Test questions

This article explains all the different question types that can be used with LearnDash tests, how to set up your questions and answers, assign points, hints, categories, the different options available for each question type, and much more.

Access issues

Every question you use in a quiz on your website is stored in a central location. While you use the Quiz Builder to add questions and configure your entire quiz, you can also edit questions on their own dedicated page. =>> ??????

1. Navigate to LEARNDASH LMS > QUESTIONS
2. Click on a question to open the edit page.

Filter questions

LearnDash gives you the possibility to filter your questions in different ways:

• By question type
• By question category
• by the test to which it is assigned (you can also display questions that are not assigned).

Use the filter bar at the top of the All Questions page:

1. Select the filters you want
2. Click on the “Filter” button.

Choose the question type

When creating a new test question, one of the first things you should do is select the question type. LearnDash offers the following question types:

• Single selection
• Multiple selection
• Free choice
• Sort selection
• Selection of the matrix sorting
• Fill in the field
• Evaluation (survey)
• Essay (open answer)

To select your question type, look for the Answer Type field in the sidebar. Choose your type:

Question Title & Text

The title of the question is for internal use only. It is not displayed to the user.

The question text is where you actually enter the question you have for the user. This uses the classic WordPress editor so you can insert images, format your text and use custom HTML.

Points to be awarded

Points are available for all question types. This field is required for all questions. The default setting is 1, but can also be set to 0. Points are only awarded if the question is answered correctly.

Points can also be hidden in the quiz display settings.

How to adjust the points for a question:

1. Find the Points field in the sidebar.
2. Update the number of points to be awarded

If you want to assign a different number of points based on the specific answer:

1. Check the different points for each answer box.
2. In the Answers field, where you add your answers, you will see a field labeled “Points”.
3. Enter the number of points to be awarded for each specific answer.

Question categories

Question categories are available for all question types. They are completely optional, but you can use them:

• to organize all your quizzes.
• to provide the user with quiz statistics broken down by category.

To categorize a question:

1. Search the Question Category field in the sidebar.
2. Click on the dropdown list
3. Choose an existing category or select “Create new category” and give your new category a name.

Update or delete categories

This is how you delete a question category or update a title:

1. Navigate to LEARNDASH LMS > QUESTIONS
2. Click the Settings tab.
3. In the Question Taxonomies section, click the “Select a category” drop-down menu.
4. Click on the “Delete” button to delete it, or
5. Update the title and then click “Update”.

At the end of a test, you can choose to view the user’s percentage score in each category of questions:

Notes

Hints are available for all question types. They are completely optional, but can help steer a user in the right direction when answering a question. When this option is enabled, a button is displayed below the question. When you click this button, a popup with the hint will be displayed.

To activate a hint for a question:

1. On the Edit Question screen, scroll down to the Notes field.
2. Check the box to enable the “Enable hint for this question”?
3. Enter your hint in the field.

Notes use the classic WordPress editor so you can add images, lists, formatting and custom HTML.

Test question types

Single selection

A single choice means that there is only one correct answer. This is the most commonly used question format for standardized tests. You should also use this question type for real or fake questions.

• There is no limit to the number of wrong answers you give.
• Choose the correct answer by marking the radio button for “Correct”.
• Check the “Allow HTML” box if you want to use HTML in your response.
• Add images or other media by clicking the “Add Media” button.
• Delete a reply by clicking the “Delete reply” button.
• Add a new answer by clicking the “Add new answer” button.
• Move the answers by long pressing the “Move” button and dragging the answer up or down.

Setting up a single-choice question in the admin area looks like this:

Here is an example of what the user will see. This uses the LearnDash 3.0 design with the correct answer.

Multiple selection

Multiple choice questions support multiple correct answers. In order for the question to be marked correctly, the user must select ALL the correct answers. If they select only a few correct answers, the question will be marked as incorrect.

• There is no limit to the number of correct or incorrect answers you give.
• The remaining setup options are the same as for single-choice questions.

Setting up a multiple choice question in the admin area looks like this:

Here is an example of what the user will see. This uses the LearnDash 3.0 design with the correct answers.

Subtract points for wrong answers
You can choose to deduct points if the user selects an incorrect answer.

1. In the Points field, activate the option “Different points for each answer”.
2. Enter a negative number of points for the wrong answer.
3. This value is then subtracted from the total points of the question.

Free choice

Free-choice questions give the user an input field in which to enter the correct answer.

• You can choose to accept only one answer or multiple possible answers.
• Answers can be one word or several words.
• Capitalization does not matter. BLUE, blue and blue are all rated the same.

Example: When you ask “What color is the sun?” you can choose to accept yellow, orange, or white. If the user enters one of these answers, the question is marked as correct.

Setting up a free choice question in the admin area looks like this:

Here is an example of what the user will see. This uses the LearnDash 3.0 design with the correct answers.

Sort selection

When sorting choice questions, the user is prompted to provide a set of answers in the correct order. When creating the question, the order of the answers in the backend is considered the correct order.

Setting up a sort selection question in the admin area looks like this:

Here is an example of what the user will see. The design of LearnDash 3.0 is used.

Matrix sort selection (matching)

Matrix sorting questions should be used when you want the user to combine two elements. There are two parts to a matrix sorting question:

• Criterion: These are static and cannot be moved.
• Sort elements: This is what users can drag and drop to the right criterion.

Each sort element must be unique, and only single mappings are supported.

The response area will be structured like a table, with the criterion on the left and an open area for dragging and dropping sorting elements on the right. You have the option to specify a percentage range for the Criterion column.

Setting up a matrix sort selection question in the admin area looks like this (the example uses images as criteria):

Here is an example of what the user will see. The design of LearnDash 3.0 is used.

Fill in the field.

Fill in the blank questions so that you can insert one or more blank lines in the middle of a sentence or paragraph. Users then enter the correct answer in this empty field.

• If there is more than one blank, all blanks must be answered correctly for the entire question to be marked correctly.
• Capitalization does not matter. PLAY, play and play are all valued the same.
• Spaces are created by giving the correct answer inside the curly braces { and }.

Example format

• Admin Setup: I play soccer.
• User sees: I __ soccer.

The correct answer is “play”.

Several possible answers

To allow multiple possible answers, enclose each possible answer with square brackets [ and ]. You continue to use { and } to create the space.

Ich {[spiele][liebe][hasse]} Fussball.

In this example, the user can type “play”, “love” or “hate” and they will all be accepted as correct.

Different points per answer

If you selected the option “Different points for each answer”, you can assign points to each possible answer. Otherwise, 1 point is awarded for each correct answer. To assign points to an answer, enter the pipe sign | immediately after the answer and then the number of points.

Ich {spiele} Fussball mit einem {Ball|3}.

In this example, the answer “game” gets 1 point and “ball” gets 3 points.

Setting up a blank question to be filled in the admin area looks like this:

Here is an example of filling in the blank question used for mathematical equations where there is only one possible correct answer for each blank range.

Evaluation (survey)

Rating questions allow the use of a Likert scale. This question type is perfect for surveys or any time you ask a user to rate something on a scale.

• Only one answer may be selected.
• Text/images can be added before and/or after the scale.
• There is no limit to the number of options available in the evaluation. Enclose the entire evaluation with curly braces { and }.
• Enclose each answer with square brackets [ and ].
• The maximum possible score corresponds to the total number of options.

Examples:

1. weniger wahr { [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] } mehr wahr
2. { [widerspreche ich] [sicht sicher] [stimme zu] }

Example 1: 1 is the least true; it is worth 1 point. 5 is the truest; it is worth 5 points.

Example 2: disagree is worth 1 point. not sure is worth 2 points. agree is worth 3 points.

TIP
This type of question is ideal for pre- or post-course surveys.

Setting up a rating question in the admin area looks like this:

Here is what the user sees:

Essay / Open answer

Essay questions allow the user to enter a free-form response. You can choose between two types of essay questions:

• Text field: Displays a form field where the user can enter any text.
• Upload: Displays an upload button that allows the user to upload a file.

Essays offer 3 ways in which they are graded after the test is submitted:

• Not graded, no points awarded: The essay question has been asked and is waiting for a grade. The final test score is displayed to the user as “Pending”.
• Not graded, full points awarded: Awards full points for essay submissions, but the status remains “Not Graded.” An admin can score the essay at a later time and adjust the points awarded.
• Graded, award full points: Automatically mark the essay as “Graded” and award full points as soon as something is submitted.

Course progress

A user can only advance if the following two things are true:

• The essay is marked as “graded,” and
• The user has enough quiz points to continue (configured in the quiz settings).

IMPORTANT
If no points are awarded for the essay, this will (temporarily) count towards the final score. When the total score of the other quiz questions reaches the overrun threshold, the user can continue with the course. However, if they do not accumulate enough points to reach the exceedance threshold, they cannot continue.

Here is an example of a “text box” essay:

Here is an example of an “upload” essay:

For more information on Essay Management & Grading, see our full documentation on essays→.