blackboard short answer vs essay

Blackboard question types – An explanation

Blackboard test tools / Question Types

Below is a list of Question types available in Blackboard. Each section links guidance on how to set up that question type and concludes with some final guidance on potential issues/risks with that question type where applicable.

Calculated Formula Questions

Calculated Formula questions present students with a question that requires them to make a calculation and respond with a numeric answer. The numbers in the question change with each student and are pulled from a range that you set. The correct answer is a specific value or a range of values. Calculated Formula questions are graded automatically.

Auto Marked – try to avoid very large or very small numbers (many decimal places)

Calculated Numeric Questions

With Calculated Numeric questions, students are presented with a question that requires a numeric answer. The question doesn’t need to be a mathematical formula. You can provide a text question that requires a numeric answer. Calculated Numeric questions resemble Fill in the Blank questions where correct answers are numbers.

Auto Marked

Either/Or Questions

In Either/Or questions, students are presented with a statement and asked to respond from two-choice answers.

Auto marked – probably too basic for a summative test as they are 50% guessable.

Essay Questions

Essay questions require students to type an answer in a text box, and you need to grade these questions manually.

Requires manual marking

File Response Questions

For File Response questions, students upload a file from their computers or the Content Collection as the answer to the question. Students can create work before a test and submit the file with their submissions, particularly if it requires a large amount of text. You grade these questions manually.

If you want students to submit a file as part of an exam question the Turnitin and Bb Assignment offer you better functionality for marking

Fill in Multiple Blanks Questions

For Fill in Multiple Blanks questions, students view text that can contain up to 10 blanks. You can add a maximum of 100 answers for each blank. Students type the appropriate word or phrase for each blank. For questions with a single blank, use  Fill in the Blank Questions .

Auto-marked –Will need to consider spelling issues and variations of phrasing and the order of the answers

Fill in the Blank Questions

A Fill in the Blank question consists of a phrase, sentence, or paragraph with a blank space where a student provides the missing word or words. The maximum number of answers you can provide for a blank is 100. Use  Fill in Multiple Blanks questions  to create a question with multiple answers.

Auto-marked – Will need to consider spelling issues and variations of phrasing

Hot Spot Questions

With Hot Spot questions, students are presented with an image and select a particular area as the answer. Hot Spot questions are graded automatically.

Auto-Marked – There have historically been issues with this question type due to the way different browsers render/read the co-ordinates used identify the Hot Spot.

Jumbled Sentence Questions

Jumbled Sentence questions require students to select words or phrases from a menu to complete a sentence. The  same menu  appears for all blanks and can include both correct answers and distractors. Jumbled Sentence questions are graded automatically.

Auto Marked – but take care looking at all permutations, sometimes correct answers can be identified by tense/grammar

Matching Questions

With Matching questions, students pair items in one column to items in another column. The number of items in each column doesn’t have to be equal because you can reuse answers and add unmatched answer choices. Unmatched answer choices are distractors that don’t match any item and increase the question’s difficulty.

Auto marked – One less than desirable feature is you can pick the same answer for each option. May be better to ensure you have more answers available than options .

Multiple Answer Questions

Multiple Answer questions allow students to choose more than one answer. Use this type of question when more than one answer is correct. For example, in the medical field, ask students to select symptoms associated with a medical condition.

Auto-Marked – To avoid students ticking all the options and getting the right answer use this question type with some negative scoring.

Multiple Choice Questions

With Multiple Choice questions, students select one correct answer from several choices.

Auto Marked – Ensure that distractor options cannot be easily dismissed.

Opinion Scale and Likert Questions

You can use Opinion Scale/Likert questions to measure students’ attitudes or reactions with a comparable scale. By default, five answer choices appear that range from  Strongly Agree  to  Strongly Disagree. A  sixth option lets students select  Not Applicable . Opinion Scale/Likert questions are graded automatically.

Probably unsuitable for Summative Assessment

Ordering Questions

With Ordering questions, students select the correct order of a series of items. For example, you can give students a list of historical events and ask them to place these events in chronological order.

Auto marked

Quiz Bowl Questions

With Quiz Bowl questions, students are presented with an answer and they provide the question. Student responses must be in the form of a question that begins with an interrogative, such as who, what, or where.

Like a Jeopardy Question – Probably unsuitable for Summative Assessment

Short Answer Questions

Short Answer questions are similar to  Essay questions . Student responses aren’t limited in length, but the number of rows you set for the text box help students know your expectations. Both Essay questions and Short Answer questions are graded manually.

Not- Auto marked – virtually the same as the Essay Question

True/False Questions

With True/False questions, students choose true or false in response to a statement question.

Auto-marked – probably a bit too basic for Summative Assessment

To take an online test which uses a variety of question types please go to FSE E- Learning Training and follow the instructions.

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Question Types in Original Course View

There are many types of questions that can be included in an assessment. For instructions on how to create different question types, please see the guides in the Tutorials & Guides tab to the right.

• Calculated Formula : Contains a formula with a number of variables. The correct answer can be a specific value or a range of values.
• Calculated Numeric : Resembles a fill-in-the-blank question, except a number is entered to complete the statement. The correct answer can be a specific number or within a range of numbers.
• Either / Or : A statement with a pre-defined choice of two answers (Yes/No, On/Off).
• Essay : A question where the answer must be typed in a text box.
• File Response: Students upload files to respond to the question.
• Fill in Multiple Blanks : Multiple responses are inserted into a sentence or paragraph.
• Fill in the Blank : A statement that requires an answer to complete it. Answers are evaluated based on an exact text match.
• Hot Spot : A specific point on an image is used to indicate the answer. For example, selecting all the countries in South America by clicking on each one on a map.
• Jumbled Sentence : A sentence with a number of variables within it.
• Matching: Two columns of items where each item in the first column must be matched to an item in the second column.
• Multiple Answer: A number of choices with one or more correct answers.
• Multiple Choice: Allows a number of choices with exactly one correct answer. Indicate the correct answer by selecting the correct answer.
• Opinion Scale / Likert: A rating scale used to measure attitudes or reactions.
• Ordering: A question that requires users to provide an answer by selecting the correct order of a series of items.
• Quiz Bowl: An answer appears; the users responds with a who, what, or where question to respond.
• Short Answer: Similar to Essay questions; answer length is limited.
• True / False: A statement with the option to choose either true or false. True/False answer options are limited to the words True and False.

Assignments in Ultra Course View

Status: available with limitations.

At this time, you can create these question types in tests and assignments in your course:

• Calculated Formula:  Contains a formula with a number of variables. The correct answer can be a specific value or a range of values.
• Calculated Numeric : Students must specify a numeric response. The correct answer can be a specific value or within a range.
• Essay:  A question where the answer must be typed in a text box.
• Fill in the Blank and Fill in Multiple Blanks:   A statement that requires an answer to complete it. Answers are evaluated based on an exact text match. Can include one or multiple blanks.
• Hotspot:  Students are presented with an image that requires them to drop a pin on one or more hotspots created by you within that image.
• Matching:  Two columns of items where each item in the first column must be matched to an item in the second column.
• Multiple Choice:  Allows a number of choices with one or more correct answer. Indicate the correct answer(s) by selecting the correct answer(s). Blackboard does not indicate to students whether there is one or multiple correct answers, so you may want to include that information in the question stem.
• True/False:  A statement with the option to choose either true or false. True/False answer options are limited to the words True and False.

In addition to questions, you can add the following content blocks within a test:

• Add text:  Type text in a text editor to provide instructions to students. 
• Add local file:  Upload a file that students can download during the test.
• Add file from Cloud storage:  Add a file from cloud storage, such as OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box.

The following questions types are NOT yet available in Ultra Course View, but most can be handled with another question type:

• Either/Or:  Use True/False or Multiple Choice
• File Response:  Use an Assignment instead of a Test, with a timer enabled if desired
• Jumbled Sentence: Rewrite question as another type
• Opinion Scale/Likert:  Use Multiple Choice
• Ordering:  Use Matching where each item is matched to the correct position
• Quiz Bowl: Not available and not planned
• Short Answer:  Use Essay

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Exam Strategies: Short Answer & Essay Exams

Essay exams involve a significant written component in which you are asked to discuss and expand on a topic.  These could include written responses in the form of a formal essay or a detailed short-answer response.

• Short answer vs essay questions

Preparing for an essay exam

Answering essay questions.

Check out our visual resources for " Test Taking Strategies: Short Answer & Essay Questions " below!

What is the difference between a short answer and an essay question?

• Both short-answer and essay questions ask you to demonstrate your knowledge of course material by relating your answer to concepts covered in the course.
• Essay questions require a thesis (argument) and supporting evidence (from course material - lectures, readings, discussions, and assignments) outlined in several paragraphs, including an introduction, body, and conclusion.
• Short-answer questions are more concise than essay answers - think of it as a “mini-essay” - and use a sentence or two to introduce your topic; select a few points to discuss; add a concluding sentence that sums up your response.
• Review your course material - look for themes within the topics covered, use these to prepare sample questions if your instructor has not given direction on what to expect from essay questions.
• Create outlines to answer your practice questions. Choose a definite argument or thesis statement and organize supporting evidence logically in body paragraphs. Try a mnemonic (like a rhyme or acronym) to help remember your outline.
• Practice! Using your outline, try using a timer to write a full response to your practice or sample questions within the exam time limit.
• Review the question carefully. Think about what it is asking - what are you expected to include?  What material or examples are relevant?
• Underline keywords in the question to identify the main topic and discussion areas.
• Plan your time. Keep an eye on the time allowed and how many essay questions you are required to answer. Consider the mark distribution to determine how much time to spend on each question or section.
• Make a plan. Take a few minutes to brainstorm and plan your response - jot down a brief outline to order your points and arguments before you start to write.
• Include a thesis statement in your introduction so that your argument is clear, even if you run out of time, and help structure your answer.
• Write a conclusion , even if brief - use this to bring your ideas together to answer the question and suggest the broader implications.
• Clearly and concisely answer the question :
• In your introduction, show that you understand the question and outline how you will answer it.
• Make one point or argument per paragraph and include one or two pieces of evidence or examples for each point.
• In your conclusion, summarize the arguments to answer the question.

"Test Taking Strategies: Short Answer & Essay Questions"

Does your next test have short answer or essay questions? Let's look at how to prepare for these type of questions, how to answer these types of questions, and strategies to keep in mind during the exam. Fight exam writer's block and achieve your best marks yet!

• "Test Taking Strategies: Short Answer & Essay Questions" PDF
• "Test Taking Strategies: Short Answer & Essay Questions" Video

Looking for more strategies and tips? Check out MUN's Academic Success Centre online!

Carnegie Mellon University. (n.d.). Successful exam strategies. Carnegie Mellon University: Student Academic Success. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://www.cmu.edu/student-success/other-resources/fast-facts/exam-strategies.pdf

Memorial University of Newfoundland. (n.d.). Exam strategies: Short answer & essay exams. Memorial University of Newfoundland: Academic Success Centre. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://www.mun.ca/munup/vssc/learning/exam-strategies-essays.php

Trent University. (n.d.). How to understand and answer free response or essay exam questions. Trent University: Academic Skills. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://www.trentu.ca/academicskills/how-guides/how-study/prepare-and-write-exams/how-understand-and-answer-free-response-or-essay-exam

University of Queensland Australia. (n.d.). Exam tips. University of Queensland Australia: Student support, study skills. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://my.uq.edu.au/information-and-services/student-support/study-skills/exam-tips

University of Waterloo. (n.d.). Exam questions: Types, characteristics, and suggestions. University of Waterloo: Centre for Teaching Excellence. Retrieved April 1, 2022 from https://uwaterloo.ca/centre-for-teaching-excellence/teaching-resources/teaching-tips/developing-assignments/exams/questions-types-characteristics-suggestions

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