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Know what professors can see in a Canvas quiz

Canvas quizzes show instructors more than many students expect, and the exact visibility depends on how your course is set up. Here is what is typically visible, and how to study with a quiz built from your own notes.

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What instructors typically see, and what to do about it

Most students asking about what professors can see in a Canvas quiz want to know whether their answers, timing and attempts are on record. In a standard quiz, an instructor can review submitted responses, the score, the time taken and the number of attempts from the submission view. Anything beyond that depends on how the course was configured, so the syllabus or your instructor is the reliable source.

Check which settings your instructor chose instead of guessing about visibility.
Practice with questions generated from the exact readings and lectures your quiz covers.
Read the explanation for every wrong answer, not just the score.
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Example Canvas quiz visibility questions

Can a Canvas instructor see the specific answer a student chose on each question?Usually yes, because the submission view lists each response so the instructor can review it after the attempt.

If a student takes a Canvas quiz several times, which scores does the gradebook use?It depends on the instructor's setting, such as highest, latest, first or average score, since Canvas keeps every attempt.

Can an instructor see how long a student spent on a Canvas quiz attempt?Yes, the submission details show the time taken for each attempt, which is why timing matters when you review your practice.

What does Respondus LockDown Browser do during a quiz?It restricts the browser so other apps and windows cannot be used while the quiz is open, when the instructor requires it.

Why practice retrieval instead of rereading notes before a timed quiz?Retrieval forces your memory to produce answers, which strengthens recall more than rereading does and matches what timed quizzes test.

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Each multiple-choice, true/false or short answer question comes with an explanation, so a wrong answer teaches you something.

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How it works

Upload your notes

Add a PDF, slides, a DOCX file, plain text or a photo of a page.

Choose a question type

Pick multiple choice, true/false or open questions to match how your course tests you.

Quiz yourself and review

Answer each question, read the explanation, and repeat the ones you missed.

Whatever the settings, the most useful preparation is practicing the material until recall feels automatic. DeckOwl turns your own PDFs, slides or notes into multiple-choice, true/false or short answer questions with explanations, so you can test yourself on what your course actually covers.

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Frequently asked questions

What can a professor see when I take a Canvas quiz?

Usually your submitted answers, score, time taken and number of attempts, shown in the submission view. Some courses also enable event logs or proctoring tools, so the exact visibility depends on your school's setup.

How should I prepare for a timed Canvas quiz?

Practice recalling answers from memory under a time limit, since timed quizzes test recall more than recognition. Keep returning to the questions you missed until you answer them correctly twice in a row.

How many practice questions should I work through before a quiz?

Enough to cover every topic in the assigned readings and lectures, then repeat the weakest topics. Quality of review matters more than the total count.

Is DeckOwl free to use?

The free plan includes 3 generations per month and studying in the browser, but exports are paid. Plus costs $39 per year or $7.99 per month and adds unlimited generations with PDF, DOCX, Anki and CSV export.

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