---
title: "Short answer quiz question"
slug: "short-answer-quiz-question"
tags: ["Content Creator", "Explainer", "Totara Learn"]
updated: 2025-07-22T10:52:18Z
published: 2025-07-22T11:18:35Z
canonical: "totara.help/short-answer-quiz-question"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://totara.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Short answer quiz question

Short answer questions require a short response (no more than a few words) that needs to match at least one model answer.

An asterisk (*) can be used as a wildcard value to match any characters given in a response.

To set up a short answer quiz question, follow these steps:

1. In the quiz activity, click **Add**, then select **a new question**.
2. Select **Short answer**, then click **Add**.
3. Give the question a name, then enter the question in the **Question text** field.
4. Set the **Default mark**, i.e. how many marks the Learner will be awarded if they answer correctly.
5. Set the **Case sensitivity** setting as required.
6. Enter each answer in the **Answer** fields, and set the **Grade** weighting for each answer. You can add more answers by clicking **Blanks for 3 more choices**.
7. Add feedback for the correct answer(s), or any other incorrect answers you've added. As Learners can type anything in the text field, you won't be able to set up feedback for every possible answer. Instead, you can provide general feedback for any other answers by adding an answer containing only an asterisk (*), which acts as a wildcard.
8. If required, configure the **Multiple tries** and **Tags** sections.
9. Click **Save changes**.  
  
![A short answer question where the Learner has answered correctly.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1726141409977.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T15%3A59%3A44Z&se=2026-11-01T16%3A59%3A44Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=JeV31qvVpuj9wNsb4JlHaYDFkpp3VU2lhnHyMdqcpX8%3D)

![Course badge](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/course-badge_getting-started-with-quizzes.svg?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-01T15%3A59%3A44Z&se=2026-11-01T16%3A59%3A44Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=JeV31qvVpuj9wNsb4JlHaYDFkpp3VU2lhnHyMdqcpX8%3D)There are two courses in the Totara Academy about using quizzes in Totara Learn, [Getting started with quizzes](https://totara.community/course/view.php?id=639) and [Advanced quiz](https://totara.community/course/view.php?id=262) Using these courses you can learn more on how to use these features, see best practice, and give it a go yourself.

Join the [Totara Community](https://totara.community/) for more resources to help you get the most out of Totara.

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