FQT Multiple choice placeholders

< Formulas question type

In addition to the answer box placeholders, the Formulas question type provides for two other types of placeholder which are used for multiple choice questions:

• Dropdown menu placeholder
• Radio buttons placeholder

Why make a FQT multiple choice question?

Because you can use all the power of the Formulas calculation engine to build the list of choices.

Dropdown menu placeholder

The syntax for this placeholder is {_n:choices:MCE} where _n is the placeholder name (_0, _1, _2, etc.) as for the answer box placeholders, choices is a list of strings to appear as the menu choices and MCE must appear as is.

Example

Use a dropdown menu placeholder to make a multiple choice question.

Downloadable question file: CapitalCanada.xml

General
  Question name*       A formulas question with a dropdown menu multiple choice question
Variables
  Global variables     cities=["Calgary","Halifax","Montréal","Ottawa","Toronto","Vancouver"];
Main question
  Question text*       Geography
                       {#1}
Part 1
  Part's mark*         1
  Answer type          Number
  Answer*              3
  Grading criteria*    Absolute error == 0
  Placeholder name     #1
  Part's text          What is the capital city of Canada?
                       {_0:cities:MCE}

The formulas question should look like this (the choices are highlighted by moving up and down in the menu):

Radio buttons placeholder

The syntax for this placeholder is {_n:choices} where _n is the placeholder name (_0, _1, _2, etc.) as for the answer box placeholders and choices is a list of strings to appear as the menu choices. The list of buttons is only vertical.

Example

Use a radio buttons placeholder to make a multiple choice question.

Downloadable question file: PlanetClosestSun.xml

General
  Question name*       A formulas question with a radio buttons multiple choice question
Variables
  Global variables     planets=["Earth","Jupiter","Mars","Mercury","Neptune","Saturn","Uranus","Venus"];
Main question
  Question text*       Astronomy
                       {#1}
Part 1
  Part's mark*         1
  Answer type          Number
  Answer*              3
  Grading criteria*    Absolute error == 0
  Placeholder name     #1
  Part's text          What is the closest planet to the sun?
                       {_0:planets}

The formulas question should look like this (the student must click a choice from the list):

< Formulas question type