Skip to content
Classroom

Multiple Choice Question Type

Students select one correct answer from a list of options.

Basic Syntax

[multchar]
a) Correct answer
b) Wrong answer
c) Wrong answer
d) Wrong answer
answer = a;

Format

Use single letters (a–z) to mark options. The system automatically randomizes the order unless randomize = false is set.

Options

answer (required)

The letter of the correct option.

[multchar]
a) Paris
b) London
c) Berlin
d) Madrid
answer = a;

randomize

  • true (default) — Shuffle option order for each student
  • false — Keep options in defined order
[multchar]
a) First
b) Second
c) Third
answer = c;
randomize = false;

Examples

Parametric Question

$animal = array("dog", "cat", "fish");
$chosen = $animal[rand(0, 2)];
$name = "";
if ($chosen == "dog") { $name = "Fido"; }
else if ($chosen == "cat") { $name = "Whiskers"; }
else { $name = "Bubbles"; }

What is the typical name for a $chosen?

[multchar]
a) $name
b) Generic Name
c) No Name
d) Random
answer = a;

Medical/Science Concept

Which organelle is responsible for cellular respiration?

[multchar]
a) Ribosome
b) Mitochondrion
c) Golgi Apparatus
d) Nucleus
answer = b;

Mathematical Scenario

$principal = rand(100, 500) * 100;
$rate = rand(2, 8);
$years = rand(1, 5);
$interest = ($principal * $rate * $years) / 100;
$total = $principal + $interest;

If you invest $principal at $rate% interest for $years years (simple interest), how much will you have?

[multchar]
a) $total
b) $principal
c) $interest
d) $principal * 2
answer = a;
randomize = true;

Grading

The student's response is checked against the answer option: - Student selects the correct letter → Correct - Student selects any other letter → Incorrect

Tips

  • Randomize by default: Set randomize = false only when option order is pedagogically important (e.g., "Which is the FIRST step?")
  • Use clear distractors: Wrong answers should be plausible but clearly incorrect
  • Avoid "all of the above": Makes it harder to assess specific knowledge
  • Balance option length: Very long options stand out; keep similar lengths when possible

See Also