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Turn your course notes into quiz questions ready for Canvas

Upload a PDF, slides or notes and get multiple-choice, true/false or short-answer questions with explanations, then export QTI 2.1 on the Pro plan to bring them into your course.

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Getting quiz questions into Canvas

Teachers planning a Canvas quiz questions import usually start with material they already have, such as lecture slides, a chapter PDF or notes from office hours. Writing fresh questions from that material takes hours, so a first draft generated from your own files is the faster route, as long as you review each item before it reaches your course.

  • Multiple-choice, true/false and short-answer questions with explanations
  • Generation from PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text and photos of pages
  • QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export on the Pro plan
  • Plus plan exports PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV; the free plan has no exports
Example checks before a Canvas quiz questions import
Why should you check which import format your LMS accepts before exporting questions?Each LMS accepts specific file standards, so a file in the wrong format will fail to import.
What does QTI stand for?Question and Test Interoperability, a standard for exchanging assessment items between systems.
What should a good multiple-choice question include before you import it?One clearly correct option and plausible distractors, so students must understand the material to pick the answer.
What is the best way to test a question bank before importing it into your live course?Import it into a test course first and preview several items, because formatting and point values can change during import.
How does a QTI export differ from a PDF export of quiz questions?QTI is a machine-readable file an LMS can import as quiz items, while a PDF is meant for printing and cannot be imported as gradable questions.
Generate the full set

Questions from your material

Upload PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text or photos of pages and get multiple-choice, true/false and short-answer questions with explanations.

Export for your LMS

Pro exports QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML. Plus exports PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV for review, printing and study.

Free to start

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser. No credit card is needed to begin.

How it works

Upload your source

Add a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, set of notes or photos of pages from the lecture or reading.

Generate and review

Choose multiple-choice, true/false or short answer, then read each question and its explanation before using it.

Export for your LMS

On Pro, export QTI 2.1 after confirming which import format your Canvas instance accepts.

Import formats cause most failed uploads. Canvas reads packaged quiz files, and the format has to match what your instance accepts, so check your institution's Canvas guidance before exporting. DeckOwl exports QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML on the Pro plan, while the Plus plan exports PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV for review and printing.

Free accounts get 3 generations per month and can study in the browser, so you can test the questions before deciding on a paid plan.

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Canvas Quiz Import Guide

Turn your notes into quiz questions and prepare them for a Canvas import.

Canvas Quiz Import Format Guide

How Canvas quiz import files are built, and how to make one from your own notes.

Canvas Quiz Import Template Guide

Create your own quiz from notes and export QTI for Canvas import.

Canvas Quiz Import Tool

Turn your PDFs, slides or notes into quiz questions you can export as QTI 2.1 for Canvas.

Practice quiz from your own notes

Generate quiz questions with explanations when Canvas quiz questions aren't showing.

Random Canvas Quiz Question Banks

Build a question bank from your notes and pull random questions for Canvas quizzes.

Frequently asked questions

How many quiz questions should I import into one Canvas quiz?

There is no fixed number. Many instructors import a larger question bank than a single quiz draws from, so students see varied sets of questions.

What should I check before importing quiz questions into an LMS?

Confirm which file format your instance accepts, import into a test course first, and preview a few items to check the correct answers and point values.

Do I need a paid plan to export quiz questions?

Yes. The free plan is for studying in the browser with 3 generations per month. QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export are on Pro, and PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV export are on Plus.

Do I need a credit card to try it?

No. You can start on the free plan without entering a credit card.

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