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Turn your own notes into Canvas quiz bonus questions

Upload slides, a PDF or notes and get multiple-choice, true/false or short answer bonus questions with explanations you can review before adding them to your quiz.

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Why bonus questions work best when they come from your course material

Most instructors who add extra credit to a Canvas quiz bonus question want something that rewards students who studied deeply without penalizing anyone who skipped it. The best bonus items ask for a new application of a concept already covered in the quiz, not a fact pulled from outside the course.

Keep bonus questions optional so students who miss one still earn the full base score.
Write one clear correct answer so the item is easy to grade and hard to dispute.
Assign a modest point value so the bonus rewards depth without replacing the core questions.
Include an explanation so students who miss the bonus still learn from it.

Example bonus questions for a Canvas quiz

What makes a good quiz bonus question?It applies material from the quiz to a new situation, so students who studied the core can attempt it. This rewards depth without requiring content beyond the course.

Should a bonus question be required for full credit?No, it should be optional so students who miss it still earn the full base score. A required bonus is just a regular question.

How many points should a bonus question carry?A modest share of the quiz total, often around 5 to 10 percent, so it adds value without overshadowing the base questions.

Why write a bonus question with one clear correct answer?Unambiguous answers are easier to grade and reduce disputes. Open-ended items often need manual review, which slows grading.

What should a bonus question's explanation include?The correct answer and the reasoning behind it, so students who miss the item still learn from it. Feedback turns a bonus into a learning moment.

Generate the full set

Built from your material

Questions come from the slides, PDFs or notes you upload, so the bonus items match what you actually covered in class.

Explanations included

Each question comes with an explanation of the correct answer, which you can keep or edit before it goes into your quiz.

Export when you need it

Export to PDF or DOCX on Plus, or to QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML on Pro, to move questions into your course platform.

How it works

Upload your source

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text notes or a photo of a page. Images are read with text recognition.

Choose the question type

Pick multiple-choice, true/false or short answer, and set how many bonus items you want.

Review and export

Check each question and explanation, edit anything that needs tightening, then export to your format.

Writing those questions by hand takes time, and it is easy to drift into trivia or to produce items with two defensible answers. Starting from your own slides or notes keeps the wording and terminology consistent with the rest of the quiz.

Review each generated question before publishing. Confirm the correct answer, check that the explanation makes sense to a student, and make sure the point value keeps the base questions in charge of the grade.

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Frequently asked questions

How many bonus questions should a Canvas quiz have?

Most instructors add one to three, worth a small share of the total, so the base questions still carry most of the grade. Keeping them optional helps students who miss one.

How do I write a bonus question that tests understanding?

Ask for an application of a concept the quiz already covered, rather than a fact outside the material. Give it one clear correct answer so it is easy to grade.

Can DeckOwl export questions for Canvas?

QTI 2.1 export is included on the Pro plan at $14.99 per month, and PDF and DOCX exports are on Plus. Check your institution's import format before uploading, since setups vary.

Is there a free plan, and does it include exports?

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, but no exports. Students get 40% off Plus with a school email, and no credit card is needed to start.

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