The Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) allows you to select one or more correct answer(s) from a number of potential answers. There are various Layout customisation options in this Question – block or inline, labelling, and columns.

Figure 1: Multiple choice Question example.

Create a Question

Watch the "How to create a Multiple Choice Question" tutorial video.

Enter a Question stem in the Compose question area. Below you will see the Multiple Choice Options where you list the possible response options for the Question. In order to add more response option boxes click on +Add. To remove a response option click on the trash can icon to the right. The button to the left of each field allows you to re-order how the Multiple choice options appear to the learner, through simple drag and drop.

Figure 2: MCQ basic parameters.

Follow these steps to set a valid answer:

• Insert a value in the Point(s) box to set up a mark for the Question. The default is set to 1.
• In the Correct tab, select the correct response(s) from the list of options, as shown in Figure 3.
• To allow the learner to select more than one correct response, enable the Multiple Responses option.

Figure 3: MCQ validation.

• MCQ is scored by Exact Match, Partial Match, and Partial Match per Response.
• Shuffle Options will display the response options in a different order each time the Question is rendered. There are also other options for randomization.

More options

Under the More options button, in Scoring section, you can change formatting settings, scoring types and apply different styles to your Question.

Scoring types

The following scoring types are available in MCQ Multiple Response Question types:

• Exact Match - Learner must answer all parts of the Question correct to receive a mark.
• Partial Match Per Response - Each correct response element will be awarded an individual score.
• Partial Match - Each correct response element will be scored individually and the overall Question score will be divided between responses.

Other Scoring options:

• Unscored/Practice usage type - Enabling this option will remove all scoring from the Question.
• Penalty point(s) - The value entered here indicates marks that will be deducted from the learner for an incorrect response.
• Minimum points if attempted¹ - Points awarded to the learner for attempting the Question, regardless of a correct or incorrect response.
• Check answer button - If this is enabled, a "Check answer button" will appear to the learner alongside the Question; clicking this button will indicate to the learner if their answer is correct or incorrect, but it will not tell them the correct response. This can be useful for informal assessment.
• Check answer attempts - The value entered here will indicate how many times the learner can use the "Check answer button". A value of 0 indicates an infinite number of times.

Layout and selection

You can select one of the available layout styles:

Standard - Standard UI with radio buttons beside response options.

Block - Optimal UI for touch screen devices.

Radio Button Under Option - Options will be displayed in a vertical list and the radio button or the checkbox option will be underneath each response option.

Under the Block layout option you can also choose an option called Label Type - these labels will be displayed on the left of the response options.

Label type - numerical

Label type - uppercase alphabet

Label type - lowercase alphabet

Additionally you can configure:

• Columns - Response options can be arranged into columns. Simply insert a value into the Number of Columns box to set it up.
• Orientation - If there are 2 or more columns, Orientation will determine if the choice options will be displayed in a horizontal or vertical list.
• Max selection - Maximum number of responses that the learner can select for multiple choice Questions with multiple response options.
• Min selection - Minimum number of responses required for a learner to select for multiple choice Questions with multiple response options.

Figure: Setting a minimum number of required options for multiple choice Questions with multiple response options. 

'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.

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