Theory
From asking opinions to testing knowledge
So far Priya's form was a survey, collecting opinions, where no answer is 'right'. But the same tool can do something else: a quiz that has correct answers and grades itself.
Imagine a teacher setting 30 multiple-choice questions for 60 students: marking by hand is hours of work. In Forms quiz mode, you set the answer key once, and every submission is auto-graded instantly, with each student shown their score.
This lesson covers the survey-versus-quiz distinction and how to turn a Form into a self-grading quiz, a feature that saves teachers (and future you) enormous time.
Theory
An answer key that marks for you
A survey is like a suggestion box: every answer is equally valid, you just collect them. A quiz is an exam with an answer key, some answers are correct, and there is a score. Forms quiz mode is like handing the exam an answer key that marks every paper itself: you set the correct answers and points once, and Forms grades all 60 papers in seconds, no red pen required. Same form-building; add an answer key and it becomes a marker.
At a glance
Survey vs quiz
| Aspect | Survey | Quiz |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Collect opinions | Test knowledge |
| Right answer? | No | Yes (answer key) |
| Scoring | None | Auto-graded, points |
| Respondent sees | Confirmation | Their score / feedback |
Theory
Make it a quiz
- In Settings, turn on 'Make this a quiz'.
- For each question, open Answer key: mark the correct answer and set its point value. Add optional feedback for correct/incorrect responses (a mini explanation).
- Choose when to release grades (immediately after submitting, or later after review).
Now Forms auto-grades every submission and shows the student their score and which answers were right or wrong. The teacher gets aggregate stats: the score distribution and, valuably, which questions were missed most (revealing weak topics).
Auto-grading works best with objective questions (multiple choice, checkboxes, dropdown, exact-match short answer); free-text/paragraph answers still need manual grading.
Quiz
Priya turns her form into a quiz. For a multiple-choice question, what must she set so Forms can grade it automatically?
- An answer key (the correct option) and a point value
- Nothing, Forms guesses the right answer
- A linked Google Sheet
- The respondents' email addresses
Show the answer
An answer key (the correct option) and a point value
To auto-grade, Priya sets an answer key (marking the correct option) and a point value for each question. Forms then compares each submission to the key and scores it instantly. Without an answer key, Forms cannot know what is 'correct'. This answer-key-plus-points setup is what transforms a form from a survey into a self-grading quiz.
Think first
Which questions grade themselves?
Priya's quiz mixes multiple-choice questions and one 'Explain in your own words' paragraph question. Which auto-grade, and which does not, and why?
Show the answer
The multiple-choice (and checkboxes, dropdown, exact-match short answer) questions auto-grade, because there is a single correct answer to compare against the key. The 'Explain in your own words' paragraph cannot auto-grade, open text has no single correct answer to match, so the teacher must read and mark it manually. Rule: objective questions auto-grade; free-text needs human judgement. Design quizzes with objective questions where you want automatic scoring.
Watch out
Where marks leak
Confusing a survey (opinions, no right answer) with a quiz (answer key, auto-graded). Not knowing you enable quiz mode in Settings and set an answer key + points per question. And forgetting that objective questions auto-grade while free-text/paragraph answers need manual grading. The survey-vs-quiz distinction and the auto-grading mechanism are the exam points here.
Theory
Automation, one more time
Auto-grading is the same theme running through this whole semester: let the computer do the repetitive work (recall Excel macros, Power Query). A self-grading quiz frees a teacher to actually teach. And the per-question stats reveal what students find hard, data-driven teaching. The final lesson closes the subject: managing the responses (survey or quiz) you have collected, viewing, organising and exporting them. Next: managing responses.
Summary
Key takeaways
- A survey collects opinions (no right answer); a quiz tests knowledge with an answer key and auto-grading.
- Enable quiz mode in Settings ('Make this a quiz').
- Set an answer key (correct answer) and point value per question; add optional feedback.
- Forms auto-grades submissions, shows each respondent their score, and gives the teacher per-question stats.
- Objective questions (multiple choice, etc.) auto-grade; free-text/paragraph answers need manual grading.
- Memory hook: an answer key that marks every paper itself.