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Turn your notes into a Canvas question bank

Upload a chapter, lecture slides or photos of pages and get multiple-choice, true/false and open questions with explanations. Start free with no credit card, and export QTI 2.1 for Canvas on Pro.

Create quizzes nowFree · No credit card required

Drop files here or browsePDF, DOCX, PPTX, text or photos of your notes · several files with Plus

Free · First set needs no signup · Creates quizzes in seconds

Why build a question bank from your own material

Many instructors start a Canvas question bank from a textbook chapter or a set of lecture slides, and writing dozens of questions by hand takes hours. DeckOwl reads your own files and drafts multiple-choice, true/false and open questions, each with an explanation you can check before it goes anywhere.

Keep each batch tied to one learning objective so the bank covers the whole unit.
Mix recall questions with application questions to reach different difficulty levels.
Read every explanation before publishing, because the answer key is only as good as your source.
Use the free plan to test a batch first, then move to Pro if you need QTI 2.1 export.

Example cell biology questions for a question bank

Which organelle produces most of a eukaryotic cell's ATP?The mitochondrion. Oxidative phosphorylation in its inner membrane generates most of the cell's ATP.

True or false: prokaryotic cells have a membrane-bound nucleus.False. Prokaryotes lack a membrane-bound nucleus, so their DNA sits in an irregular region called the nucleoid.

What is the main function of ribosomes?Protein synthesis. Ribosomes translate mRNA into polypeptide chains.

Which structure controls what enters and leaves the cell?The plasma membrane. It is a selectively permeable phospholipid bilayer that regulates transport.

Why do plant cells have a rigid cell wall?To provide structural support and resist osmotic pressure. The cellulose wall keeps the cell from bursting in water-rich conditions.

Generate the full set

Three question types

Multiple-choice, true/false and open questions, each with an explanation so you can check the reasoning before using it.

Built from your material

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text or a photo of a page, and questions are drafted from what you actually teach.

Export for your LMS

QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export are available on the Pro plan, so the bank can move into your course platform.

How it works

Upload your source

Add a PDF, slide deck, DOCX, text file or photo of a page. Text in photos is read with text recognition.

Choose types and count

Pick multiple-choice, true/false or open questions and how many you want, then review and edit each one.

Study or export

Practice in the browser on the free plan, or export to PDF, DOCX or QTI 2.1 when you need the file.

If you were hoping for a ready-made printable set, DeckOwl builds a custom one from your own material instead. Generate by chapter or learning objective so coverage stays even, and review wrong answers in multiple-choice items, since weak distractors make a question easy to guess.

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Frequently asked questions

How many questions should a question bank cover per topic?

Aim for at least three or four items per learning objective, at varying difficulty. Mix simple recall questions with ones that require applying the concept.

What makes a good wrong answer in a multiple-choice question?

Good distractors are plausible mistakes a student might really make, such as a confused term or a reversed relationship. Avoid options that are obviously false or that give away the answer through their length.

Can I export my question bank to Canvas?

QTI 2.1 export is available on the Pro plan at $14.99 per month, giving you a file you can bring into Canvas. PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV exports are included in Plus at $39 per year or $7.99 per month.

Is there a free plan?

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, and no credit card is needed to start. Exports require a paid plan.

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Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.