How to Add an Answer Key to Google Forms

Go to google form by using docs.google.com/forms/. Click the plus sign under "Start a new form":

Click on the “Untitled form” and enter a name for your quiz, such as "Sample Quiz":

To add an answer key, you need to turn your form into a quiz.

Click on the "Settings" tab in the top right-hand corner:

Toggle the "Make this a quiz" option:

Here, you can also decide when to release grades:

Immediately after each submission: Suitable for multiple-choice quizzes where answers can be graded automatically.

Later, after manual review: Ideal for quizzes with essay questions that require manual grading.

Consider the implications of each option. Immediate grading provides instant feedback, which is great for formative assessments. Delayed grading, however, allows for detailed review and feedback, which is crucial for more subjective responses.

Now, let’s add some questions and set up the answer key.

Go back to the ‘Questions’ tab.

By default you have a question field in google form.

If you need more then click the "+" icon from the floating menu to add new questions:

Click on the dropdown arrow right to the question field.

Choose "Multiple choice" from the menu:

Enter your question and options.

For example, "What is the capital of France?" with options like Paris, London, Berlin, and Madrid.

Click on “Add option” to add more options if you want.

Click on "Answer key" at the bottom left of the question box:

Select the correct answer and assign point values. For our example, select "Paris" and assign 1 point.

Optionally, add feedback for each answer. Click "Add answer feedback" and provide feedback for correct and incorrect answers.

This can include text, images, or videos to enhance learning.

Short Answer Questions

Select "Short answer" from the question type dropdown:

Click on "Answer key" and enter the correct answer(s).

You can list multiple acceptable variations to account for common misspellings or alternative phrasings.

Optionally, enable "Mark all other answers incorrect" to ensure only the specified answers are marked correct.

Checkbox Questions

Checkbox questions allow for multiple correct answers.

Choose "Checkboxes" from the dropdown menu:

Enter your question and options, such as "Select all prime numbers: 2, 3, 4, 5."

In the "Answer key," select all correct answers and assign points accordingly.

Dropdown Questions

Choose "Dropdown" from the question type menu:

Enter your question and options, like "Which planet is known as the Red Planet?” Python, Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Venus"

In the "Answer key," select the correct answer and assign points.

Before sharing, test your quiz to ensure everything works correctly.

Click the eye icon at the top right to preview your quiz:

Complete the quiz as a respondent to check the functionality.

Click the "Send" button at the top right:

Choose your sharing method:

Email: Directly send the quiz to recipients.

Link: Generate a shareable link.

Embed HTML: Embed the quiz on a website.

View responses in the "Responses" tab of Google Forms:

Link responses to Google Sheets for detailed analysis by clicking the Sheets icon:

Analyze the data in Google Sheets, which provides a comprehensive view of all responses.

Hopefully, you’ve learnt how to add the answer key to google forms.