Digital testing platform development for tutoring company

The client wanted to digitalize its tutoring process for students preparing for SATs. Their initial approach was manual and paper-based: it entailed the printing of test materials, manual grading, and labor-intensive report writing. This outdated method consumed significant time and resources while posing limitations in preparing students for the digital nature of the exam.

Recognizing the need for transformation, the tutoring centerasked us to refine their experience and optimize workflow. The company wanted a professional digital platform that mirrored the SAT testing environment, providing students with an efficient learning experience.

We were tasked with developing a user-friendly solution catering to the needs of learners. It was to streamline their experience, offering interactive knowledge validation materials, automated grading, and comprehensive performance analytics. Importantly, the end product had to have similar features and appearance to Bluebook, the official SAT practicing application, and be deeply integrated with Salesforce.

We planned to use Open edX as our main backend technology. However, during the discovery stage, it was revealed that Open edX’s capabilities weren’t sufficient to build the solution the client required. For this reason, we relied heavily on custom coding. Having left Open edX as the project’s core, we added numerous additional layers, using Python for the backend and React for the frontend.

The platform is intended for students and proctors. A proctor is a representative responsible for managing groups of students who take in-person practice tests in a specific school on a specific day and time.

For students: We developed three modes for tests on the platform. Test Mode, which simulates real test timing, Practice Mode Timed, which allows the student to start/stop the test on demand, and Practice Mode Untimed, which is totally self-paced and provides the most flexibility.

When the student first lands on a practice test, they are greeted by Onboarding Helper – this feature helps learners navigate the platform.

To further simplify navigation and improve the UX, we created the Directions block that explains what the student is supposed to do in each individual section of the test.

As per the client’s request, the test completely mirrors SATs and offers the same functionality as the official SAT practicing application Bluebook. We added a built-in calculator, a Reference Sheet, text annotations, and the ability to cross out answers students believe are incorrect.

Every student receives a PDF score report upon completion of the test. This report provides details on a completed test, showing learners correct and incorrect answers, how much time they spent on each question, and other data. By analyzing it, students can discover their weaknesses and overcome them before the exam. 

To make the tool as accurate as possible, our team designed a custom grading scheme similar to the one used in SATs. It grades learners using complex formulas and provides a grading range rather than exact points for answers. The platform also utilizes adaptive difficulty: if a learner struggles in some modules, the platform finds simpler questions for subsequent modules. Alternatively, if the learner answers most of the questions correctly, the subsequent modules will be harder, resulting in a higher final score.

To make the tool convenient, we designed the Student Dashboard where learners can review results for completed tests, see scheduled tests, resume paused tests, download and share score reports, and more. The dashboard provides centralized access to information, helping students quickly find what they need.

For proctors: To streamline the tutoring process, we designed the Proctor Cabinet with tools for smooth administration and supervision of testing sessions. They allow proctors to access the personal data of participating students, monitor the progress of each student within their respective modules, and enact emergency measures such as individual or group-wide pauses as necessary. They can also manage technology loaned out to learners, ensuring smooth logistics during tests.