Timed Canvas exam resources
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Use Quizzes for timed exams
Canvas has two quizzing platforms, so the instructions for setting up a timed exam may look different depending on which platform you're using.
For both platforms, if your exam is going to include short answer questions requiring a file upload, some suggested language to include in the instructions for your students can be found below:
- If you're typing your answers in a Mac OS only program like Pages or in Google Docs, please ensure you save your file in pdf or docx format before uploading to Canvas.
- Please leave yourself enough time to upload your file to Canvas.
- When typing your answers outside of Canvas, the timer that displays in your Canvas quiz window may not continue to count down properly. The timer is a courtesy; you are responsible for keeping track of your time.
Classic Quizzes
Visually, Classic Quizzes are indicated by an icon that looks like an outline of a rocket ship. Using a screen reader, the word "Quiz" may be read aloud in place of the icon.
Quiz setup
Question types
Note: For exams with short answer / essay questions, we recommend using a File Upload question type. This requires students to type their answers in an outside program such as Microsoft Word and upload their response as a word document or pdf. This ensures student work isn't lost if they have an unstable internet connection and allows for student files to be downloaded in bulk.
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CQS Guide 08 - Essay Quiz File Upload Question
- For short answer / essay exams, students will type their exam in a separate Word Document and upload it to Canvas
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CQS Guide 10 - How to Create a Mixed Question Quiz
- If you are administering one timed exam with both multiple-choice questions and essays and you want a printout of the exam to grade offline, we recommend creating a mixed question quiz where you have both multiple-choice questions and a File Upload question for your short answer/essay. The multiple-choice portion of the quiz will be automatically graded by Canvas.
Grading
Any multiple-choice questions in your exam will be graded automatically by Canvas.
New Quizzes
Notes:
Currently, New Quizzes does not have an option to download all of your students' submissions in bulk. If you have a large class and intend to grade your short answer / essay questions offline by printing your students' work, we recommend using Classic Quizzes instead.
If you do not see the option to create a New Quiz, see Enable the option to use New Quizzes or submit a ticket for assistance.
Visually, New Quizzes are indicated by an icon that looks like a filled in rocket ship. Using a screen reader, the words "New Quiz" may be read aloud in place of the icon.
Key navigation differences between Classic and New Quizzes:
- Instead of the "Questions" tab of Classic Quizzes, you will now see a "Build" button when editing your New Quiz.
- Questions and answers will be expanded by default without having to click a "Show question details" box.
- Many of the options that appear on the first page of a Classic Quiz are located in the "Settings" tab within the Build mode of a New Quiz.
- The Moderate page is now located as one of the tabs in the Build mode of a New Quiz.
Quiz setup
Question types
For all question types, the "Question Title" is not visible to students. The question the students need to see should be placed in the "Question Stem" box instead.
Multiple choice and True / False question types will be automatically graded by Canvas.
If you will be grading your exams online, you can use either Essay questions or File Upload questions for short answer / essay responses. New Quizzes does not have an option to download either question type in bulk to grade offline.
Grading
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