Creating an "Online Aptitude Assessment Tool with AUTOMATED SCORING, EXAM TIMER and CAMERA TRACKER" - A Complete Step By Step Tutorial

Aptitude assessments are quite important in assessing a candidate's analytical and logical skills.

Most organisations (if not all) have these aptitude assessments as a part of their recruitment and selection process.

Some conduct these assessments "Paper-Based" while others has made it "Online".

I believe making these assessments "Online" is more practical and convenient. Also, making it online means that the entire scoring process is "Automated".

So, I am writing this article to train you regarding a simple process by the help of which you can create your own "Online Aptitude Assessment". You can use this in your recruitment and selection process.

Most importantly, this "Online Aptitude Assessment" will also consist of a "TIMER" and a "CAMERA TRACKER" and its "Scoring" will be "AUTOMATED".

The main purpose of a "CAMERA TRACKER" is to observe/record the behaviour of the candidate, i.e. during the time duration of the candidate's aptitude assessment. It acts as a Video Surveillance.

Let's get started.

STEP 1. Sign in to your Gmail Account

Go to "Gmail.com" and SIGN-IN with your gmail account.

STEP 2. Go to Google Forms

Go to "https://www.google.com/forms/about/"

Click on "Go to Google Forms"

STEP 3. Start a New Google Form

Click on "Blank +" (As displayed in the previous image)

Now, make changes to the Form Name and Form Description, i.e. as per your choice.

STEP 4. Make the Google Form as a "QUIZ"

In your Google Form page, go to "Settings".

Now, click on "Quizzes"

Enable "Make this a quiz"

In "Release mark:", click on "Later, after manual review".

In "Respondent can see:", you can un-click/un-highlight "Correct answers".

After making these changes, click "Save".

Now, your Quiz Based Google Form should look like:

STEP 5. Create your Aptitude Assessment's MCQs as per Requirement

Now, start adding your Aptitude Assessment's MCQs (Multiple Choice Questions), i.e. in your Quiz Google Form.

I am creating some sample MCQs for your understanding regarding this process.

Remember, while creating/adding your MCQs , you will be required to highlight the "CORRECT ANSWER" and the respective "SCORE" for each of your question.

Now, click on the "Answer key"

[In the "Answer key", you have to mention the CORRECT ANSWER for the options provided and the respective POINTS/SCORES]

Thus, the option with answer "4" is the correct answer. Thus, if any candidate will select the option with answer "4", they will be rewarded with "1 Mark/Point".

[You can also increase the marks/points as per your wish/requirement, i.e. for any question]

You can also provide an explanation for the correct/incorrect answer by clicking on "Add answer feedback".

After making the required changes, click on "Done".

Similarly, I have created some more sample MCQs with different marks/points for my sample "Aptitude Test" Quiz Google Form.

Thus, I have created a sample aptitude assessment, consisting of 4 MCQ type questions with total of 5 marks.

You can create any number of questions with your desired/required marks.

STEP 6. Edit the Final Settings of your "Aptitude Assessment" Quiz Google Form

In "Settings" go to "General". Here, make sure:

• "Collect email addresses" is enabled/clicked.
• In "Requires sign-in:", "Limit to 1 response" is enabled/clicked.

In "Settings" go to "Presentation". Here, you can type/enter your customised "Confirmation message".

"Confirmation message" is that message which appears after the candidate "Submits" their Aptitude Assessment Quiz Google Form.

Now, click on "Save"

You can also Edit/Change the default "Theme/Colour/Font" of your Quiz Google Form to make it more appealing and attractive.

I have made changes to the "Theme, Colour and Font" of my sample "Aptitude Test" Quiz Google Form. It'll appear as (A Snapshot):

STEP 7. Preview Your "Aptitude Assessment" Quiz Google Form

Click on the "Preview" Icon to preview your "Aptitude Assessment" Quiz Google Form, i.e. the way it'll be appearing to your candidates.

STEP 8. Add a "TIMER", "CAMERA TRACKER" in your "Aptitude Assessment"

Till now, the basic "Aptitude Assessment" Quiz Google Form has been created with the "Automated Scoring" feature.

Thus, it's time to add that valuable and much important "TIMER" and "CAMERA TRACKER" to your Quiz Google Form.

Follow/Perform the below steps for accomplishing the same.

(i) Click on The "More" Icon in your Google Form (3 Vertical Dots)

(ii) Click on "Add-ons"

Now, a new window will pop up.

(iii) In the "Search apps" Text Field, type "Timify.me"

After typing "Timify.me" and pressing "Enter", the "Timify.me" add-on will appear.

(iv) Click on the "Timify.me" icon that Appeared in the Search Result

By doing so, a new pop-up of "Timify.me" will appear. This will allow you to install the "Timify.me" add-on.

(v) Click on "Install"

After clicking "Install", you will be required to follow some basic steps and instructions.

(vi) Click on "CONTINUE"

After clicking "Continue", you will be taken to your "Google Accounts" page. Here you will be required to select your Google Account, i.e. which you will use for installing "Timify.me" add-on.

Always select that Google Account in which you have created your "Aptitude Assessment" Quiz Google Form.

After selecting your Google Account, a window will appear for permissions, i.e. which needs to be provided to "Timify.me".

Please carefully read all the Permissions, Instructions, Terms of Service, Privacy Policies, Risks. Once carefully read, then only you decide whether to "Allow" the permissions or "Not".

If you click on "Allow", "Timify.me" will get installed as a "Google Form Add-on"

Click on "NEXT"

(vii) Click on "Complete additional setup now"

In the previous image, after clicking "NEXT", the below window will appear.

Now, click on "Complete additional setup now".

Once clicked, the below window will appear.

Here, sign in with your Google Account by clicking on "Sign in with Google".

(viii) Set-Up your "Timify.me" Account

In the previous image, after you sign in with your google account, the below window will appear.

Here, fill in all your details and then click on "Save your account".

(ix) Enable "Timify.me" add-on in your "Aptitude Assessment" Google Form

In the previous image, after you click on "Save your account", the below window will appear.

(x) Copy the displayed "Secure Token" and go to your "Aptitude Assessment" Quiz Google Form

As you can see from the previous image, copy your "Secure Token" and go to your "Aptitude Assessment" Quiz Google Form.

(xi) Click on "Add-ons" Icon

(xii) Click on "Timify.me"

(xiii) Click on "Configure"

(xiv) Paste your Timify.me "Secure Token" and click "Connect"

(xv) Click on "Enable add-on for this form"

After carefully reading the instructions and FAQ, you can decide whether to "Enable" the "Timify.me" add-on or "Not"

After enabling the "Timify.me" add-on for your "Aptitude Assessment" Quiz Google Form, there will be a "Submission ID (skip this field)" which will get automatically added to the bottom of your "Aptitude Assessment" Quiz Google Form.

This is automatically generated by "Timify.me" add-on for its functioning and you should not delete it.

You should also communicate the same to your candidates who will be appearing for your "Aptitude Assessment", i.e. they should ignore that field.

(xvi) Create your "Aptitude Assessment" Test Links

Open your "Timify.me" dashboard.

(xvii) Click on "+ Create tests" Icon

Here, you can mention the "Time Duration", i.e. the Time Limit for your "Aptitude Assessment" as per your requirement.

Note: The Time Duration is in "Minutes"

For my sample "Aptitude Test", I have mentioned the Time Duration as 10 minutes.

Here, you can also enable the "Camera Tracking" for your "Aptitude Assessment". This will allow you to capture the candidate's behaviour, i.e. for the time duration he/she will be appearing for your "Aptitude Assessment".

The "Camera Tracker" will use the candidate's "Laptop/Computer Camera" for recording/capturing.

The "Camera Tracker" will record/capture "Continuous STILL FRAME Images", i.e. since the time the candidate "Starts/Begins" your "Aptitude Assessment".

"Continuous STILL FRAME Images" will get captured till the time the candidate "SUBMITS" the "Aptitude Assessment" Quiz Google Form.

The same needs to be properly and accurately communicated to your candidates, i.e. who will be appearing for your "Aptitude Assessment".

Note: "Enable Camera Tracking" Feature is ONLY available in PREMIUM PLANS of "Timify.me". You can select from the below premium plans, i.e. which best suits your requirement and purpose.

(xviii) Add respondent's Email-ID in the "Create tests" Window

In the "Create tests" window, add/enter the email-id of the candidate, i.e. who will be taking up your "Aptitude Assessment".

Make sure the "Timer Duration" is correct, i.e. as per your "Aptitude Assessment" requirement.

You can click on "Enable Camera Tracking" feature. (i.e. once you have activated any of the premium plans of Timify.me)

Click on "Create".

(xix) "Copy the URL" of your created Test

In the previous image, once your click on "Create", your "Aptitude Assessment" Test Link will get created.

Now, click on "Copy URL".

STEP 9. Email the Aptitude Assessment "Test URL" to your candidate

Email the "Test Link" (which you had copied earlier - as discussed in the previous image) to your candidate, i.e. who will be appearing for your "Aptitude Assessment".

I have written a "Sample Email" for your understanding.

[Note: In the below sample email image, please read the Time Allocated as "10 Minutes" instead of "5 Minutes"]

STEP 10. Self-Attempt Your Created "Aptitude Assessment" for Understanding and User-Experience

So, now you have understood the complete process of creating your "Aptitude Assessment" Quiz Google Form, i.e. with "Exam Timer" and "Camera Tracker".

Also, you have understood the process of creating your "Aptitude Assessment" Test Links and emailing the same to the candidates.

Remember, before emailing a "Test Link" to a candidate for the first time, you/your team should first try taking the "Aptitude Assessment" once, i.e. as a part of Testing the Process.

Let's do that once here and understand the user-experience.

Remember, the "User-Experience" that you feel/face, i.e. while taking up your "Aptitude Assessment", the same will be felt and experienced by your candidate.

Previously I had written a sample email, i.e. regarding the subject of emailing the "Aptitude Assessment Test Link" to a candidate (As shown in the previous image).

Now, let's take up that "Aptitude Assessment" from a candidate view-point.

Thus, the candidate will read your email as per the below image.

[Note: In the below sample email image, please read the Time Allocated as "10 Minutes" instead of "5 Minutes"]

After clicking the "Test Link", the below window will appear:

Now, the candidate has to click on "Open the form"

Thus, you can see that the "TIMER" is displayed and running at the top of the "Aptitude Test" Quiz Google Form.

As discussed and created earlier, this sample "Aptitude Test" Timer has been set for 10 minutes.

Here, I will show you the demonstration of what will happen if any candidate EXCEEDS the mentioned TIME LIMIT and then submits the "Aptitude Assessment" form. (In this case, it is 10 Minutes).

This will help you to understand "How the Result of the Candidate will get Displayed", i.e. if he/she exceeds the mentioned TIME LIMIT and then submits their "Aptitude Assessment".

When "1 Minute" will be left for the "Aptitude Assessment", the Quiz Google Form will display the TIMER with "SUBMIT NOW !"

If a candidate exceeds the "Time Limit", the "Aptitude Assessment" Quiz Google Form will display the TIMER with "OVERTIME"

Note: In this case, "Overtime" is the time duration exceeding 10 minutes. Example, if a candidate submits the "Aptitude Assessment" with "Overtime" mentioned as "1 Minute", it means that the "Total Time" taken by that candidate to submit the "Aptitude Assessment" is 11 minutes.

Thus, you can see in this instance that by the time the candidate has attempted the last question (Question No. 4), he has already exceeded his "Time Limit" by 1 minute and 24 seconds.

The candidate needs to click on "Submit" in order to complete and submit their "Aptitude Assessment".

After clicking the "Submit" button, the below window will appear:

After submitting, if the same candidate again wants to use/click their Aptitude Assessment "Test Link", he/she will not be able to do the same. The reason being that a particular "Test Link" can only be used once.

Thus, even if the candidate again tries to use/click on the "Test Link", i.e. which had been earlier emailed to them, the below window will appear:

STEP 11. Understanding Candidate Performance from Your Aptitude Assessment

Once the candidate "Submits" their "Aptitude Assessment", you can see their result and performance via 2 ways:

• Using Your "Timify.me" Dashboard
• Using Your "Google Form" Dashboard

(a) Understanding Candidate Performance using "Timify.me" Dashboard

Once the candidate "Submits" their "Aptitude Assessment", the same needs to get communicated and intimated to you/your team.

Now, go to your Aptitude Assessment "Timify.me" dashboard.

Thus, you can see the complete result/performance of the candidate in the "Aptitude Assessment", i.e.:

• Start Time
• Finish Time
• Total Time Taken (Red Colour: Overtime, Green Colour: Within Time)
• Score (In this case, 4 out of 5)

Note: When you will "Enable Camera Tracking" feature for your "Aptitude Assessment" (i.e. Premium Plan of "Timify.me" as discussed earlier), the output of the "CONTINUOUS STILL FRAME IMAGES" for the candidate's "Aptitude Assessment Time Duration" will also get reflected/displayed here along with the above 4 performance factors.

(b) Understanding Candidate Performance using "Google Form" Dashboard

Go to your Aptitude Assessment "Google Form" Dashboard.

You can see that the "Responses" section is now showing as "1"

Click on "Responses (1)"

In "Summary" tab, you can get a complete insight of your "Aptitude Assessment" Performances.

Insights like:

• Average Score
• Median Score
• Range
• Total Points/Score Distribution Chart
• Frequently Missed Questions
• Scores of Each Candidate
• Correct Responses for Each Questions via Chart

You can also download the results as an "Excel" File for future reference.

In "Responses" tab, click on the "Create spreadsheet" icon.

Click on "Create"

Thus, all of your "Aptitude Assessment" results gets imported into a Google Spreadsheet.

From here, you can download this file as an "Excel Sheet" into your hard drive.

STEP 12. Emailing the "Aptitude Assessment" Result to the Candidate

Go to your Aptitude Assessment "Google Form" dashboard.

Go to the "Responses --> Summary" tab.

Under "Scores", click on "Release scores"

Here, you can type a customised message.

Either you can "Send the Emails of the Test Scores" to all your respondents at once or you can send it to specific candidates.

Once decided, click on "SEND EMAILS AND RELEASE".

Now, in your dashboard you will be able to see the "Time and Date", i.e. on which you had emailed/released the "Test Score" to the candidate.

Let's look at the "Email of Test Score Release", i.e. which will be received by the candidate.

When the candidate clicks on "View", they will be able to see their complete report/result/performance.

Thus, this was all about the complete step-by-step tutorial of "Creating an Online Aptitude Assessment Tool with AUTOMATED SCORING, TIMER and CAMERA TRACKER"

I am sure that now you will be able to create this for yourself/your team/your organisation, i.e. as per the requirements.

Hope you make proper and good use of it.

All The Best !!!