Quizzes
Hoot has three quiz options. Two of the options, Quiz Show and List Recall, are available after doing a search. Almost any search can be quizzed. The third option is the Cardbox quiz, which quizzes on previously saved words or lists. Words are added to the cardbox system from the context menu in the search results.
All three quizzes have two test modes. There is a single line answer box and a multiline answer box. Enter answers in the small box one word at a time to get feedback after each answer showing correct or incorrect. The feedback doesn't show missed items. Missed items are not shown until the quiz is graded. Entering words directly in the larger box only provides feedback when graded. Once graded, your answers will either be correct, missed, or incorrect (not in the list) and will be displayed in separate list boxes. Words in the list not included in the answers are in the Missed box.
Cardbox Quiz
The cardbox quiz is a method where items are moved from numbered boxes based on successful answers. As the items are moved, the frequency of quizzes is decreased. The Hoot cardbox uses concepts of the Leitner study system and includes some features available in the Zyzzyva system. Hoot even supports quizzing from Zyzzyva and Collins Zyzzyva databases if the same lexicon is present in Hoot.
Saving to a Cardbox
A cardbox file can be created by searching and then using the context menu option Save to Cardbox. This clip shows a search for 7 letter consonant dumps. The user has an option of saving to Anagrams, Hooks, As Stems, or List. Anagrams and Hooks are self-explanatory to Scrabble users. As Stems is a quiz type where the user is presented with the word plus a blank and asked to anagram that. Beginners study stems like TISANE using this method. The list quiz is a separate collection of words.
List Cardboxes
When selecting List as the type of cardbox to create, a dialog box asks for information about the list. Title and Description are self explanatory. There are multiple quiz type options available. The most common is the Anagram quiz, where users build words from the alphagram of the term. Some of the others could be useful, or not so much. When selecting BlankAnagrams, the terms are tested as stems.
The Passing Score indirectly determines when a quiz is rescheduled. The box number is determined by the relative score. For now, when you pass a list quiz it is moved to box 1 or higher. A score of 100 moves the list to box number 10. Thoughts welcome.
Taking a Quiz
Users take a quiz by selecting Cardbox Quiz from the Search tab of the ribbon. This presents a list of programs, lexicons, and quiz options. As in Zyzzyva, the cards in each box are scheduled based on box number and when previously tested. In Anagrams, a quiz will only show words scheduled to be shown. If you want to test on words that are scheduled in the future you can change the quiz date to the schedule date of the cards. Presently, although list quizzes have schedule dates you can take them at any time. If selecting a list quiz, users then select the list to quiz.
One difference between Hoot and Zyzzyva is that you can either enter words separately or in a box. Listed separately they are verified after each entry, and added to the list. The Grade button compares correct answers with your answers, and Next goes to the next word. However, Hoot examines the keystrokes so it's not necessary to use the buttons. In Single Entry mode, Hoot grades the quiz after a blank entry. In box mode, Hoot grades the quiz word after entering a blank line. Pressing Enter again goes to the next word.
Traditionally the Leitner system dictates that missed questions are moved all the way back to box 0. Instead, Hoot modifies this so that cards of missed words/questions are sent half way back, rounded down. This difference is only noticeable for box 3 and higher. For examples, box 1 > box 0, box 2 > box 1, box 3 > box 1, box 4 > box 2, etc.
Grading a list quiz
Hoot tracks the progress of each word in a list, and each list is graded at the end of the quiz. After all words have been attempted you can End Quiz to grade the quiz. This is what moves the list to the next box (hopefully), and schedules the next quiz. If you quit the quiz before finishing all the words in the list, or without grading the quiz, Hoot will ask if you want to Continue the quiz the next time you select that list.
Quizzing Zyzzyva
While Hoot quizzes are designed for Hoot, like Xerafin, I've attempted to make them compatible with Zyzzyva files. You can even select quiz cardboxes from Zyzzyva files, provided the same lexicon name is in Hoot. If it's not, you can use an alternate lexicon for the answers. If a similar lexicon is available you can simply rename it to match the Zyzzyva lexicon.
Quiz List Recall
The Quiz List Recall is a simple quiz of the words in the list. Enter your answers in the blank box to the left. In the recall quiz you can expand the window to the right to show the original list at any time. Buttons operate and the context menu applies to the original list. Press Enter in the small box to get feedback without showing missing answers. The Grade/Clear box shows/hides the results. After the quiz has been graded you can select either clear the results and continue or clear everything and retake it. Clear enables you to continue your quiz. Retake Quiz clears answers and lets you start over with same quiz.
Quiz Show
The Quiz Show is a slide show quiz that compounds the quiz options. Just like the slide show, the quiz slides show a list of words, and for each word there is a subsearch that the quiz consists of. While you can't rearrange the letters manually, you can shuffle them, arrange them by alphagram, or just show the primary word. If the subsearch is a blank anagram, the word will include a blank as well. Showing the definition for the primary word is an option you can select with the checkbox.
For example, you can search for words from 2 to 5 letters long containing the letter J in the Combination search and start a quiz show. The quiz show will show each of those words and allow you to quiz yourself using several subsearches. For example you can show a quiz for hooks or extensions for each word. The quiz does give you a hint by showing how many words are in the results. Of course, some of the options available may not be so practical. You can also press the Peek button to review the words in the quiz.
When selecting Next or some other options, the results are erased and the quiz for the next base word is shown.
Stem Study
You can enter the Quiz Show when studying stems and selecting the BA Quiz. This shows the list of stems in the Show and the quiz defaults to the blank anagrams for each word.