Hotspot question (HSQ)

The hotspot question requires test-takers to identify a position on an image as their answer. For example, you might provide a radiograph and ask the candidate to click at the position of a clinical abnormality.

Building a Hotspot item

• Step 1 of 3

  To build a hotspot item navigate to Items and Create new item.

  

• Step 2 of 3

  Complete the fields on the new item screen.

  

  1. Item type: Select Hotspot question from the dropdown menu
  2. Item title: Give the item a name. This is entirely free-text and at your discretion, but it is required. This is not visible to candidates during the exam, but it can optionally be used later in the candidate feedback report.
  3. Item number: The item number auto populates but can be overwritten. Each item type maintains its own sequential index from 1-n (e.g. HSQ1, HSQ2 / SBA1, SBA2 etc.). By default this field will receive the next available sequential number for that item type. 

• Step 3 of 3

  The basic form fields for the item type are now made available. Complete and Save the Item.

  

  1. Item number: This is the item number established in the previous step. It can no longer be changed. 
  2. Question author(s): Unless specified, the question author will default to the current user. Alternatively you can select another author if you are inputting the material on someone else's behalf. Start typing a name in the field and the system will suggest names based on the list of users present in the system.
  3. Item title: The item title entered in the previous step. This can be changed here.
  4. Summary: This is the item instruction. You can use the WYSIWYG editor to write a general question instruction.
  5. Comments: The comments field is used for notes against the item. These do not appear to candidates and are for administrative use only.
  6. Item notes: The item notes field can be made available to candidates in the candidate feedback report and is designed to be used for any predetermined answer justification.

Adding the resource

Next we need to add the appropriate resource.

• Step 1 of 2

  Navigate to the Item Resources tab and select Add a Resource.
  

• Step 2 of 2

  Complete the necessary fields, choose an existing resource from the resource library or upload a new one and save.
  

Adding the hotpot

The next step is to add the appropriate hotspot(s)

• Step 1 of 3

  Navigate to the Item Information and scroll down to the Hotspots Section

  The first hotspot will be created automatically, select Empty to rename the hotspot, this text will be seen by candidates.
  

• Step 2 of 3

  To add the hotspot click Edit.

  

• Step 3 of 3

  Mark out the points by clicking on the image.
  
  
  
  For complex concave polygons it may be necessary to create the vertices and then use Shift + Click to move them to the correct place afterwards.
  
  To remove a point, simply click on the existing point you wish to remove.
  
  You can add multiple Hotspots by clicking Add new Hotspot and repeating the above steps.
  
  Each hotspot is treated as a sub-part of the item and each is always worth one mark (rather than the entire item being worth 1 mark.)

Item preview

In the browser application, the HSQ item presents the question instruction on the left and the individual clicks Select Point. The image will then open up on the left and the candidate can mark the hotspot.