When I expect to work long time with IGN ON, I do this (see pic). If I want to check for spark, I have a wire with alligator clip on one end and the other end is just wire. To test spark, I clamp the aligator clip on the points little bolt and I strike the stranded copper wire on the engine, gearbox, whatever ground. The result is a serie of sparks that will give you a far better impression of the spark's quality.