All About New Quizzes

Overview & Limitations

The choice between NEW and CLASSIC quizzes is a little more complex than many realize. There are pros and cons to each version, and NEW quizzes are not necessarily the best choice for all courses! Look carefully at the limitations and settings options for both to make your decision. Contact CETL if you need help!

NEW and CLASSIC quizzes are completely separate quiz engines, so swapping between them is not as simple as a toggle switch or changing hats. Instead, it's comparable to swapping between BlackBoard and Canvas! Because of this, instructors cannot revert NEW quizzes back to CLASSIC. 

Note: Classic quizzes look like white rocketships while New quizzes look like solid green rocketships.

For a full list of feature comparisons, review the PDF embedded at the bottom of this page! 

New? Classic? Can I Swap or Use Both?

Instructors cannot revert from New Quizzes back to Classic Quizzes.

The only workaround for this is to export the new quiz as a QTI, then import it back into the course as a classic quiz. Check out this link here for a tutorial on these steps.

• Using Both Classic & New:

  • Let's say you've been using classic quizzes in your courses. You want to add 1 NEW quiz to add a hot spot type question, but want all your old classic quizzes to remain the same. 

  • To do this, you'll enable new quizzes (Settings page) in your course. Create a new quiz and select the NEW option. Don't check the "remember my choice" box. 

  • Next, create and save your NEW quiz.

  • You can still use/assign/grade your classic quizzes; however, according to Canvas IT, you cannot go back and make EDITS to the existing classic quizzes!

• How do I convert a classic quiz into a NEW quiz?

  • On the quizzes page of your course, click the 3 dots to the right of the quiz title and select "Migrate".

  • If you do not see this option, you need to go back and enable new quizzes in your course via the Settings page.

  • If you want to bulk migrate all your quizzes into new quizzes, let IT know you need the bulk migrate feature enabled.

  • Migrated quizzes will automatically be unpublished and display under the original classic quiz.

• What if I set to "remember" my quiz choice, but now I want to change my mind? Can I reset that option?

  • Yes! After enabling New quizzes in your course, you'll get a window asking which type you'd like to use and if you'd like to set one as default for your course. If you change your mind, go to the Quizzes page, click the 3 dots at the top right, and select "Reset Quiz Engine Choice". 

• • If I use Question Banks in CLASSIC quizzes and want to convert it into an "Item" Bank for NEW quizzes, can I do that?

    • • Right now, Canvas doesn't automatically convert question banks (classic) into item banks (new) when you migrate to new quizzes.

      • Here's a workaround: Export your classic quiz. Take that file and import it into your course as a NEW quiz. 

      • Here's how to import questions from a QIT export package.

After enabling NEW quizzes and clicking +Quiz, you'll see this dialog box. The question above references the "Remember my choice" checkbox at the bottom. 

This is the menu where you can reset your default "remember my choice" option. 

Important Notes

• If you use the 3 dots and "Share to..." and it's sending a blank quiz, try sharing from the ASSIGNMENTS page, not the Quizzes page.

• If you migrate classic to new, multiple dropdown type questions will now look like Fill in the Blank questions.

• A practice classic quiz will show as a 0-point standard quiz in NEW quizzes.

• When reviewing a NEW quiz, be sure to use the "Preview" button and not the "Student View"!! The student view will add your attempt into the grade book and will skew course data and statistics.

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Full Comparison Chart