8.3: Create Text, Number, And Open-Response Questions

Typed, selected, numeric, and extended responses serve different assessment goals. Choose a type based on whether the learner should enter exact text, explain an idea, select from a compact list, or choose a value on a scale.

In this section, you will configure Short Answer, Essay, Dropdown, and Slider questions.

Before You Begin

Decide whether the response has one objectively correct form, several acceptable forms, a numeric value, or no automatic right answer. This determines both the question type and whether Graded or Survey mode is appropriate.

1. Create A Short Answer Question

Use Short Answer for a word or short phrase that can be checked automatically.

1. Select Questions and choose Short Answer.
2. Write a prompt that makes the expected response format clear.
3. Select the answer area, then open Correct Answers.
4. In the Answers dialog, enter an accepted answer. Enter another answer on the new blank row when a second wording should also be accepted.
5. Turn on Case Sensitivity only when capitalization is part of what you are assessing.
6. Select Update, then test each accepted form in Present.

The response must exactly match one accepted answer. Matching is case-insensitive by default, but leading or trailing spaces, punctuation, and different internal spacing can still change the result. Add only meaningful variants; do not try to anticipate every typo.

2. Create An Essay Question

Use Essay for a reflection, explanation, justification, or other extended response.

1. Select Questions and choose Essay.
2. Write the task, the expected scope, and any evidence the learner should include.
3. In Properties, leave Mode set to Survey when the response will be reviewed by a person.
4. Decide whether Allow resubmission is appropriate for the activity.
5. Preview the question and enter a multi-sentence response to confirm that the prompt provides enough guidance.

Essay starts in Survey mode. Survey mode records the response without requiring an automatic correct answer. If you change it to Graded, the response is compared as one exact text value, like Short Answer. That is suitable only when a single fixed response is expected; it is usually not appropriate for human-judged prose.

3. Create A Dropdown Question

Use Dropdown when the learner should choose one item from a compact list.

1. Select Questions and choose Dropdown.
2. Write the prompt.
3. Select the dropdown answer area and open Correct Answers.
4. In the Answers dialog, add the options the learner should see.
5. In Graded mode, mark the valid option as correct. More than one listed option may be accepted when the wording genuinely allows it, although the learner still chooses only one.
6. Select Update and preview the closed and opened list.

Keep choices brief and distinct. If the alternatives need long explanations or images, a choice question is usually easier to read.

In Survey mode, the list still collects a selection, but the correct-answer controls are not shown because no option is graded as right or wrong.

4. Create A Slider Question

Use Slider for a numeric response within a known range.

1. Select Questions and choose Slider.
2. Write the prompt and include a unit when needed.
3. In Properties, open Slider Properties.
4. Set Min and Max to define the range.
5. Set Step to the interval between selectable values.
6. Set Initial to the value shown before the learner moves the slider.
7. Open Correct Answers, enter one or more accepted numeric values, and select Update.
8. Test the minimum, maximum, initial, correct, and one adjacent incorrect value in Present.

The player compares the selected numeric value with the accepted values. Ensure every accepted value can actually be reached from the minimum using the configured step. For example, with Min 0 and Step 2, a correct value of 5 cannot be selected.

Changing Min or Max can adjust the initial value and previously authored answers so they remain inside the new range. Reopen Correct Answers after changing the scale.

5. Choose The Correct Type And Mode

Troubleshooting

Quick Check

You have completed this section when each question uses the appropriate mode, every accepted response is defined, and the intended result is reproduced in Present.

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