How to Make an Online Multiple-Choice Quiz With Automatic Grading
Tim Formulix ·
You can build an online multiple-choice quiz in a few minutes: write the questions, mark the correct answers, then set a passing score and a time limit. When participants submit, they're graded automatically, so there's nothing to mark by hand.
This guide is for teachers, lecturers, trainers and anyone who wants to check what people have learned.
Why run quizzes online?
- No manual marking. Scores are calculated the moment answers are submitted.
- Works on any phone. Participants just open a link, with no app to install and no account to create.
- Results in one place. Every score is collected and can be exported to Excel or Google Sheets.
Quiz features worth knowing
| Feature | What it does |
|---|---|
| Answer key & points | Mark the right answer and set points per question |
| Passing score | For example 70%. Participants see Passed or Not passed |
| Show score | Participants see their score after submitting |
| Answer review | Correct answers are revealed after submitting (optional) |
| Timer | One countdown for the whole quiz, or a time limit per question |
Scores are calculated on the server, not in the participant's browser, so they can't be faked by tinkering with the page.
Besides multiple choice, you can also set answer keys on checkbox questions (more than one correct answer) and Yes/No questions.
How to build a quiz in Formulix
- Sign up for free at formulix.id. On your dashboard, click New form, then Use a template.
- Pick Multiple-choice quiz and click Use. It comes with sample questions, a 70% passing score and a 15-minute timer.
- Replace the sample questions with yours. On each question, pick the correct answer and set its points.
- Open Options → Quiz to set the passing score, whether scores are shown, and whether correct answers are revealed.
- Set the timer: total time for the whole quiz, or per question. Choose what happens when time runs out: submit automatically, or close without submitting.
- Click Preview to try it. Scores and the timer work like the real thing, but nothing is saved.
- Click Publish and share the link with your class.
Tips for better questions
- One concept per question. A question that tests two things makes the score hard to read.
- Plausible wrong answers. Distractors that are obviously wrong make the quiz too easy.
- Ask for a name or email first, so you know whose score is whose.
- Limit who can take it. Turn on Only invited emails under Options → Behavior if the quiz is only for certain people. They enter a 6-digit code from their email before starting.
Reading the results
The responses page shows a summary, the share of each answer per question, and each participant's full response with their score. Questions with a low share of correct answers usually point to material worth going over again.
Frequently asked questions
Is it free?
Yes. Quiz mode, timers and logic are on the free plan, with unlimited forms and responses.
Do participants need an account?
No. They just open the link. If you use an email list, they only enter a code from their inbox.
Can a quiz open and close on a schedule?
Yes, with scheduling on the Pro plan. Set an opening date and time and a deadline.
Get started
Start from the template, swap in your questions, and your first quiz can go out today.