Create and edit multiple choice questions

Updated 19 Feb 2024

For multiple choice questions, you define the question and several answer choices that include both correct and incorrect answers. Students select the correct answer from the available choices.

When creating or editing your question, you can switch among sections at any time. However, you may need to complete one section prior to opening another. If this is the case, a message appears directing you to enter the required information. You can click a section or subsection's bar to expand or collapse it.

The course saves your input as you enter it. To preview your question at any time, click Preview.

To view an example of the question type, click Sample Question.

  1. As you add or edit an activity, click Add Questions > Create New Question on the Questions page.

    - or -

    Click Course Materials > Additional Instructor Views > Manage Question Bank, and then click Add Course Materials. (MyLab IT only)

    From the Today's View or any other page within a course, click Course Materials > Manage Question Bank and then click Add Course Materials.(MyLab Languages only)

    Notes

    • The best way to add activities (create assignments) is with the Course Materials Wizard. To access the wizard, select Course Materials from the menu bar. This wizard lets you add assignments by taking you to the Course Materials Library, copy materials from another course using the Course Materials Library, and manage your content library. Refer to Using the Course Materials Wizard for more information.
    • You can also add activities from the Course Materials Library and then move them to the My Course list where you can set appropriate scheduling. Use the Course Materials wizard to access the library.
    • Another option is to add an activity to the My Course list. If you do that, you will be prompted to save the new activity to the Course Materials Library. In this case, navigate to and select the Course Materials Library folder where you want to save the activity and then click Add and Close.
  2. Click Multiple Choice.

    A page appears with the following sections:

    • Question Layout
    • Questions & Answers
    • Hints
    • Preferences (MyLab Languages only)
  3. Click to select a question layout. By default, layout 1 is selected.

    The layout specifies where the question text and the question answer appear during question presentation. As shown, layouts have one answer location and can have one or two text fields.

    There are 6 layouts. Layout 1 has two horizontal rows: Text Section A on top of the Answer Location. Layout 2 has two vertical columns: Text Section A to the left of Answer Location. Layout 3 has one horizontal row for Text section A and two vertical columns under that row that include Answer Location to the left of the Text Section B. Layout 4 has one horizontal row for Text section A and two vertical columns under that row that include Answer Location to the right of the Text Section B. Layout 5 has three horizontal rows, with Text Section A on top, Answer Location in the middle, and Text Section B on the bottom. Layout 6 has two vertical columns, with Text Section A as the first column. The second column as Text Section B on top of Answer Location.

  4. In the Edit Question subsection, enter a Question title of up to 100 characters to identify the question in the Question Bank.
  5. Add a question narrative.
  6. Enter the question text.  

    If the question layout has one text area, enter your text in Question Section A.

    If the question layout has two text areas, enter question text in Question Section A and Question Section B.

    You can change the question layout at any time. However, if you switch from a layout with two question text fields to a layout with one question field or from a layout with one question text field to a layout with no question field, you are prompted to confirm the switch because some or all of the question text you enter will not appear in the new layout.

  7. Click the Add Answer subsection.
  8. From the drop-down list, select the type of answer as:
    • Text
    • Image
    • Audio (This option is visible but not used in MyLab IT.)
    • Movie (This option is visible but not used in MyLab IT.)
  9. If you select Text, you can:
    • Click Edit/Choose to open the content editor where you enter and format your answer.

    -or-

    • Type plain text in the box to the right of Edit/Choose.
  10. If you select Image, Audio, or Movie:
    • Click Edit/Choose.
    • Select the image, audio, or movie file from the Course Materials Library
    • In MyLab IT courses, you can also click View Contents by Learning Objective, if enabled, to select from course materials already associated with learning objectives.
    • An image size cannot exceed 500 x 325 pixels.
  11. Enter the Score for each answer.
  12. Enter Feedback for each answer. To format feedback text, click the corresponding Edit button to open the content editor.

    To add more answer choices, click Add Answer.

  13. To shuffle the choice order for the question, under Options, select Shuffle choices.
  14. To retain the order of answer choices when shuffling is enabled, select the answers and click Pin/Unpin Answer in the toolbar. The pin icon appears to the left of each pinned answer. To enable answer shuffling again, repeat the process to unpin answers and remove the pin icon.

    If you pin answer choices, you cannot drag and drop to reorder answer choices in MyTest.

  15. Select whether to display choices in Horizontal or Vertical layout.
  16. Add any hints you want to include for the question.
  17. Set the question's preferences. (MyLab Languages only)
  18. Click Save and Close.

On the Questions page, you can use the question's options menu to edit, delete, or try out the question.

If you have access to the Course Materials > Manage Question Bank page in the course, you have access to additional question options, such as Preferences and Tryout.(MyLab Languages only)

  1. When creating or editing an activity, select Edit from the question's options menu on the Questions page.

    - or -

    From within a course, click Course Materials > Manage Question Bank and select Edit from the question's options menu. (MyLab Languages)

    From within a course, click Course Materials > Additional Instructor Views > Manage Question Bank and select Edit from the question's options menu. (MyLab IT)

  2. Make your changes.
  3. Click Save and Close.