Random sorting

Hi all, I just randomly sorted some test questions, and I thought I’d share the technique.

If you found this post while you were looking for sorting techniques on Google, check out the bike stuff. It’s pretty sweet.


Goal:
Take a set of test questions and put them in random order. The questions were written in the order of the source pages; that’s too easy.

Rock this:
• Write the questions in a text editor (Word). Questions should be single spaced.

• Open a spreadsheet application (Excel). Paste the questions in Column B.

• Go to http://www.random.org/sequences/ and generate a random sequence.

• Copy as much of the sequence as you need (no more) and paste it into Column A.

• In Excel, select all and go Data > Sort > By Column A

Bam! Your questions are in random order.


Know more. Have more fun!

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4 replies
  1. leelikesbikes says:

    Nice one!

    There was a reason I stopped doing that — maybe because the numbers keep changing — but, right now, I can’t see why. You saved me time next time. Excel Rock!

  2. ebarker9 says:

    Actually, should have been “=RAND()”. And you can always do a “copy” and then “paste special” and just paste the calculated values over the original formula if you don’t want it to recalculate every time you make a change.

    Excel, woo!

  3. ebarker9 says:

    This software seems to be removing my parenthesis, so it should be “RAND” followed by open and then closed parenthesis.

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