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Turn your own notes into quiz question groups for Canvas

Upload a PDF, slide deck or set of notes and get multiple-choice, true/false and short answer questions with explanations, ready to organize into groups.

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

Free account · 5 sets a week · Creates quizzes in seconds

Why group quiz questions by topic

A quiz that draws a random subset from a larger pool is the core idea behind canvas quiz question groups, which make each attempt different and reduce answer sharing between students.

Organize questions by unit so each group matches one lecture or reading.
Mix question types within a group to test recall and understanding.
Read the explanation for every question before adding it to a quiz.
Start with the Free plan to test your material, then export on a paid plan.

Example Canvas quiz question group items for practice

In Canvas Classic Quizzes, what does a question group do?It randomly draws a set number of questions from a pool, so each student gets a different subset, because the group sets how many to pull rather than a fixed list.

A group holds 10 questions and is set to pick 3. How many questions does each student see from that group?Three, because the group selects a random subset equal to the number you set.

True or false: a question group in Canvas can draw questions from a question bank.True, because groups can pull from a bank so one bank of questions can feed several quizzes.

True or false: in Classic Quizzes, all questions in one group must share the same point value.True, because points per question are set at the group level rather than for each question.

Why do randomized question groups reduce answer sharing?Each student may see a different subset in a different order, so a list of answers from one attempt is less useful to another student.

Generate the full set

Three question types

Multiple choice, true/false and short answer questions, all generated from the material you upload.

Explanations for every answer

Each question includes a short explanation so you can check why the correct answer is right before you use it.

Export on paid plans

Export to PDF or DOCX on Plus, and to QTI 2.1 or Moodle XML on Pro. The Free plan is for studying in the browser.

How it works

Upload your material

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text file or photos of pages.

Choose question types

Pick multiple choice, true/false or short answer, and generate a set for each topic you want to group.

Study or export

Practice in the browser, or export your questions on a paid plan to build groups in your course.

Groups work best when each one covers a single topic from your lectures or readings. If you split your notes into sections first, you can generate separate question sets and keep each group focused on what you taught that week.

Review each generated question and its explanation before it reaches students. Edit anything that does not match your course wording, since your instructor judgment is what makes the quiz fair.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between a question group and a question bank in Canvas?

A question bank stores questions you can reuse across quizzes, while a question group controls how many questions a quiz draws from a set and how they are scored. Canvas has changed these tools over time, so check the quiz settings in your course.

How many questions should a question group draw for each student?

Draw enough questions to cover the topic without making every attempt identical, often a third to a half of the pool. Match the count to the time you give students so the quiz stays manageable.

Can DeckOwl export questions for Canvas?

QTI 2.1 export is available on the Pro plan at $14.99 per month, and Canvas can import QTI files. Exports are paid features, and the Free plan allows 5 generations a week with browser study only.

Is there a free plan to try it first?

Yes, the Free plan includes 5 generations a week and study in the browser, with no exports. No credit card is needed to start.

Generate free quizzes

Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.