The Quizzes tool in Canvas is a flexible tool for giving timed assessments to students. The tool is equipped with various question types that will be automatically scored by Canvas using the answer key that you provide. There are also question types that allow students to type in an essay response, or upload a file as their answer. Such questions can be graded using SpeedGrader or by downloading the files.
New Quizzes integrates with Canvas as an LTI tool and may eventually replace the Classic Quizzes functionality currently existing in Canvas. No timeline has been given, but if Classic Quizzes is retired Canvas has promised at least 18 months of advance warning and a clear migration path. New quizzes display as assignments in the Assignments page and can be duplicated.
Getting started with New Quizzes? See a one minute video overview of New Quizzes and instructions from Canvas on creating a Quiz in New Quizzes.
Using Classic Quizzes? This resource provides an overview of New Quizzes in Canvas. If you are still using Classic Quizzes in Canvas, our Resources on Classic Quizzes are still available for your review.
Migrating from Classic to New Quizzes? Read about the process for migrating Classic Quizzes and question banks.
Choosing between New and Classic Quizzes
We encourage all instructors using Quizzes for the first time to consider New Quizzes, and some instructors currently using Classic Quizzes might benefit from shifting to the newer version as well. New Quizzes include a series of feature enhancements and new question types, and bring workflow improvements to some aspects of Classic Quizzes. If the following benefits would be significant to you, you might consider adopting New Quizzes:
- New question types: New Quizzes has all the same question types as Classic Quizzes as well as a “Stimulus” feature where content (text, an image, etc.) can be associated with a series of questions. New Quizzes also include Hot Spot, Ordering and Categorization questions, which unfortunately are inaccessible to those who use screen readers or rely on keyboard navigation. “Fill in Multiple Blanks” and “Multiple Dropdown” question types have been combined with the “Fill in the Blank” question type.
- Increased grading flexibility: New Quizzes supports offering partial credit with the “vary points by answer” setting, which allows different choices to receive different point values.
- Anonymous grading is more accessible than what was previously available. In the settings page, you can anonymize students by checking “Graders cannot view students names.”
- Increased Accommodation flexibility: Time accommodations can be applied to New Quizzes for individual students. You have the ability to apply these time adjustments to one New Quiz, or for all New Quizzes in a single course for an individual student.
- File Printing Capability: New Quizzes allows you to print assessments and save them as pdf files. This guide details the options for printing a New Quiz.
New Quizzes differ from Classic Quizzes in terms of look and feel and some features, and while many of the same features are available in New Quizzes and Classic Quizzes, there is not exact parity. Here’s a fuller list of points where New Quizzes do not yet offer features users of Classic Quizzes might be relying on.
There are a few reasons you might want to delay adopting New Quizzes based on current feature availability.
- You make extensive use of Question Banks. New Quizzes use Item Banks, which are similar to Question banks but work a bit differently. Read about how Item Banks work.
- You need designers or TAs to be able to build or edit Quizzes in your course. This isn’t yet possible in New Quizzes.
- You prefer using a simpler interface to having a greater variety of options. Settings are spread across two screens rather than one, and results visibility in particular needs careful attention as the default is to make results visible automatically.
- You use file upload questions, and want to be able to download submissions in bulk. While New Quizzes have file upload questions, submissions can’t be downloaded in bulk.