with the ability to order at least one of the plurality of tests; and    d) a test taker interface operable to communicate with the central computer, access the at least one of the plurality of tests, and provide the at least one of the plurality of tests to the at least one test taker.    
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11  further comprising a test scoring machine operable to communicate with the central computer, wherein the test taker interface is operable to record answers provided by the at least one test taker for the one of the plurality of tests and wherein the test scoring machine is operable to obtain the answers provided by the at least one test taker, score the answers, and provide a test report to the central computer.  
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 11  wherein the test administrator interface is further operable to 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 completed by the at least one test taker.  
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the test status information includes information about the number of tests ordered by the test administrator.  
   
   
       15 . A method of providing a test administrator with the ability to administer tests to at least one test taker using a plurality of remote computers connected over a network, the method comprising the steps of: 
 a) storing test data related to a plurality of tests for distribution to the at least one test taker, wherein the test data includes identification data that identifies each of the plurality of tests;    b) storing test administrator data;    c) providing a central computer operable to retrieve the test data and the test administrator data, the central computer further operable to communicate with the plurality of remote computers;    d) displaying the identification data that identifies each of the plurality of tests to the test administrator;    e) providing the test administrator with the ability to order at least one of the plurality of tests using a first of the plurality of remote computers;    f) distributing the at least one of the plurality of tests to the at least one test taker at a second of the plurality of remote computers;    g) recording test answers provided by the at least one test taker; and    h) scoring the recorded test answers and providing at least one test score to the test administrator.    
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising the step of providing 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 completed by the at least one test taker.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising the step of providing a test scoring machine operable to obtain the test answers provided by the at least one test taker and provide a test report accessible by the test administrator at the first of the plurality of remote computers.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  wherein the test status information includes information about the number of tests in progress by the at least one test taker at one of the plurality of remote computers.  
   
   
       19 . A test administration system operable to allow a test administrator to administer at least one of a plurality of tests to at least one test taker, the test administration system comprising: 
 a) a memory operable to store test data related to the plurality of tests, wherein the test data comprises identification data that identifies each of the plurality of tests;    b) a central computer operable to communicate with the memory;    c) a first remote computer operable to communicate with the central computer and provide the test administrator with the identification data that identifies each of the plurality of tests, the first remote computer further operable to provide the test administrator with the ability to order at least one of the plurality of tests; and    d) a second remote computer operable to communicate with the central computer and access the test data in order to provide the at least one of the plurality of tests to the at least one test taker.    
   
   
       20 . The test administration system of  claim 19  wherein the memory is further operable to store qualification data related to the professional qualifications of the test administrator and wherein the test administrator's ability to order at least one of the plurality of tests is dependent upon the qualification data of the test administrator.