A Calculated Formula question allows instructors to write an equation with custom variables that can be randomized between attempts. This guide will demonstrate how to create a Calculated Formula Question in a question bank.
This is for Ultra Course View, go to Original Course View.
Adding a Calculated Formula Question to a Test or Assignment
To add a Calculated Formula Question to the question bank:
- Hover over the dividing line between elements and click on the + buttons
- Select Calculated Formula Question from the menu
Setting up a Calculated Formula Question
You will see the question editor appear inline. The process to set up a Calculated Formula question requires the following three steps:
Step 1: Question Text and Formula
- Write the question text: Write the question text in the space provided. Use letters in square brackets to indicate randomly generated variables in your question e.g. [a], [b], [c].
- Enter the answer formula: Use the formula editor to enter the answer formula, with the variables in square brackets
- Display formula to students: Select this option if you wish to show the answer formula to students.
- When finished, click the Next link to advance to Step 2: Answer Settings.
Step 2: Answer Settings
Step 2 allows instructors to establish parameters for the variables and answers:
- Answer format: Select whether to require students to express the answer in a standard or exponential format.
- Rounding: Use the dropdown menu to specify whether to count decimal places or significant figures, and provide the number of decimal places or significant figures in the field provided. Check the checkbox to display the place setting or significant figure requirement.
- Allow full credit if answer is within a chosen range: Check this checkbox to allow full credit if a student's given answer is within a given range of values.
- Allow partial credit if answer is within a chosen range: Check this checkbox to allow partial credit if a student's answer is within a given range of values:
- Answer units: Check this checkbox to require students to specify the type of units used for the answer.
- Variable ranges: Use the variable ranges fields to specify maximum and minimum values as well as the maximum number of decimal places.
- Number of Answer Sets: Specify the number of answer sets to be randomly generated by the exam.
- When finished, click the Next link to proceed to the next step.
Step 3: Verification
The last step, Verification will allow you to preview the generated variable feedback and add feedback to the question.
- The generated variable sets will appear here. Instructors can manually modify variables as they see fit.
- Repopulate Answer Set: Click this button to randomly generate a new variable set.
- Calculate Answers: If you have manually entered values into the variable set, this button will recalculate the answer values.
- Automated Feedback. Click on this slider to enable feedback for the question. You will then see fields to enter correct and incorrect answer feedback.
- Correct Answer Feedback: Enter feedback to show to students when they select the correct answer.
- Incorrect Answer Feedback: Enter feedback to show to students when they select an incorrect response.
- When finished, click the Save button to create the question.
Finishing Up
Once you have created the question, the question will appear at the desired insertion point in the question bank. If you wish to modify the point value, click on the points for the item to change it.