Tests and quizzes can be used for at least eight different purposes.

1. Self assessment: Tests can help you determine what you know and what you don't know! Taking one of the self-assessment tests in a competency area can help you with your self-assessment process and preparing your learning plan.

2. Diagnostic tools: Tests can be used to identify and compare personality traits and characteristics that may affect performance and job success. Knowing this data can help you work on, and improve, these skills. (For examples of diagnostic tests, please see our LearningNurse website).

3. Challenge exams: By taking a challenge exam in a particular competency area, you can demonstrate that you have (or don't have) the necessary knowledge. If you pass the exam, then it is unnecessary to take the course or do the learning module.

4. Lesson feedback: Tests and quizzes can be used in learning modules to provide you feedback on how well you understood the content and concepts. If you did poorly on the quiz, you need to redo the e-Learning course or tutorial.

5. Discovery learning: Research has shown that asking questions and providing feedback is a more effective learning strategy than just presenting information to the learner. Therefore, tests and quizzes can be used as a learning tool to refresh and/or update your knowledge.  

6. Learning evaluation: Tests can be used at the end of learning module to demonstrate to you and the College / Association / employer that you have acquired the necessary knowledge related to that competency. You may need to pass your final exam to receive your program credits that you record in your learning plan.

7. Compliance testing: Some organizations require that their employees prove that they still have the knowledge and skills in certain critical areas. Instead of making these employees sit through a re-certification course each year, tests can be used to demonstrate that they still have the necessary competencies.

8. Screening: In all regulated professions, certain requirements must be met before you can be approved (registered) to work in that jurisdiction. Tests can be an effective first-level screening tool to measure to what degree new applicants can meet the criteria, and how much remediation / upgrading may be required.