Designing a Data Base for School Exam Purposes

I need to develop an exam data base with questions, categorized into
different areas, such as difficulty, state standard, skill level etc -
including in some cases mulitple choice answers with correct answer
indicated. I have the tables for the different categories for each questions
-what I can't seem to to get right are the tables for the questions - choices
and answers Any ideas?
Jeanne

There several ways such as one-to-many for question to answer.

Or you can use one table with the following fields --
QuestID - Autonumber - primary key
Correct - text - contains letter of correct answer
Quest - memo
AnsrA - memo
Ansr2 - memo
Ansr3 - memo
Ansr4 - memo

--
KARL DEWEY
Build a little - Test a little


"Jeanne" wrote:

I need to develop an exam data base with questions, categorized into
different areas, such as difficulty, state standard, skill level etc -
including in some cases mulitple choice answers with correct answer
indicated. I have the tables for the different categories for each questions
-what I can't seem to to get right are the tables for the questions - choices
and answers Any ideas?
Jeanne

Hi Jeanne,

Doing such an application is one of the things on my list of things to
do. I did a very simplistic version several years ago. I started a
more formal and enhanced effort last year. I'm still working on the
front end documents for the new version on a sharply reduced schedule.
Higher priority projects intervene... So, I have lots of ideas
regarding the subject but will only share a few.

*Need* is a four letter word. Please define "I need" in the context
in which you used the phrase. What is your actual motivation? What
do you hope to achieve? The answers to those questions are very
important.

Try going through the formal steps in project/product planning:

Problem Statement - characterize the problem or universe of related
problems that you will consider. This isn't a trivial exercise, think
it through and capture it in a machine readable document such as Word
or Excel.

Make a copy of that first document and call it your Pre-
Solution Statement (Product Specification) - State what your product
will do regarding each item in the Problem Statement. List each item
to demonstrate that you have considered it, For those that you will
not resolve in the current project, say so.

Make a copy of the document above and remove the "Pre-" prefix. Edit
out of this document all of the things you do not intend to address in
your current effort. You now have your project goals.

For each item in the Product Specification above, list the high level
strategies you'll use to deliver a solution. If you're using Word in
Outline view, it's a natural for continuing right on down the
hierarchy of functions displaying ever greater detail as you go.
That's what I do to arrive at my Functional Specification.

Using pencil and paper, chalk board, what ever tools work best for
you, identify all (as many as you can) of the entities in your
application.

It is important to do things as well and as completely as you can
before you move along to the next thing. I recommend that you
separate each of the major steps above by at least one day. Review
the last step before you begin the next one.

Note that the above can apply to any application you develop. The
work on the front end to develop those documents can save you
tremendous work and wasted effort. For the lack of that front end
work, lots of bloated over budget and overdue projects are really
small but poorly defined projects trying to get out. People who write
software (who design and deliver projects of any kind), want to get at
their craft, they don't want to write documents. However the joy of
getting things done right the first time will banish the fears and
hate of the documents. Another complicated and bothersome part of the
process is that the documentation itself requires maintenance as the
project moves along. A nice "waterfall" progression is assumed in the
dependencies between the various documents. Life isn't that simple.
You have to imagine circles and spirals wherein discoveries during
later phases of the project feed back into earlier levels, which may
require changes in the later documents.

You have sort of identified a few entities. From the few you have
identified you look to have a pretty ambitious application on your
hands.

If your motivation is to enhance your expertise in Access then you
have picked a great target application. Enjoy the journey.

If you just want to solve an immediate problem then I recommend some
research using google and other tools. You'll find lots of test
generation software and lots of related software. Some one or more of
them will meet most of your needs at significantly less expense than
creating your own solution starting from scratch.

If you have more issues, please post back.

Due to the fact that your project is similar to one of mine, I would
welcome private correspondence on it.

--
-Larry-
--

"Jeanne" wrote in message
...
I need to develop an exam data base with questions, categorized into
different areas, such as difficulty, state standard, skill level
etc -
including in some cases mulitple choice answers with correct answer
indicated. I have the tables for the different categories for each
questions
-what I can't seem to to get right are the tables for the
questions - choices
and answers Any ideas?
Jeanne

If you have an immediate need to get your exam database done quickly since
school has started or about to start, I can work with you to design the
table structure of your exam database. I have done this for numerous
customers. My fee is very reasonable. I provide a map of the tables that
shows all the tables in the database, all the fields in each table, all the
relationships between the tables and the type of relationship for each
relationship. The tables are arranged on the map generally as the flow of
information in the database. I
create a map of the tables for every database I do. The map visually shows
what forms and subforms are needed for data entry, shows what special forms
and subforms can be created for dispaying data in the database and shows
what reports and subreports can be created from the data in the database.

PC Datasheet
Providing Customers A Resource For Help With Access, Excel And Word
Applications






"Jeanne" wrote in message
...
I need to develop an exam data base with questions, categorized into
different areas, such as difficulty, state standard, skill level etc -
including in some cases mulitple choice answers with correct answer
indicated. I have the tables for the different categories for each
questions
-what I can't seem to to get right are the tables for the questions -
choices
and answers Any ideas?
Jeanne

These newsgroups are for FREE peer to peer support, not an oppurtunity for
you to sell your snake oil and hollow promises.

John... Visio MVP

" Steve" wrote in message
...
If you have an immediate need to get your exam database done quickly since
school has started or about to start, I can work with you to design the
table structure of your exam database. I have done this for numerous
customers. My fee is very reasonable.

The only reasonable fee for these newsgroups is FREE. A four letter word
that makes stevo cringe.

PC Datasheet

You have just reached a new low...

Do NOT waste your time trying to explain how you just, in essence, offered
to help someone CHEAT on their exam. When I went to school/college you
would get expelled for such activity and I DON'T think things have changed
that much!!!

Referring to you as snake oil salesman is a compliment, it's an insult the
snake!

--
Gina Whipp

"I feel I have been denied critical, need to know, information!" - Tremors
II
" Steve" wrote in message
...
If you have an immediate need to get your exam database done quickly since
school has started or about to start, I can work with you to design the
table structure of your exam database. I have done this for numerous
customers. My fee is very reasonable. I provide a map of the tables that
shows all the tables in the database, all the fields in each table, all
the relationships between the tables and the type of relationship for each
relationship. The tables are arranged on the map generally as the flow of
information in the database. I
create a map of the tables for every database I do. The map visually shows
what forms and subforms are needed for data entry, shows what special
forms and subforms can be created for dispaying data in the database and
shows what reports and subreports can be created from the data in the
database.

PC Datasheet
Providing Customers A Resource For Help With Access, Excel And Word
Applications






"Jeanne" wrote in message
...
I need to develop an exam data base with questions, categorized into
different areas, such as difficulty, state standard, skill level etc -
including in some cases mulitple choice answers with correct answer
indicated. I have the tables for the different categories for each
questions
-what I can't seem to to get right are the tables for the questions -
choices
and answers Any ideas?
Jeanne

" Steve" schreef in bericht ...
If you have an immediate need to get your exam database done quickly since
school has started or about to start, I can work with you to design the
table structure of your exam database. I have done this for numerous
customers. My fee is very reasonable. I provide a map of the tables that
shows all the tables in the database, all the fields in each table, all the
relationships between the tables and the type of relationship for each
relationship. The tables are arranged on the map generally as the flow of
information in the database. I
create a map of the tables for every database I do. The map visually shows
what forms and subforms are needed for data entry, shows what special forms
and subforms can be created for dispaying data in the database and shows
what reports and subreports can be created from the data in the database.

PC Datasheet


ARRRGGGHHHHHHHH !!!!!!!!

--
Hey Steve !!
Did you get lots of new customers from the groups lately ??
How many developers still work for you ??

This is to inform 'newbees' here about PCD' Steve:
http://home.tiscali.nl/arracom/whoissteve.html (Earthlink kicked him out ?? == updated 'abuse-reporting')
Until now 3850+ pageloads, 2450+ first-time visitors (these figures are *real* and rapidly increasing)

*********************************
You want to help us getting rid of Steve ??
(appropriate action will follow when there are enough complaints)
*********************************

Arno R

Hi, Gina.

Do NOT waste your time trying to explain how you just, in essence, offered
to help someone CHEAT on their exam.

The way Jeanne worded her question, I think it's more likely that she's a
member of the faculty than a student.

HTH.
Gunny

See http://www.QBuilt.com for all your database needs.
See http://www.Access.QBuilt.com for Microsoft Access tips and tutorials.
Blogs: www.DataDevilDog.BlogSpot.com, www.DatabaseTips.BlogSpot.com
http://www.Access.QBuilt.com/html/ex...ributors2.html for contact
info.

" Steve" wrote in message
...
My fee is

not worth it.

http://home.tiscali.nl/arracom/whoissteve.html

What do you not understand about the purpose of the newsgroups?

" Steve" wrote in message
...
If you have an immediate need to get your exam database done quickly since
school has started or about to start, I can work with you to design the
table structure of your exam database. I have done this for numerous
customers. My fee is very reasonable. I provide a map of the tables that
shows all the tables in the database, all the fields in each table, all
the relationships between the tables and the type of relationship for each
relationship. The tables are arranged on the map generally as the flow of
information in the database. I
create a map of the tables for every database I do. The map visually shows
what forms and subforms are needed for data entry, shows what special
forms and subforms can be created for dispaying data in the database and
shows what reports and subreports can be created from the data in the
database.

PC Datasheet
Providing Customers A Resource For Help With Access, Excel And Word
Applications






"Jeanne" wrote in message
...
I need to develop an exam data base with questions, categorized into
different areas, such as difficulty, state standard, skill level etc -
including in some cases mulitple choice answers with correct answer
indicated. I have the tables for the different categories for each
questions
-what I can't seem to to get right are the tables for the questions -
choices
and answers Any ideas?
Jeanne