Create a Quiz or Exam

Create formative and summative assessments using Quizzes. For example, low stakes practice quizzes can be helpful for students to master content and prepare for the next assessment.  Best practice is to build the questions in the question library first to import to any quiz. Grades can be set up to automatically export to the grade book.

Learn more about assessments.

Quiz Accommodations

  • Students with accommodations through the Office of Disability Services (ODS) may request additional time on quizzes. Instructors can provide this access through the a new way using the Edit Accommodations feature in the Classlist.

Quiz Proctoring

The Quizzes tool provides the option of using a proctoring solution called Respondus LockDown Browser and Monitor. You can choose to lock down the student's browser to prevent browsing on the internet as well as record them while they take the test.

Video Guides

Quizzes: Manage Quizzes

Quizzes: The Question Library

Useful Terms

Useful Terms:

  • Question Library: The Question Library works as a question bank from which you can select questions when you’re creating a quiz. It is the central space to keep questions organized by topic, question type, etc. It is recommended that you build your questions directly into the Library so it can be imported to a quiz.
  • Section (in the Question Library and Quizzes): These work like folders which allow you to organize your questions by topic, unit, or type of questions, etc. You can set specific parameters to a section in your quizzes, such as question randomization.
  • Question Pool: Set a given number of questions randomly selected from a section in the Question Library.
  • Categories: Allow you to group quizzes under a Category in the Quizzes Page. For example, Unit 1 Quizzes.
  • Quizzes Page: Once in your course, click on Quizzes under Assessments on the Main Navigation Bar. You will be taken to the Quizzes Page where you can manage quizzes, access the Question Library, review quiz statistics and enable LockDown Browser.
    Quiz navigation
  • Asynchronous Quiz: Timer starts when the learner launches quiz or exam.
  • Synchronous Quiz: Timers starts on the start date. A due date is not applicable and an end date is not necessary.

The Question Library and Creating Sections

Accessing the Question Library

  1. Click on Assessments > Quizzes on the Main Navigation Bar.
  2. Click on Question Library on the top menu of the Quizzes Page.
    Question Library

Organizing Questions: Creating Sections

  1. Question LibraryIn the Question Library, click on New and choose Section (folder) from the drop-down menu.
  2. Enter a name for the section.
    New question section
  3. Click Save (if you want to add other types of questions) or the option to Save and New (create a new question of the same type) / Save and Copy (create a new question with the current question as a template) by clicking the drop-down menu.

  4. The section will show up in the Question Library and in the menu to the left.

Types of Questions

Types of Questions

There are 12 different question types.  It is best practice to use the Preview button for each individual question as well as the entire quiz to test for accuracy before a quiz is released.

Many quiz question types give the option to insert an image via rich text editor in the question text box. All question types allow you to include Feedback and Hints under the Options menu. Other options may be available depending on the question type (e.g., short description, add enumeration).

If you choose to enable LockDown Browser and Monitor for Written Response, Arithmetic or Significant Features type questions, do not check the option to Enable inserted images and attachments or Allow attachments to support answers.  It may cause a security risk.

Click Save (if you want to add other types of questions) or Save and Copy (create a new question with the current question as a template) or Save and New (to create another question of the same type).

Adding Questions to Question Library

Add Questions to Library

  1. Question sectionsIn the Question Library, click on the Section where you want to add questions.
    Note: The sections can be accessed by clicking on the folders in the “tree” on the left side of the library.
  2. Click New and choose the type of question that you want.  There are 12 question types, and the process for creating each question is slightly different. You can also add text or image information.
    New questionNote: Import button can only accept CSV formatted text files. D2L provides a download template of question type structures for a CSV file.  IMPS QTI compliant course package (ZIP) file is acceptable.  It is also possible to import existing questions from other course quiz folders.
  3. In the Question Text field enter the question.
    Note: If you copy and paste text into the question text box, clear formatting.  For example, if clearing formatting on a Word document, highlight the text and under Styles, click Clear Formatting.
    Question text
    If clear formatting of text is not completed, then select Remove Formatting when text is pasted in a text box in D2L.
    Enter the points and click Save (if you want to add other types of questions) or Save and New (to create another question of the same type) or Save and Copy (create a new question with the current question as a template).

Note: It is possible to upload a CSV formatted file or Zip IMS QTI compliant course package or select questions located in the library by selecting Import.  D2L accepts the import of files from .

D2L Quiz Walkthrough

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Add a rubric to a Written Response Question

If you would like to streamline grading of an essay or long answer type question, then add a rubric to a written response question type that will measure the student's performance against a set of criteria. Note: It is important to match the points of the rubric to the total points of the quiz question.

Previewing a Quiz

Preview a Quiz on main quiz page

  1. Click Quizzes from the Assessments (main navbar) drop-down menu.
  2. Click the drop-down caret next to the quiz or exam title and select Preview.

Preview a Quiz while adding/editing questions

  1. Click Quizzes from the Assessments (main navbar) drop-down menu.
  2. Click Edit from the drop-down menu next to the quiz name.
  3. Select Preview (in Questions sections, above Total Points, of the Quiz.

Make a copy of a Quiz

 

To copy an already existing quiz, select Copy from the drop-down menu. The Properties tab of the Edit Quiz page will appear.  Edit the title of the quiz name and edit the questions via the Add Existing or Create New buttons.

Make the quiz visible by using the toggle to visible in order in order for students to take the quiz. Be sure to edit the start date under Availability Dates and Conditions before making visible to avoid students entering when you are not ready to release it. (By default, the newly created quiz is hidden from users.)

Note:  If you are seeking instructions on how to a copy a quiz to another course site, click here.


 

Editing and Deleting Quizzes

Editing Quizzes

  1. Click Quizzes from the Assessments (main navbar) drop-down menu.
  2. Click on the drop-down menu next to the name of the quiz you want to edit.
  3. Select Edit from the menu.
  4. Expand and collapse the panes located on the right-hand side to makes changes to: Availability Dates & Conditions, Timing & Display, Attempts & Completion, Evaluation & Feedback.

    Edits will impact future attempts.


    Moving Questions

    If you would like to move questions to the top, bottom or a section in the quiz, select the checkbox(es) for those questions and select the drop-down menu for Move To.

Deleting Quizzes

  1. Click Quizzes from the Assessments (navbar) drop-down menu.
  2. Check the box next to the quiz you wish to delete.
  3. Click on More Actions at the top of the Quizzes Page and select Delete.
  4. Confirm the quiz deletion by clicking the Delete.

Restore Deleted Quizzes

If you would like to recover a deleted quiz, navigate to More Actions and select Restore.

Retake Incorrect Questions Only

It is possible for students to retake a quiz or exam with only incorrect questions available to answer.  When grading, the instructor can only provide a score for the questions answered on that attempt.  Correctly answered questions add to the student’s score.  The overall grade calculation (e.g., highest attempt, lowest, first, last and average) is applied.  Average calculated grade allows for assigning partial credit for questions not answered correctly on the first attempt.

In order for students to be able to complete the subsequent attempts, the previous attempts must be published.

  1. Quiz retakeIn Assessment tab of Edit Quiz page, first select the number of attempts under Attempts Allowed. This must be assigned as 2 or more for the checkbox to be available.
  2. Click Apply.
  3. Check the box for On new attempts, only allow answers for previously incorrect questions.
  4. Click Save and Close.

Note: If you are using Automatic grading, Written Response questions will be marked as 0 and included in future attempts until graded manually.

Assessing Quizzes with Retake Incorrect Questions Only:

The retaken attempt 2, and any subsequent attempts will display under the student’s name in the Users tab area of the Grade Quiz page.

User viewAttempts view

The Attempts tab (of the Grade Quiz page) will also list the retaken attempts for the students along with date/time stamp of completion along with score and grade and date/time published.

Special Access

Students may be granted access to a quiz for various reasons (e.g., additional time, alternative date and/or time). If this is more than one occurrence, then consider setting the special access in the Classlist under the Edit Accommodations option. You set it up once for the entire semester.

  1. Click Assessments (main navbar) to select Quizzes under the drop-down list.
  2. Under the Manage Quizzes tab, select Edit under the drop-down list for the specified quiz.
  3. Under the Availability Dates & Conditions, select Manage Special Access. Use the default selection to Allow selected users special access to this quiz. This selection allows you to create an alternative time restriction for specific students.  The second option restricts access to the quiz to specified students.  (Only those students selected would be able to see the quiz.)
  4. Click Add Users to Special Access button.Under the Special Access Properties, complete the following (if applicable):
    • Enter a new due date.
    • Enter new availability start and end dates.
    • Check to Override time limit (if applicable). If selected, set the multiplier or no time limit.
    • Check to override behavior when time limit is exceeded (if applicable). Selections include:
      • Automatically submit the quiz attempt
      • Flag as "exceeded time limit" and allow the learner to continue working
      • Do nothing: the time limit is not enforced.
    • Check to override attempts allowed (if applicable).
    • Check the student(s) to which the new access applies.
    • Click Save button to save the settings.  (Note: Once saved, the student’s name will appear along with the summary of the settings.)
    • Click Save and Close.

Quiz Accommodations

There is a shortcut to setting quiz accommodations.  Instead of navigating to the Availability Dates & Conditions section of the Edit Quiz page, use the Classlist.

Moving Questions from a Quiz to Question Library

  1. Select Question Library in Assessments > Quizzes.
  2. Click Import > Browse Existing Questions and find your quiz name in the drop-down list.
    add questions to library
  3. Check the checkbox for all items and select Add.

Grading Quizzes

  1. Quiz gradingGo to Quizzes on the Main Navigation Bar.
  2. Click on the drop-down menu next to the name of the quiz you want to grade.
  3. Select Grade from the menu.
  4. This takes you to the Grade Quiz Page where you can filter submissions by student, attempts or questions.
  5. Click on the attempt link under the student’s name to grade it. The student’s entire quiz displays. (You can toggle to a new Quiz evaluation experience. However, the following questions are not supported in the new experience: matching, arithmetic, signficant figures and multi-short answer.)
    Qiz attempts
  6. Correct student answers appear as a green checkmark, incorrect answers appear as a red X with the correct answer marked with a blue arrow. Written responses (long answers) will need to be manually graded.
  7. You can provide feedback in two ways:
    • Individual feedback for a question: Click on the Expand question feedback link beneath the score box to type your feedback.
      Quiz feedback
    • Overall Quiz Feedback: Type your feedback in the Attempt Feedback box and change the final score if desired.
  1. After grading a quiz, click Save Draft and click the right arrow in the upper right-hand of the page to grade the next student.
    Grading students
  2. When you are done grading everyone, click Back button at the upper left-hand of the page to return to the quiz attempt listing.
  3. Click the Publish Feedback icon at the top of the quiz attempt list page to publish the quiz scores.

Troubleshooting Tips for Quiz Scores not Publishing to grade book

Export to gradebookAllow Export to Grades

  1. Check to ensure a grade item is associated to the quiz under Assessment tab of Edit page.
  2. A grade item needs to be selected to check Allow automatic export to grades.
  3. If there are questions that require manual grading, do not select Automatic Grade option (to allow attempt to be graded immediately upon completion).
  4. Click Save and Close.

Publish Feedback

  1. Select Grade option of the Quiz drop-down menu to find the listing of the quiz attempt links.
  2. Ensure all student names are displayed by scrolling to the bottom of the page to ensure the number per page is set to 200 per page.
  3. Scroll to the top of the page to check the box next to First Name, Last Name to select all students in the list.
  4. Click Publish Feedback.
    Publish feeback

Filter quiz status

Filter by Users

  1. Under Assessments > Quizzes, click the drop-down menu next to the Quiz name to select Grade.
  2. Click Show Search Options link.
  3. Scroll down the page to find the four options available for status: All evaluations, published evaluations, unpublished evaluations and pending evaluations.
  4. Click the magnifying bar to activate the search for the particular status selection.

Filter by Pending evaluations (quiz attempts)

Filter the questions within a student quiz attempt for pending evaluations.  This can be used to manage the question types requiring manual grading (e.g., written response).

  1. Click a student quiz attempt link.
  2. Under Question View, select the drop-down menu to select Pending evaluations.

Anonymous Grading

Note: Once anonymous grading is enabled, visibility of student names cannot be modified after submissions exist.

  1. Under Assessments > Quizzes, click the drop-down menu next to the Quiz name to select Grade.
  1. Click on the Questions tab, to select Blind Marking [1] and click the first question to start grading [2].
    Blind marking
  1. Grade questionEnter the score [1] and feedback [2]. Click Save and Continue [3].  Select the next student by clicking the number or arrow [4].
  2. Click Go Back to Questions to grade the next question.
  1. To publish grades for all students to the gradebook, select the checkbox at the top to select all and click the publish icon. Click Save and Close.

Publish grades

Quiz Results Display

After submitting a quiz or exam, students can view their quiz or exam results if it is configured under the Evaluation & Feedback section of the Edit Quiz page. When published, the students will be able to view all questions or incorrect questions with or without correct answers displayed.

Reset or Restore a Quiz Attempt

Quiz resetReset Quiz Attempt

A student is not able to resume a quiz that was started, but an instructor can reset the quiz attempt to allow the student to restart the quiz.

  1. Under Assessments > Quizzes > Manage Quizzes, select the drop-down menu next to the quiz name and select Grade.
  2. Check the box next to the attempt you would like to reset and select the trash can icon (reset). Click Save and Close.

Restore Quiz Attempt

If a quiz attempt was deleted, the instructor can restore it by accessing the attempt log.

  1. Under Assessments > Quizzes > Manage Quizzes, select the drop-down menu next to the quiz name and select Attempt Logs.
  1. Select the Restore button next to the attempt that was deleted in error.
    Attempt logs

Regrade a quiz attempt

If your quiz question was set up incorrectly after a quiz was submitted, D2L allows the ability to regrade the attempts.  The instructor has the option to manually update each student’s quiz attempt or update all attempts at once. 

Update individual quiz attempt

  1. Under Assessments > Quizzes > Manage Quizzes, click the drop-down menu next to the quiz name and select Grade.
  2. Click the attempt link to access the quiz results for each student. Enter the correct score for each quiz question accordingly.
  3. Click Save and Close.

Quiz attempt gradeUpdate all attempts

  1. Under Assessments > Quizzes > Manage Quizzes, click the drop-down menu next to the quiz name and select Grade.
  2. Select the Questions tab and select Update All Attempts radio button.
  3. Select the question that you plan to give points back to. By default, the grading type is set to Give to all attempts ( ) points.  Otherwise, specify which answer requires the points.  Enter the number of points in the text box along with an option to comment. Click Save.
  4. Modifications Log will date stamp the action at the bottom of the page.
  5. Click Go Back to Questions.

Note: Editing a quiz question after a student submits the quiz will not fix the student’s grades. A dialog box appears when an instructor attempts to edit a grade with student attempts. If you try to make an edit, another dialog box will inform you that those edits will only impact future attempts.

Synchronous Quiz

A synchronous quiz allows the test to be taken at the same time for everyone. If the student logs in late, the time will be reduced accordingly because the clock is always running until the time limit is reached. Due date is not applicable. If enabled, the start date will only be visible in the calendar. Learn more about creating a synchronous quiz.