Formatting Questions for Import to Respondus

This is a quick guide for formatting a test question for import into respondus which can then print a test or export it to a learning management system

Quick Links: | Getting Questions into Notepad | Formatting for Multiple Choice | Multiple Response | Matching | True/False | Essay/Short Answer | Fill in the Blank

Respondus is a Windows-only assessment authoring tool primarily used to create and manage exams that can be printed on paper or published directly to Canvas.

Getting Questions into Notepad (Optional)

1. Begin by opening the test in Microsoft Word or any other word processor.
2. Highlight and copy all the test questions.
3. Use the search bar to open Notepad
4. Paste the questions into Notepad

Multiple Choice

1. Each question must begin with a number followed by a “.” and a space and the question text.
2. 
3. Each answer must begin with a letter followed by a “.” and a space and the answer text
4. 
5. Mark the correct answer by putting an (*) directly to the left of the answer choice. There should be no space between the (*) and the answer choice.
6. Your formatted question should look like this.
7. 
8. Repeat this process for all multiple choice questions in the text file
9. Finally, save your text file

Multiple Response

Making Multiple Response questions is similar to making multiple choice questions except for a few key differences. The line above the question must begin with “Type: MR”. Then in the question body put an asterisk to the left of each correct answer.

Matching

Making Matching questions is similar to making multiple choice questions except for a few key differences.To import matching questions the line above the question must begin with “Type: MT”. Then each question and its respective answer must be separated by an equals sign with a space between the question and the answer.

True/False

Making True/False Questions is similar to making multiple choice questions except for a few differences. For True/False questions you will only have a and b followed by True and False respectively. When you are finished add an asterisk to the left of the correct answer. Additionally when making True/False questions True must come before False for respondus to recognize it as a T/F question.

Essay Short Answer

The Essay Question format is similar to other respondus question formats. The main difference being that the first line must start with “Type: E”. On the line below place your question.

Fill in the Blank

Fill in the Blank questions must start with “Type: F”. Followed by the question and the answer. NOTE: Respondus only allows one answer to fill in the blank questions. However you can have multiple variations of the answer.