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Get a quiz file in the Canvas import format from your notes

Upload a PDF, slide deck or set of notes and get multiple-choice, true/false or open questions with explanations. Export to QTI 2.1 on the Pro plan.

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What the Canvas quiz import format expects

Canvas does not read quiz questions from a spreadsheet the way some tools do. It expects a Canvas quiz import format built on QTI, a standard in which each question is an XML item and the whole quiz is bundled into a zip package with a manifest file that lists the items.

Quiz questions are stored as XML items inside a zipped QTI package.
Each item needs a unique identifier and a declared correct response.
Special characters in question text must be escaped in the XML.
Review answer keys before import, since Canvas scores what the file declares.

Example Canvas quiz import format questions

What standard does a Canvas quiz import package use?QTI (Question and Test Interoperability), an XML-based standard, bundled in a zip file. The standard defines how each question and its scoring are written in XML.

What does a QTI package need to list its contents?A manifest file, usually imsmanifest.xml, that lists each question file as a resource. The importer reads the manifest first to find the items it should bring in.

Why does each QTI question need a unique identifier?Unique identifiers let the importer match each item to its scoring data. Duplicate identifiers can cause errors or cause one question to overwrite another.

How should a correct multiple-choice answer be declared in QTI?The correct choice's identifier is declared in the response processing section. Canvas uses that declaration to auto-score the question, so an undeclared answer cannot be scored.

What must you do with & and < characters in QTI question text?Escape them as & and < because raw ampersands and angle brackets are reserved in XML. Unescaped characters break the XML parser and can make the whole import fail.

Generate the full set

Multiple-choice, true/false and open questions

Each question includes an answer key and an explanation, so you can check the content before you import it.

QTI 2.1 export on Pro

Pro exports QTI 2.1 packages, the standard XML-based format that quiz import tools use. Free and Plus do not include QTI export.

Review before you import

Edit questions and answers in the browser first, so the file you import is the one you meant to create.

How it works

Upload your material

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

Choose question types and generate

Pick multiple-choice, true/false or open questions. Each one comes with an explanation.

Export a QTI 2.1 package on Pro

Check the questions, then export the QTI 2.1 file and import it into Canvas through your course's quiz import option.

The format is strict. Every question needs a unique identifier, each correct answer must be declared so the platform can score it, and special characters such as ampersands and angle brackets must be escaped or the parser will reject the file. Most import failures come from one of these three issues, not from the questions themselves.

DeckOwl helps with the content side. You generate questions from your own material, review the answer keys and explanations, then export a QTI 2.1 package on the Pro plan. Check your Canvas settings and your institution's import rules before you upload.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Canvas quiz import format?

Canvas imports quizzes as QTI packages, which are zipped files containing XML question items and a manifest that lists them. The file must follow the QTI structure exactly, or the import will fail.

How should I write questions for a QTI import?

Write each question as a single, clearly worded item with one correct answer and plausible distractors for multiple-choice. Keep the answer key consistent with the question text so scoring matches what you intended.

Can I export a Canvas-ready quiz on the free plan?

No. The free plan lets you study in the browser with 3 generations per month and does not include exports. QTI 2.1 export is part of the Pro plan at $14.99 per month.

Does Plus include QTI export?

No. Plus costs $39 per year or $7.99 per month, with unlimited generations and PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV export. QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export are on Pro.

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