eqExam is a LaTeX package for writing exams, tests, quizzes, homework assignments, etc. It is a stand alone package, yet is tightly integrated with the AcroTeX eDucation Bundle, so much so, it is also part of the AcroTeX Bundle distribution. Highlights of this package are as follows:
- Can create exams (tests, quizzes, homework assignments) for paper, with points in the left or right margins (or both), totals for each page optionally shown at the bottom corner of each page. Questions can be objective, fill-in, true false, or multiple choice.
- Solutions can optionally be included in the source file, and by changings options, can be displayed (for an answer key), in a couple of different ways.
- Can create mutli-part exams, as I often do for final exams, these multiple exams are meant to be graded individually.
- The one thing that distinguishes this package from the other exam package is its support for PDF, and this is where the AcroTeX Bundle comes in. When you have said Bundle installed, and you select any of several options (pdf, links, online or email), a variety of things can happen. For example, in the case of the online or email options, white space for solutions is converted into multiline text field, spaces to fill in answers are coverted to text fields,multiple choice questions are coverted into radio button fields, etc. When the email option is used, a "Submit" button is automatically created at the top of the first page of the test. The student can take the test online (perhaps in a testing lab) then submit responses to the instructor. The email that is generated to the instructor attaches the FDF file of form data, so the instructor gets a copy of all responses. She/He can then open the file and view the responses of the student.
What New.
- (4/17/05) Added the manswers environment that is used to create multiple choice questions where multiple selections are permitted. A series of check boxes are created rather than the usual radio button fields. You need the newest version of Exerquiz (AcroTeX Bundle) when you use the online or email options.
- (3/05/05) There is a new pair of commands \bChoices/\eChoices used for listing alternatives in a multiple choice question in a uniform way.
Please contact me at dpstory@uakron.edu should you encounter any problems, or have suggestions (features) to make.
Demo Files:
- The TeX/LaTeX Survey : This is an ongoing survey of your TeX/LaTeX usage. If you haven't filled in the survey, please do, if you are so inclined. The file demonatrates the ability of the eqExam package to create surveys, questionaires, etc.
- test01.pdf : A more routine example of the eqExam package, a test! This test was compiled with the online option, which makes the exam interactive.
The Package files and Documentation:
Place the following files, the components of the eqExam package in a folder where LaTeX looks for package files:
- eqexam.zip: This zip files contains all packages, installation files, and source files for the demo files.
The manual of usage for the eqExam package:
Important: eqExam is a stand alone package, but if you want to use the pdf, links, online or email options, you need the AcroTeX Bundle, the latest version. (Exerquiz dated 2005/1/23 v6.03 or later). Download actotex.zip here, or go to the AcroTeX home page
Publications on the Web:
I've recently published two articles in the PracTeX Journal about eqExam and the TeX/LaTeX online survey. The titles of the articles are Creating Online Tests with eqExam and Producing a TeX/LaTeX Online Survey with the eqExam Package.
The article The Methodology used for Summarizing the TeX/LaTeX Usage Survey consists of material that did not make it into the Online Survey article. As the title suggests, the technical details of extracting the data from the database and putting it into summary form. The article references tex_survey_rep.pdf and longresp.pdf which contain the survey data. These two files are be downloaded from the page where the Online Survey article resides. I'll update these two files and make them available from this page at a later time.