Importing an MS Word Test File into Canvas New Quizzes Using Respondus 4

MS Word Test File into Canvas New Quizzes Using Respondus 4

Word document → Respondus 4 → IMS QTI → QTI ZIP file → New Quiz → Build → Import Content

Respondus 4 currently supports Windows 10 and 11 and IMS QTI 1.x. VCCS also identifies its Respondus Test Creation software as a faculty/staff resource separate from LockDown Browser. Respondus Support

Before You Begin

Respondus 4 can take a properly formatted Microsoft Word test and convert the questions into a QTI package that Canvas can import.

For this process, do not select the Canvas personality in Respondus. You will use the IMS QTI personality and create a QTI ZIP file.

You will need:

  • An MECC-owned Windows computer
  • Your Microsoft Word test
  • Respondus 4 Test Creation software
  • Access to your Canvas course

Respondus 4 is a Windows application; the current supported operating systems are Windows 10 and Windows 11. Respondus Support

Part 1: Install Respondus 4

If Respondus 4 is not already installed:

  1. Go to VCCS Resources.
  2. Locate Test Creation / Respondus Test Creation - at the bottom of the page.
  3. Follow the VCCS link and instructions to download and install the institutional version of Respondus 4 on your MECC-owned computer.
  4. Use your VCCS credentials if prompted.

Be careful not to download Respondus LockDown Browser. That is the student testing application. You need Respondus Test Creation software. VCCS specifically distinguishes the two on its resources page. 

Part 2: Prepare the Word Document

This is the most important part of the process.

Respondus does not simply interpret any Word test automatically. The questions need to follow what Respondus calls its Standard Format. Respondus supports importing Microsoft Word .doc and .docx files and can recognize multiple choice, true/false, essay, fill-in-the-blank, matching, and multiple-response questions. Respondus

Basic Formatting Rules

Each question must begin with:

question number + period or parenthesis + question

For example:

1. What is the capital of Virginia?

or

1) What is the capital of Virginia?

Answer choices begin with a letter followed by a period or parenthesis:

a. Richmond
b. Roanoke
c. Norfolk
d. Bristol

Respondus requires this question-number and answer-letter structure. Respondus

Multiple Choice

Place an asterisk immediately before the correct answer.

1. What is the capital of Virginia?

*a. Richmond
b. Roanoke
c. Norfolk
d. Bristol

There should be no space between the asterisk and the answer letter.

Respondus also allows an answer key at the end of the document, but marking the answers with an asterisk is generally much easier for an individual faculty member preparing a test. Respondus

Important

If no correct answer is identified, Respondus will assume A is correct and provide a warning during import. Faculty should never ignore that warning without checking the question. Respondus

True/False

Format True before False:

2. The human heart contains four chambers.

*a. True
b. False

For a false statement:

3. The adult human heart contains six chambers.

a. True
*b. False

True must appear before False. If False is listed first, Respondus may interpret the item as multiple choice instead of True/False. Respondus

Multiple Answer / Select All That Apply

Place:

Type: MA

immediately before the question.

Then place an asterisk before each correct answer.

Type: MA
4. Which of the following are primary colors?

*a. Red
*b. Blue
c. Green
*d. Yellow

The Type: MA line tells Respondus this is a multiple-answer question rather than a multiple-choice question. Respondus

Essay

Place:

Type: E

before the question.

Type: E
5. Explain two ways technology has changed healthcare delivery.

An instructor can optionally include a sample/model answer, but essay questions will still require manual grading in the LMS. Respondus

Fill in the Blank

Use:

Type: F

before the question.

Then list acceptable answers as answer choices:

Type: F
6. The capital of Virginia is __________.

a. Richmond

You may include multiple acceptable versions:

Type: F
7. The abbreviation for magnetic resonance imaging is __________.

a. MRI
b. M.R.I.
c. magnetic resonance imaging

Respondus supports multiple acceptable forms of the same fill-in answer. Respondus

Because spelling variations and punctuation can matter when these questions are automatically graded, review them carefully after they reach Canvas.

Matching

Use:

Type: MT

Each matched pair is separated by an equals sign:

Type: MT
8. Match each imaging modality with the appropriate description.

a. CT = Uses x-rays to create cross-sectional images
b. MRI = Uses magnetic fields and radiofrequency energy
c. Ultrasound = Uses high-frequency sound waves

Do not use the equals sign for another purpose within the matching pair. Respondus uses it to identify the two sides of the match. Respondus

A Sample Word Document

A short test might therefore look like this:

1. What is the capital of Virginia?

*a. Richmond
b. Norfolk
c. Roanoke
d. Bristol


2. The human heart normally contains four chambers.

*a. True
b. False


Type: MA
3. Which of the following are imaging modalities?

*a. CT
*b. MRI
*c. Ultrasound
d. Pharmacology


Type: F
4. The abbreviation for computed tomography is __________.

a. CT


Type: E
5. Explain one advantage of using digital imaging in healthcare.


Type: MT
6. Match the modality to its primary technology.

a. CT = X-rays
b. MRI = Magnetic fields and radiofrequency
c. Ultrasound = Sound waves

Save the document as a normal Word .docx file.

Part 3: Import the Word Document into Respondus 4

  1. Open Respondus 4.

  2. On the Start screen, locate Current Personality.

  3. Select:

    IMS QTI

    Do not select Canvas/Instructure Canvas for this workflow.

  4. Select Import Questions.

Respondus's IMS QTI guide specifically directs users to the Start menu's Import Questions function for Word imports. Respondus

  1. For the file type, select the Microsoft Word option appropriate for your file.

  2. Click Browse.

  3. Locate your Word test.

  4. Under the option for creating or appending to a Respondus file, select:

    Create a new document

  5. Give the file a recognizable name, such as:

    BIO 101 Exam 1

  6. Select Exam, not Survey.

  7. Click Preview.

Do not skip Preview.

Respondus will display the questions it recognized and any warnings encountered during the import. Respondus

Part 4: Check the Import Carefully

Review:

  • Number of questions
  • Question wording
  • Question types
  • Correct answers
  • Answer choices
  • Point values
  • Formatting
  • Images, if applicable

Pay special attention to any warnings.

Some warnings may simply indicate that Respondus changed duplicate internal question titles; Respondus notes that those particular title changes do not affect what students see. Other warnings—especially missing correct answers—need to be investigated. Respondus

If something imported incorrectly, it is usually easier to:

  1. Return to the Word document.
  2. Correct the formatting.
  3. Save the document.
  4. Import it again.

Once the preview looks correct, click Finish.

Part 5: Review the Exam in Respondus

Once the import finishes:

  1. Open the Edit area.
  2. Review the Question List.
  3. Open any question that needs correction.
  4. Confirm the correct answer for each automatically graded question.
  5. Check the point value.

Respondus's IMS QTI personality supports Multiple Choice, True/False, Essay, Matching, Fill-in-the-Blank, and Multiple Response questions. Respondus

Then use Preview to inspect the assessment again.

This is your last good opportunity to catch problems before generating the Canvas import file.

Part 6: Create the QTI File

When the questions are correct:

  1. Select Preview + Publish.
  2. Select Save QTI XML File.

Respondus specifically provides this function when using the IMS QTI personality. Respondus

For the file format, choose the option that creates a:

QTI XML ZIP file using IMS Content Packaging

That is the package Canvas needs. Respondus's own Canvas manual-import documentation identifies this packaging option for Canvas QTI imports. Respondus Support

  1. Click Save As.
  2. Choose a location you can easily find, such as your Documents folder.
  3. Give the file a recognizable name.

You should now have a file ending in:

.zip

Do not unzip it.

The ZIP file is the file you will upload into Canvas.

Respondus 4 exports IMS QTI 1.2, which is supported by Canvas New Quizzes. Respondus Support

Part 7: Import the QTI File Directly into Canvas New Quizzes

This is where I would change the original workflow.

For New Quizzes, do this:

  1. Open your Canvas course.
  2. Select Quizzes.
  3. Select + Quiz or Add Quiz.
  4. Select New Quizzes.
  5. Select Submit.
  6. Enter the basic quiz information.
  7. Click Save.
  8. Click Build.

You should now be inside the New Quizzes interface.

  1. Select the Options menu—the three dots near the upper-right corner.
  2. Select Import Content.
  3. Drag the Respondus QTI ZIP file into the import window or select Browse.
  4. Choose the ZIP file you created.
  5. Select Import.
  6. Wait for the import status to finish.
  7. Review the imported questions.

These are the current steps documented by Canvas for importing a QTI package directly into New Quizzes. Canvas also specifies that QTI imports can create a new quiz but cannot be used to modify an existing quiz. Instructure Community

Part 8: Check Everything in Canvas Before Publishing

Do not immediately publish the quiz.

Review every question, paying particular attention to:

  • Correct answers
  • Point values
  • Multiple-answer questions
  • Fill-in-the-blank acceptable answers
  • Matching questions
  • Images
  • Equations
  • Tables
  • Feedback
  • Question formatting

Also review the New Quizzes Settings, since QTI is primarily a question-transfer format and not every quiz-level behavior necessarily transfers with the questions. Respondus itself describes IMS QTI as being intended for transferring questions rather than complete exam settings. Respondus

Set or confirm things such as:

  • Number of attempts
  • Time limit
  • Shuffle questions
  • Shuffle answers
  • One question at a time, if desired
  • Result/review settings
  • Due date
  • Available-from and until dates

Then use Preview in New Quizzes before releasing the assessment to students.

What About Images, Tables, or Equations?

I would include a short caution rather than giving faculty complicated instructions unless they actually have these items.

Respondus can import images embedded in Word .doc and .docx files, and Respondus specifically recommends Word when questions contain embedded images. Respondus

However, QTI implementations vary between systems. Respondus itself recommends checking the assessment in the destination LMS after the QTI import. Respondus

So I would tell faculty:

If your test contains images, tables, equations, unusual symbols, or complex formatting, carefully review those questions in both Respondus and Canvas after the import. Do not assume that complex formatting transferred correctly.

For images, I would also specifically remind MECC faculty to confirm that meaningful images have appropriate alternative text before the quiz is published.

Quick Reference: Word Test → Canvas New Quiz

Here is the version I would give a faculty member who just wants the steps.

1. Get Respondus 4

Go to VCCS Resources and locate Respondus Test Creation.

Install the VCCS version on your MECC-owned Windows computer.

Do not download Respondus LockDown Browser.

2. Format Your Word Test

Basic multiple-choice format:

1. Question goes here?

a. Answer
*b. Correct answer
c. Answer
d. Answer

Use an asterisk * immediately before the correct answer.

Other question types use:

Type: MA

for Multiple Answer,

Type: F

for Fill in the Blank,

Type: E

for Essay, and

Type: MT

for Matching.

3. Import into Respondus

Open Respondus 4.

Select:

Current Personality → IMS QTI

Then:

Start → Import Questions

Select your Word document → create a new Exam → Preview → correct any problems → Finish.

4. Check the Questions

Review the exam in Respondus.

Make sure:

  • All questions imported
  • Question types are correct
  • Correct answers are marked
  • Point values are correct
  • Images and formatting appear correctly

5. Create the Canvas File

Go to:

Preview + Publish → Save QTI XML File

Create a:

QTI XML ZIP file using IMS Content Packaging

Save the .zip file.

Do not unzip it.

6. Import into New Quizzes

In Canvas:

Course → Quizzes → + Quiz → New Quizzes → Submit

Enter the quiz information and select:

Save → Build

Then select:

Options (⋮) → Import Content → Browse

Choose the Respondus QTI .zip file and select Import. Instructure Community

7. Check Before Publishing

Review the imported quiz carefully.

Confirm:

questions → answers → points → formatting → quiz settings → Preview

Then publish when you are satisfied that everything works correctly.

  Instructure Community

Was this helpful?
0 reviews
Print Article