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How to Add an Answer Key to Google Forms

Last Updated: Tue Aug 13 2024

In 7 simple steps, this guide will show you how to add an answer key to Google Forms.

Automating grading with an answer key saves time and provides immediate feedback.

So let’s dive in and enhance your quizzes with answer keys!

Steps:

  • Create Your Google Form
  • Make the Google Form a Quiz
  • Add an Answer Key for Multiple Choice Questions
  • Add Answer Keys for Other Question Types
  • Test Your Quiz
  • Share Your Quiz
  • Analyze Responses

Step 1: Create Your Google Form

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

red arrow pointing to ‘Blank’ template in google forms

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

red arrow pointing to untitled form field

Step 2: Make the Google Form a 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:

red arrow pointing to the ‘Settings’ tab in a google form

Toggle the "Make this a quiz" option:

red arrow pointing to the “Make this a quiz” toggle when it is on

Here, you can also decide when to release grades:

red rectangular pointing to release marks

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.

Step 3: Add an Answer Key for Multiple Choice Questions

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

Go back to the ‘Questions’ tab.

red arrow pointing to the ‘Question’ tab in a google form

By default you have a question field in google form.

a blank question field in google form

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

red arrow pointing to the add question icon in a google form

Click on the dropdown arrow right to the question field.

red arrow pointing to type of question dropdown arrow

Choose "Multiple choice" from the menu:

red arrow pointing to the “Multiple choice” from a drop down menu in a google form

Enter your question and options.

red arrow pointing to “Untitled Question” and “Option 1”

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

a fulfill question field in google form

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

red arrow pointing to “Add option”

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

red arrow pointing to “Answer key”

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

red arrow pointing to ‘Paris’ under the question “What is the capital of France?” and another red pointing to point 1

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

red arrow pointing to “Add answer feedback”
red arrow pointing to “Incorrect answers”, “Correct answers” and “Enter feedback”

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

red rectangular pointing to link icon and video icon

Step 4: Add Answer Keys for Other Question Types

Short Answer Questions

Select "Short answer" from the question type dropdown:

red arrow pointing to the “Short answer” from a drop down menu in a google form

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

red arrow pointing to “Answer key”

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

options for common misspellings or alternative phrasings

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

red arrow pointing to “Mark all other answers as incorrect”

Checkbox Questions

Checkbox questions allow for multiple correct answers.

Choose "Checkboxes" from the dropdown menu:

red arrow pointing to the ‘Checkboxes’ from a drop down menu in a google form

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

a fulfill question field in google form with “Checkboxes”

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

prime number 2,3 & 5 are selected as correct answer

Dropdown Questions

Choose "Dropdown" from the question type menu:

red arrow pointing to the ‘Drop-down’ from a drop down menu in a google form

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

a fulfill question field in google form with “Drop-down”

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

red arrow pointing to answer point value and another red arrow pointing to tick mark

Step 5: Test Your Quiz

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

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

red arrow pointing to the eye icon of google form

Complete the quiz as a respondent to check the functionality.

google form preview

Step 6: Share Your Quiz

Click the "Send" button at the top right:

red arrow pointing to the ‘Send’ button in a google form

Choose your sharing method:

three red arrow respectively pointing to the email icon, link icon, and embed in website icon in a google form

Email: Directly send the quiz to recipients.

Link: Generate a shareable link.

Embed HTML: Embed the quiz on a website.

Step 7: Analyze Responses

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

red arrow pointing to the ‘Responses’ tab in a google form

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

red arrow pointing to the Google sheet icon in the responses tab in a google form

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.

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Finished!

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