Quiz Generator: Deducting Points for Each Incorrect Answer

Quiz Generator allows you to penalize students for selecting incorrect answers across a few different question types. Having penalties for incorrect answers can encourage students to be more thoughtful about each option that they select for a question.

Before deciding to use this option, it is important to understand how it works. In all cases, the amount of penalty is proportional to the point value of a question. For multiple choice questions (MCQs), penalization changes depending on if there is one correct answer or multiple.

Multiple Choice Question (with Single Correct Answer)

number of points / number of total answer choices 

= point deduction for each incorrect answer

Example: Say you have an MCQ with four possible options, and one of those options is correct. The question is worth 4 points total.

A student may select the correct answer in addition to an incorrect answer. The student will start with the 4 points they received for answering correctly, but they will be penalized 1 point for selecting an incorrect answer. This will result in the student getting 3 points for the question:

4 points / 4 total answer choices = 1 point deduction for each incorrect answer.

4 - 1 = 3

Another student may select the correct answer as well as two incorrect answers. This will result in the student getting 2 points for the question:

4 - (1 + 1) = 2

Multiple Choice Question (with Multiple Correct Answers)

number of points / number of correct answers 

= point deduction for each incorrect answer

Example: Say you have an MCQ with four possible options, and two of those options are correct. The question is worth 1 point total.

One student may select all four of the possible options. This student will get 1 point for the two answers they selected correctly, but they will be penalized 1 point for selecting two incorrect answers. This will result in the student getting no points for the question:

1 point / 2 correct answers = .5 point deduction for each incorrect answer.

1 - (.5 + .5) = 0

Another student may select the two correct answers as well as an incorrect answer. This will result in the student getting .5 points for the question:

1 point / 2 correct answers = .5 point deduction for each incorrect answer.

1 - .5 = .5

Note: Match from two lists / combo question point deductions behave like MCQs with multiple correct answers.

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How to Deduct Points for Each Incorrect Answer (Multiple Choice Questions)

Single Correct Answer

Before you can choose to deduct points for each incorrect answer on an MCQ with a single correct answer, the following things must be true:

• There is one correct answer.
• Students are allowed to select multiple answers.
• Partial credit is allowed.

If the above information is applicable to the question, then follow these steps:

1. Mark a single answer as correct by selecting the appropriate checkbox under the Correct column. This will reveal a yellow box with two additional questions.
2. For Can students also select other answers..., select Yes - Students can select multiple answers, even if they are incorrect..
3. For Do you want to allow partial credit if the student picks other, incorrect answers?, select Allow Partial Credit.
4. Select Add / Edit Multiple-Choice Question at the bottom of the form to save.

Multiple Correct Answers

Before you can choose to deduct points for each incorrect answer on an MCQ with multiple correct answers, the following things must be true:

• There are multiple correct answers.
• Students must select all correct answers to get the question right.
• Partial credit is allowed.

If the above information is applicable to the question, then follow these steps:

1. Mark multiple answers as correct by selecting the appropriate checkboxes under the Correct column. This will reveal a yellow box with a few additional questions.
2. For Can students select any of these answers..., select Must Select All.
3. For Do you want to allow partial credit for each correct answer?, select Allow Partial Credit.
4. For Do you want to deduct points (penalize the student) for each incorrect answer?, select Yes.
5. Select Add / Edit Multiple-Choice Question at the bottom of the form to save.

How to Deduct Points for Each Incorrect Answer (Match from Two Lists / Combo Questions)

Before you can choose to deduct points for each incorrect answer on a match from two lists / combo question, partial credit must be allowed.

If the above is applicable to the question, then follow the steps below:

1. For When this question is automatically scored ..., select Allow Partial Credit.
2. For Do you want to deduct points (penalize the student) for each incorrect answer?, select Yes.
3. Click Add / Edit Match from Two Lists Question or Add / Edit Combo Question at the bottom of the form to save.