---
title: "Random short-answer matching quiz question"
slug: "random-short-answer-matching-quiz-question"
tags: ["Totara Learn", "Content Creator", "Explainer"]
updated: 2026-08-13T16:01:17Z
published: 2026-08-13T16:01:17Z
canonical: "totara.help/random-short-answer-matching-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.

# Random short-answer matching quiz question

The random short answer question type is similar to the [matching question](/totara-20/docs/matching-quiz-question) type, and is built using any [short answer questions](/totara-20/docs/short-answer-quiz-question) that have already been set up in a specific category. Learners will be provided with a dropdown menu from which to choose the correct (model) answers.

![Example random short answer matching quiz question.](https://cdn.document360.io/a007399b-031e-436b-999a-528240e16f58/Images/Documentation/image-1635173022369.png?sv=2026-02-06&spr=https&st=2026-11-06T06%3A31%3A32Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A31%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=yWv%2FGYmPnY0tX9pbXZzyWpTU%2BXJoOJm9idXfFtyf8vk%3D)

To set up a random short-answer matching question, follow these steps:

1. In the quiz activity, click **Add**, then select **a new question**.
2. Select **Random short-answer matching**, then click **Add**.
3. Give the question a name, then enter the question in the **Question text** field. If your existing short answer questions are diverse then you should use some simple instructive text such as ‘Answer the following questions.’
4. Set the **Default mark**, i.e. how many marks the Learner will be awarded if they answer correctly.
5. Select the **Category** that the short questions will be taken from, and tick the **Include subcategories** checkbox if you want questions from any of that category's subcategories to be included.
6. Set the **Number of questions to select**.
7. Either enter feedback for correct, partially correct and incorrect answers in the **Combined feedback** section, or use the **General feedback** field.
8. If required, configure the **Multiple tries** and **Tags** sections.
9. Click **Save changes**.

![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=2026-11-06T06%3A31%3A32Z&se=2026-11-06T07%3A31%3A32Z&sr=c&sp=r&sig=yWv%2FGYmPnY0tX9pbXZzyWpTU%2BXJoOJm9idXfFtyf8vk%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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