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Add bonus points to Canvas quizzes and write fresh questions faster

DeckOwl does not grade inside Canvas, but it turns your slides, PDFs and notes into multiple-choice, true/false and short answer questions with explanations you can export on paid plans.

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How bonus points work in Canvas quizzes

Most instructors who want to reward effort on a Canvas quiz handle canvas quiz bonus points in the gradebook rather than in the quiz itself, because changing a quiz's points possible also changes every student's percentage.

Check whether your Canvas quiz uses points possible or a separate bonus question before promising extra credit.
Adjust individual scores in SpeedGrader when a bonus applies to only some students.
State in the syllabus how many bonus points exist and what earns them.
Generate fresh questions from your notes so a bonus quiz tests new material, not last week's answer key.

Example Canvas grading questions for instructors

What happens to every student's percentage if an instructor raises a quiz's points possible?It shifts for everyone, because the denominator changes. Adding points to individual scores leaves the total unchanged.

Where can an instructor add points to one student's quiz score in Canvas?In SpeedGrader or the gradebook, by editing that student's score. This rewards only the selected student without changing the quiz for the class.

What should a syllabus state about bonus points?How many points are available, what earns them, and whether they count toward the final grade. Students plan around stated rules.

What is points possible on a Canvas quiz?The maximum score the quiz can award, which forms the denominator of its percentage grade.

Why should a bonus quiz use new questions instead of last week's?Reused questions reward remembering answers rather than understanding, so new items from the same material test the concept.

Generate the full set

Questions from your own material

Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, text notes or a photo of a page and get questions with explanations.

Exports for paid plans

Plus exports PDF and DOCX. Pro adds QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML for LMS imports.

Study in the browser to start

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and browser study, so you can check the output before paying.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, slide deck, DOCX file, text notes or a photo of a page.

Choose question types

Pick multiple choice, true/false or short answer, then review the explanations and answer keys.

Export or study

Export on a paid plan or study in the browser on the free plan.

DeckOwl does not add or grade anything inside Canvas. It handles the other half of the job: writing quiz questions, explanations and answer keys from the lecture material you already have. If you need a ready-made quiz, it builds a custom one from your own notes instead of a generic template.

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Frequently asked questions

How do I add bonus points to a Canvas quiz?

Canvas handles this through gradebook settings and score adjustments, not through DeckOwl. Editing an individual score in SpeedGrader is the most direct way to give points to selected students.

Should bonus points be added to points possible?

Raising points possible changes the denominator for everyone, so percentages can shift in ways you did not intend. Adding points to individual scores keeps the quiz total fixed.

Does DeckOwl export quizzes to Canvas?

DeckOwl exports PDF and DOCX on the Plus plan, and QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML on Pro. Confirm your Canvas setup accepts the format before relying on an import.

Is there a free way to try it?

The free plan gives 3 generations per month with browser study and no exports. No credit card is needed to start.

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