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Frequently Asked Questions about Tests & Quizzes

This article lists the most frequently asked questions about features in Tests & Quizzes, with links to articles that describe how to use these features.

I just want students to download my exam and upload their answers! How can they do that?

You may create an entire assessment as a single document, such as a Word file, and require students to download the document, enter their answers using an application on their computer, then save and upload back the modified file.

To do this, add a file upload question to your assessment, as described in How do I create a file upload question? While creating the question:

  1. For the Answer Point Value, enter the total point value desired for the assessment.
  2. In the question text, give students instructions to download the attached document, answer the questions, and upload back their response, for example:

    "Please read the attached Word document containing the instructions and essay prompts. In a new Word document, type your response to the prompt of your choosing. Upload your response here."
  3. Use the Add Attachments button to attach a file with the questions.

How do I add an image in a test question?

How do I randomize questions and answers within my test?

There are three options for randomization within an assessment:

  1. Randomize multiple choice answers: You may randomize the order in which multiple choice answers appear.  Answer randomization must be set on a per-question basis when you are creating or editing the question, as some instructors include answer options like A and B are correct or None of the Above where randomization doesn't work. You can find steps to randomize answers in How do I create a multiple choice question?
  2. Randomize question order: You may randomize questions in an assessment part. Please see How do I use and edit assessment parts?
  3. Create a random question set: If you have a set of questions that all test the same knowledge, and should be worth the same point value as one another, you may add those questions to a question pool.  Then, you may create a part in your test where questions are randomly drawn from the question pool. For example, if you create a pool of 50 questions, 25 questions could be randomly selected from those 50 each time a student takes the exam.  You can find information about setting up a random question set in the following articles:

Note: Answer options in matching questions are always randomized automatically.  See How do I create a matching question? for more information.

How do I restrict when a test can be taken, and the time allowed?

Screenshot shows Availability and Submissions section of Settings page. Graphic link opens modal with larger image. Press Escape to exit modal.

Use an assessment's Settings to specify when it will be available for students to take and how much time they have to complete the assessment from the moment they start it. You can find detailed steps in the following articles:

How do I give students extra time or different dates on an exam?

Screenshot shows Date and Time Limit Exceptions section of Settings page. Graphic link opens modal with larger image. Press Escape to exit modal.

If some students in your class need accommodations for extra time on an exam, or if you want to release an exam to different groups of students in your site at different times, you can do that by following the steps in How do I give specific students different date or time settings on an assessment?