Create Multiple-Select Questions

Multiple-select questions present several non-exclusive choices, allowing your students to select all the choices that apply. By default, the choices are displayed in random order when the question is used.

  1. Click Questions > Create. The Question Editor opens.
  2. In Name, type a name for the question.
  3. In Mode, select Multiple-Select.
  4. In Question, type your question. Use the answer placeholder string <_> to specify where the answer choices should be displayed.
    Tip Use the code <p:selectall> to insert the text "Select all that apply."
  5. In Answer, use the following procedure to specify the correct and incorrect answers:
    1. Type one or more correct answers, pressing ENTER after each one.
    2. Type <INCORRECT> before the first incorrect answer.
    3. Type one or more incorrect answers, pressing ENTER after each one.
    Note
    • Incorrect answers are sometimes referred to as distractors.
    • If an answer extends beyond the right side of the Answer box, it is wrapped to the next line, but it is still considered a single line so long as you do not press ENTER.
    • If you want to write a question with no correct answer displayed, add a correct answer with text like None of these. If you do not specify any correct answers, students who do not attempt the question receive credit for it.
  6. Optional: Type a Solution.

    The solution helps your students understand the steps they need to take to determine the correct answer to the question. Your assignment settings specify when to show the solution.

  7. Click Test/Preview to test the appearance and behavior of the question. See Test Questions.
  8. Click Redisplay to show certain kinds of errors in the Display section of the Question Editor. Make any needed changes to your question.
  9. Optional: Click Show Additional Information and change the question's sharing permission or add descriptive information.
    • By default, other instructors can use your question only if you provide them with the question ID, and only you can edit the question or find it in search results. To change the permission, see Share Questions With Other Instructors.
    • If you make your question publicly available, you might want to provide descriptive information to help others search for it. See Add Search Metadata to Questions.
  10. When your question displays and functions correctly, click Save.

    WebAssign assigns it a unique question ID (QID), which is displayed in parentheses after the question name.

    You can use your question in an assignment and see it in your My Questions list only after it is saved.

Example Multiple-Select Question

The following table summarizes an actual question.

QID

 1073354

Name 

Template2 2.MS.01.

Mode 

Multiple-Select

Question 

Which of the following people were United States Presidents? 
(<p:selectall>) <br>
<_>

Answer 

George Washington
Abraham Lincoln
George Bush
<INCORRECT>Joseph Stalin
Winston Churchill

Display to Students

Question as displayed to students