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Turn your lecture notes into a quiz you can put in Canvas

Upload your slides, PDFs or notes and DeckOwl drafts multiple-choice, true/false and short-answer questions with explanations. Edit them, study them, then export when your course needs them.

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

Write fewer questions from scratch

If you need to make a quiz in Canvas, the slow part is usually writing good questions, not clicking through the quiz settings. Start with the material you already teach from, and let the generator draft the first set so you can spend your time checking accuracy and difficulty.

Upload slides, PDFs, DOCX, PPTX, notes or page photos
Multiple-choice, true/false and short-answer questions with explanations
Free plan: 3 generations per month, study in the browser
Pro: QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export for importing into a learning system

Example intro biology questions for a Canvas quiz

Which organelle produces most of a cell's ATP?Mitochondria. They carry out cellular respiration, which generates most of the ATP the cell uses.

True or false: Plant cells have a cell wall made of cellulose.True. Cellulose gives the plant cell wall its rigidity, and animal cells do not have a cell wall.

What is the main function of ribosomes?Protein synthesis. Ribosomes read mRNA and link amino acids into polypeptide chains.

Why does a plant cell swell when placed in pure water?Osmosis. Water moves into the cell because the solute concentration inside is higher than outside.

Which molecule carries genetic instructions from DNA to the ribosome?Messenger RNA (mRNA). It is transcribed from DNA in the nucleus and carries the code to ribosomes.

Generate the full set

Starts from your own material

Upload a PDF, DOCX, PPTX, plain text file or a photo of a page. Questions come from what you actually taught, not generic filler.

Explanations on every question

Each answer includes a short explanation, so students who miss a question learn why the right answer is right.

Export when you need it

The free plan keeps quizzes in the browser. Pro adds QTI 2.1 and Moodle XML export for moving a question bank into your learning system.

How it works

Upload your materials

Add your lecture slides, reading PDF, or typed notes. Photos of printed pages are read with text recognition.

Pick question types

Choose multiple choice, true/false or short answer. Set the questions to match what your students have covered.

Review and export

Edit any question that doesn't fit, then study in the browser or export a file for your course site.

Review each draft against your learning goals before you publish. Remove questions that test trivia, tighten wording that could confuse students, and keep the explanations short so they teach the idea behind the answer. Pro users can export QTI 2.1, a standard format your institution may be able to import into Canvas.

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Frequently asked questions

How many questions should a weekly quiz have?

Short weekly quizzes work best when each question checks one specific idea from the reading or lecture. Start small, then add questions for topics your students find difficult.

What makes a good multiple-choice question for a course quiz?

Write one clearly correct answer and distractors that reflect common mistakes, not obviously wrong options. Avoid answers like all of the above, because they make it easy to guess without understanding.

Can I export my quiz to Canvas?

Pro includes QTI 2.1 export, a standard format for question banks. Ask your instructor or LMS administrator how your Canvas site handles QTI imports before you rely on that workflow.

Do I need a credit card to try DeckOwl?

No. The free plan includes 3 generations per month and browser study, and you can upgrade later if you need unlimited generations or exports. Students get 40% off with a school email.

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Keep exploring the topic

Review the main ideas visually or practice recalling them.