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Create Multi-Mode Questions

When different parts of your question use different question modes — for example, numerical and multiple-choice — you can create a multi-mode question to specify a list of the modes used in your question, and indicate where each new mode begins with <SECTION> tags in both Question and Answer.

  1. Click Questions > Create. The Question Editor opens.
  2. In Name, type a name for the question.
  3. Beside Mode, click Multi-Mode Options.
    Multi-mode options window
  4. In the Multi-Mode Options window, click the question modes that you want to use in your question in the order in which they will be used, or type the mode abbreviations in the Current Modes box at the bottom.

    Each mode that you add is shown in the Current Modes list on the right. You can click delete icon to delete a mode from the list, or drag a mode to rearrange the list.   

    Important When your question has consecutive multiple-choice or multiple-select question parts, you must specify the mode for each question part, for example, CC to create a question with two multiple choice parts.

    For other question modes, you can choose to specify the mode either for each question part or only when the question mode changes. For example, to create a question with three numerical question parts followed by a multiple-choice part, you could select either NNNC or simply NC.

    Tip The Poll mode lets you create polling questions with other modes. See Create Polling Questions.

    When the list of modes is correct, click Save.

  5. In Question, type your question.

    After the first question mode, type the <SECTION> tag at the start of each additional question mode. If you specified consecutive instances of the same mode — for example, CC for two multiple choice parts — type a <SECTION> tag at the beginning of each subsequent question part. By default, the <SECTION> tag adds a line break. If you do not want a line break added, type <SECTION NOBR>.

    Use an answer placeholder string <_> to specify where the answer box should be displayed for each question part.  

    Tip Optionally, add the <MARK> tag to specify where the correct/incorrect mark should be displayed for each question part. This might be necessary when displaying answer choices horizontally or in tables for multiple-choice or multiple-select questions.
  6. In Answer, provide an answer key for each question part as described in the documentation for that question type.

    After the first question mode, type the <SECTION> tag at the start of each additional question mode. If you specified consecutive instances of the same mode — for example, CC for two multiple choice parts — type a <SECTION> tag at the beginning of each subsequent question part.

    Each line in Answer is significant.

    • Do not specify <SECTION>, <MCPART>, or <MSPART> on a separate line.
    • Do not add blank lines in Answer, for example, by pressing ENTER after the last answer key.
    Note To avoid several common errors with multi-mode questions, check your question carefully to ensure all of the following:
    • The question specifies the correct number of modes.
    • Question includes a <SECTION> tag at the start of each new mode after the first mode.
    • Question contains one fewer <SECTION> tag than modes.
    • Answer contains a corresponding <SECTION> tag for every <SECTION> tag in Question.  
    • In Answer, the answer key for each section begins immediately after the <SECTION> tag on the same line, not on a separate line.
  7. 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.

  8. Click Test/Preview to test the appearance and behavior of the question. See Test Questions.
  9. Click Redisplay to show certain kinds of errors in the Display section of the Question Editor. Make any needed changes to your question.
  10. 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.
  11. 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 Multi-Mode Question (Fill-in-the-Blank and Multiple-Choice)

The following table summarizes an actual question.

QID

 
1589510

Name 

Template2 3.MULTM.01.

Mode 

Multi-Mode...BC

Question 

Cephalopoda, Gastropoda, and Bivalvia are all classes of phylum 
<_>. 
<SECTION>These animals are <_>.

Answer 

Mollusca
<SECTION><EQN $PULLDOWN=1; ''>invertebrates
vertebrates

Display

Question as displayed to students

Example Multi-Mode Question (Algebraic, Numerical, and Multiple- Choice)

The following table summarizes an actual question.

QID 

1589512

Name 

Template2 3.MULTM.02.

Mode 

Multi-Mode...QNC

Question 

What is the formula for the volume of a sphere (use <i>r</i> for 
the radius)? <br>
<i>V</i> = <_>
<SECTION>What is the volume of a sphere with a radius of 5? <br>
<_>
<SECTION>If the radius doubles, what happens to the volume? <br>
<_>

Answer 

<EQN $PAD='devmath'; ''>r: 4/3 * pi * r^3
<SECTION>523.599
<SECTION>The volume increases by a factor of 2<sup>3</sup>
The volume remains the same
The volume doubles
The volume quadruples
It depends on the sphere

Display

Question as displayed to students