Import questions
- Managing questions
- Question behaviours
- Question types
- Calculated
- Simple Calculated
- Drag and drop into text
- Drag and drop markers
- Drag and drop onto image
- Calculated Multichoice
- Description
- Essay
- Matching
- Embedded Answers (Cloze)
- Multiple Choice
- Random Short Answer Matching
- Select missing words
- Short-Answer
- Numerical
- True/False
- Third-party question types
- Questions FAQ
Moodle provides a number of different formats to import questions into question banks. Some enable imports to be made from proprietary quiz software, others provide questions to be imported from human-readable text files and others provide Moodle specific formats to enable transfer of questions between quiz banks.
In the case of the text formats (in particular GIFT), once you get to know a format, it may be easier to simply type the questions into a text file than to use the web interface. You can just keep typing instead of waiting for new web pages to load for each question.
The available formats vary with the version of Moodle and if it is a quiz or lesson module.
Character Encoding
Prior to version 1.6 of Moodle the question file was assumed to be encoded in the same way as the language being used within the Moodle site. With Moodle 1.6 and onwards it is assumed that the imported file is encoded in UTF8. If it is not an external tool must be used to change the encoding. Note that if only basic 'latin' characters are used, then the coding issue can generally be ignored.
GIFT
Moodle XML
Aiken
Aiken format is an easy way of writing multiple-choice questions for import. It’s a very easy, readable format.
Missing Word
If you’re going to write a lot of missing word multiple choice questions, the missing word format is an easy way to create them.
AON
The same as the missing word format, except it creates matching questions from the multiple choice questions.
Blackboard
Template:Moodle 1.7 If you’re converting from Blackboard to Moodle, you can export your course and then import the question pools into Moodle using the Blackboard format.
WebCT
Template:Moodle 1.7 Currently, the WebCT format only supports importing multiple-choice and short answers questions
Course Test Manager
This will enable you to import questions from the Course Test Manager from Course Technology
Embedded Answers (Cloze)
The Cloze format is a multiple question, multiple answer question with embedded answers. They can be a bit tricky to develop, but they are a unique way of asking questions
Version 1.7 formats
See also
- The help file available from the help button next to the import file button gives a lot of detail about each format.
- Using Moodle escaping problem in gift import? forum discussion
