Question Types
Every kind of question you can ask in a quiz — which ones grade themselves, which you grade by hand, and what each one is good for.
You can build quizzes from a wide range of question types. Some are auto-graded — they score themselves the instant a learner submits. Others are manually graded — a human reads the answer and assigns a score. A few are composite, combining several questions in one block.
This page lists every type and what it's good for. For how scoring works, see Grading quizzes.
Auto-graded questions
These grade themselves the moment the learner submits — no waiting, instant results.
| Type | What the learner does |
|---|---|
| Multiple choice (single answer) | Picks exactly one correct option. |
| Multiple choice (multiple answers) | Picks all the correct options. Can award partial credit for getting some right. |
| True / False | Chooses true or false. |
| Dropdown | Picks one answer from a compact dropdown list. |
| Matching | Pairs items in one column with items in another. Each pair can be scored on its own. |
| Ordering / sequencing | Arranges items into the correct order. |
| Fill-in-the-blank | Types the missing word(s) into a passage. Each blank can be case-sensitive or not. |
| Numeric | Types a number. You set an accepted tolerance (for example, ±0.1) so near-misses can still count. |
| Math response | Types a math expression that is checked against accepted answers. |
| Hotspot | Clicks the correct region(s) on an image. |
| Graphing | Plots an answer on a graph. |
| Categorize | Sorts items into the right groups or buckets. |
| Labelling | Drags labels onto the right spots on an image or diagram. |
Manually graded questions
These need a human to read the answer and assign a score. They go into your grading queue — see Grading quizzes.
| Type | What the learner does |
|---|---|
| Short answer | Writes a sentence or two. |
| Long answer / essay | Writes a longer, multi-paragraph response. |
| Open ended | Writes a free, discussion-style response. |
| Code input | Writes code as the answer. |
| File upload | Uploads a file (document, image, and so on). |
| Audio response | Records or uploads an audio answer. |
| Video response | Records or uploads a video answer. |
| Draw / sketch | Draws an answer by hand. |
| Comprehension | Reads a passage and answers open questions about it. |
| Scenario / case study | Responds to a described situation or case. |
Composite questions
These combine several parts in one item.
| Type | What it is |
|---|---|
| Simulation / interactive task | An interactive task the learner works through. |
| Comprehension block | A reading passage followed by several sub-questions, scored together. |
Choosing the right type
| Your goal | Good choice |
|---|---|
| Quick recall with one right answer | Multiple choice (single) or dropdown |
| "Select all that apply" | Multiple choice (multiple) — turn on partial credit |
| Fast yes/no check | True / False |
| Match terms to definitions | Matching |
| Put steps in order | Ordering / sequencing |
| Fill in missing words | Fill-in-the-blank |
| A calculated number | Numeric (set a tolerance) |
| Identify a part of a picture | Hotspot or labelling |
| Reasoning or explanation | Short answer, long answer, or open ended |
| Reading plus several questions | Comprehension block |
| Project or document hand-in | File upload |
Good to know
Mix question types in one quiz freely. Auto-graded questions give a learner an instant partial score, while any manually graded questions stay pending until you grade them — then the final score updates.
Quizzes do not include IELTS or band-score scoring, and there are no separate Listening, Reading, Writing, or Speaking sections. Build the test you need from the question types above.
Related pages
- Creating quizzes
- Grading quizzes — auto-grading, partial credit, and manual grading.
- Question reports — let learners flag a question.