The Audio Question type allows authors to implement audio recorders into a Question. The embedded audio recorder can record, save and playback a learner's response. It is especially useful for language assessment.

This Question type is manually scored. Learner responses must be reviewed and scored by an educator.

As the score is assigned through human judgment, there is no automatic scoring configuration available for this Question type. You cannot define correct answers or scoring rules during Question setup.

Scores are applied after submission as part of the manual grading workflow. Educators evaluate the response using their own criteria, and the score is recorded via Learnosity’s manual grading workflow.

For more information about manual grading in Learnosity, see What is the Grading API?

Figure 1 - Audio Question example

Create a Question

Enter a Question stem in the Compose question area. Select Question style from the Layout menu below. Then set audio Maximum Length. This parameter sets the number of seconds of audio allowed to be recorded by the learner.

More options

The Audio Question type has a number of settings that allow you to control and configure audio recording and playing. Under More Options you will see the following toggles that will help you customize the Question to your needs:

• Maximum points¹ - The maximum number of points that can be awarded for the Question.
• Minimum points if attempted² - Points awarded to the learner for attempting the Question, regardless of a correct or incorrect response.
• Silence stop duration - This specifies the duration of audio silence in seconds after the recording has stopped. This value is set to 0 by default, which means the silence detection is turned off. Insert a value in seconds in this field if you want to enable the option.
• Overwrite Warning - When enabled this will give learners a warning that their previous recording will be replaced if they re record.

UI settings

There are also a number of UI options that can be configured:

Recording:

• Start Recording - Record button will be enabled. This is enabled by default.
• Pause Recording - Allows the learner to pause when recording audio. Enabled in default setting.
• Stop Recording - Stop button will be enabled. This is enabled by default.
• Record Bubble - A bubble will appear to show the learner recording details. Enabled in default setting. This option is available in Button UI only.
• Recording Cue - When enabled a beep is played before recording starts.

Playback:

• Play - Allows the learner to playback the recording. This is enabled in default setting.
• Pause - Pause button allows the learner to pause the recording when playing it back. This option is enabled in default setting.
• Seek - The learner can change the play position on playback by clicking on the Progress Bar. The Play button and Progress Bar must be enabled. The option is enabled in default setting.
• Play Bubble - A play bubble will be displayed to the learner. Play button must be enabled. This option is available in Button UI only.

Look and Feel:

• Timer - Time will be displayed to show the learner how long the recording is. Enabled in default setting.
• Progress Bar - Progress bar is a visual indicator to show the learner how much time they have to record. In Playback state it will show how long is left.
• Volume Control - Volume control will be displayed to the learner on playback if the play button is enabled. This is enabled by default.
• Volume Meter - Volume meter will be displayed to the learner on playback if the play button is enabled. This is enabled by default.
• Waveform - A wave UI will be displayed to the learner when playing back the recording if the play button is enabled. Enabled in default setting.
• Responsive Layout - Enable this option to scale the audio recorder size responsively based on the size of its container. It is useful when the Question is viewed on smaller screens.
• Download Link - A link to download the learner's recorded audio file will appear in review state.

'Extra' options

The extras section in the authoring interface allows you to add more information about the Question, information that we refer to as metadata.

There are a number of fields available: acknowledgements, contains math, distractor rationale, distractors, instructor stimulus, rubric reference, sample answer, and stimulus (review only).

To learn more about the options shown in the Extras section, see Understanding the Extras Section of the Question Editor.

Caveats

Please note that the audio recording Question type is not supported on Chrome browsers on iOS devices. See What Browsers Does Learnosity Support? 

1. Note: “Maximum points” replaces the earlier label “Max score”. Version added: v2026.1.LTS

2. Note: “Minimum points if attempted” replaces the earlier label “Minimum score if attempted”. Version added: v2026.1.LTS