Create and Edit “New” Quizzes

Last updated on July 16, 2024

Canvas currently offers two types of quizzes: New and Classic. Each type of quiz has its own benefits and limitations. For example, New Quizzes offers more question types and some extra features, but allows for third-party integration.

Classic Quizzes will be phased out and replaced with New Quizzes in future versions of Canvas; however, Classic Quizzes is currently still available. In the meantime, you may choose to use either Classic or New Quizzes in your course.

Note: Question Banks used in Classic Quizzes cannot yet be easily migrated to New Quizzes. Refer to our “Convert Question Banks to Item Banks” tutorial to learn how to convert a classic quiz question bank into a new quiz item bank.

Directions

Migrate a Classic Quiz to a New Quiz

Use this method to make a copy of a Classic Quiz in the New Quiz format. The Classic version is preserved, so you don’t have to worry about losing any data. Note that a quiz cannot be migrated from the New Quiz format to the Classic Quiz format.

1. Go to MSU Denver’s Faculty and Staff Hub.
2. Click Canvas in the Teaching & Learning section.
3. Log in to your Canvas Account.
4. Select the Course you’d like to work in.
5. Click Quizzes in the left-hand course navigation menu.
   • Note: Classic and New quizzes can be differentiated by the rocket ship icon to the left of the quiz. Classic Quizzes have an outline of the icon and New Quizzes have a solid icon.
6. Click the More Options Menu (three vertical dots) to the right of the Classic Quiz you wish to migrate.
7. Select Migrate.
   • The New Quiz will appear at the bottom of the Quizzes menu with the same name as the original. The migration process could take a few seconds or several minutes depending on Canvas’ server load. The copied quiz will appear with the same title as the original, but the rocket ship icon will be filled in.

Create a New Quiz

1. Click Quizzes in the left-hand course navigation menu.
2. Click the blue +Quiz button in the top right-hand corner of the page.
3. Select New Quizzes in the Choose a Quiz Engine Menu.
   • Select Remember my choice for this course if you would like New Quizzes to be your default format. You can reset this by clicking the More Options button in the top right-hand corner of the Quizzes menu and clicking Reset quiz engine choice.
4. Click Submit.
5. Enter a Name for the quiz.
6. Enter other basic Settings for the quiz as desired.
   • Points: This is how many points you want your New Quiz to be worth.
   • Assignment Group: If you do not have weighted assignment groups, this is primarily for organization.
   • Display Grade as: You can select alternate grading methods than points here, or you can check the box below to exclude this quiz from the student’s total grade.
7. Enter a Due Date so the quiz appears in the student’s to-do list, and set an availability window if you desire.
8. Click Build in the bottom right-hand corner to add questions, or Save to come back later.

Add Questions to a New Quiz

1. Click Quizzes in the left-hand course navigation menu.
2. Click More Options (three dots button) to the right of the New Quiz you want to add questions to.
3. Click the blue + button where you would like to add a new question.
   • Note: This button will appear before and after every question. Click the button in whatever place you want the new question to appear.
4. Select the Question Type you wish to use.
   • Optional: Enter a Question Title. Students don’t see these, it’s for easier identification for you in the quiz or if the question is put in an item bank.
5. Enter the Question Stem or Prompt into the second text box.
   • This is what students will see while taking the quiz, not the title.
6. Adjust Options as desired.
   • Each question type has its own types of answers and options. A multiple-choice question is represented above.
7. Add to Item Bank if desired.
   • See our Use Item Banks for New Quizzes tutorial for more information on using item banks.
8. Adjust the number of Points the question is worth.
   • Note: This determines the value of the question relative to other questions in the quiz. It does not affect the total points the quiz is worth in the gradebook.
9. Add Feedback, if desired:
   1. Click the Speech Bubble Icon next to the points box on the bottom left.
   2. Add Feedback for correct, incorrect, and/or all answers.
   3. Click Done.
10. Click Done.
11. Repeat Steps 3-11 to add additional questions.
12. Click Return when the quiz is complete.

Edit New Quiz Settings

1. Click Quizzes in the left-hand course navigation menu.
2. Click More Options (three dots button) to the right of the New Quiz you want to edit.
3. Click Build at the bottom of the page.
4. Add Instructions, as desired.
5. Click Done.
6. Add Questions as desired by clicking on the blue + Button. See Add Questions to a New Quiz, below, for details.
7. Click Settings at the top of the page to edit additional settings. Settings include:
   • Shuffle questions and answers – This tells Canvas to randomize the order that the questions and/or answers are displayed for each student.
   • One question at a time – This tells Canvas to show the quiz or test one question at a time rather than showing all questions at once.
   • Require a student access code – Requires a passcode for students to access the quiz. This setting is typically turned off so all students enrolled in your course have equal access to the assessment.
   • Add a time limit – This tells Canvas how much time you want to provide to students to complete a quiz. You can extend this time for specific students, as needed for accommodations.
   • Filter IP addresses – This lets you choose specific IP addresses that cannot access the quiz. This setting is typically turned off so all students enrolled in your course have equal access to the assessment.
   • Allow calculator – This will provide students with a calculator to use on the quiz. You can choose whether they have a basic or scientific calculator.
   • Allow multiple attempts – This enables you to tell Canvas how many times you want students to be able to retake a quiz. Make sure your settings for showing correct answers is set appropriately if you choose this option.
   • Restrict student result view – This setting tells Canvas what results to show students. They could potentially see points awarded (overall and per question), pointes possible (overall and per question), items and questions, student responses and whether they were correct or incorrect, the actual correct responses, or item feedback.
8. Click Moderate at the top of the page to provide accommodations, if needed.
   • Note: Refer to our “Use Quiz Accommodations in Canvas” and “Add Time to a Quiz for a Specific Student” tutorials to learn more about providing accommodations.
9. Click Return to go back to Quizzes.