Author a matching question

A matching question presents two lists; the student must pair each element from the first list with a matching element from the second list.

The student will use a drop-down list associated with each element of the first list to select the appropriate matching element that's displayed in the second list.

The matching pairs can contain text, math, and images.

Matching questions allow only a one-to-one match such that an element from the first list can't be matched with more than one element from the second list.

TIP: Since an element can only have one match in a matching question, consider authoring a multiple choice question to allow multiple answer selection.

Partial grading is permitted with matching questions.

TIP: You can include an algorithm in your matching question! Check out Author an algorithmic question.

TIP: All questions are authored using the Question Editor. Check out Author a question to learn how to access the Question Editor.

To author a matching question

To author a matching question from the Question Editor:

  1. Enter the question statement in the Question Text pane of the Question Editor.

TIP: Check out Use the Visual Editor for details on how to use this toolbar to the fullest to control the visual appearance of your matching question text.

  1. Click Response Areato select the type of response area for this part of the question.

NOTE: A question can have multiple question parts. Each question part have a different type of response area. Example — A question could have the first response area as a matching response area, and a second response area as clickable image.

  1. Click Matching from the list of response area types.

  1. Assign a weight to the response area. The default response area weighting is 1.

TIP: The response area weight can be any integer greater than 0. Response area weighting is proportionate to the question total. Example — A question with two response areas could have the first response area weighted as 2, and the second response area weighted as 4. This means that the second response area will be worth twice as much as the first response area when calculating the total grade for the question.

  1. Enter the details of the element in the column named The item. These elements are displayed as the first list.

TIP: Check out Use the Visual Editor for details on how to use this toolbar to the fullest to control the visual appearance of your element.

TIP: A matching question starts with three rows of elements and matching elements by default. You can click Add Match as many times as needed to add more rows of matching pairs.

Click Delete in the row of a matching pair to remove the row from your question.

  1. Enter the details of the matching element in the column named Matches with. These elements are displayed as the second list and as the drop-down list options.

TIP: Check out Use the Visual Editor for details on how to use this toolbar to the fullest to control the visual appearance of your matching element.

NOTE: Be sure to enter both an element and a matching element to include the matching pair in your question. Leaving one component of the matching pair empty will leave a blank space in your question which will confuse students.

Leaving an entire row of a matching pair empty while authoring your question will have no effect on your question.

  1. Repeat steps 5 to 6 as many times as needed to complete your question.

  1. (Optional) Define how many columns you want the elements from step 5 to be displayed in within your question using the Number of columns to display the question field.

NOTE: The default value for Number of columns to display the question is 3:

  1. Click Insert to add this response area to the question.

  1. The response area is inserted into your question.

  1. Click Preview to trial your new question to ensure that it behaves as expected.

NOTE: The order of the elements and matching elements when the question is previewed or attempted is shuffled compared to the order in which the elements and matching elements were authored.

TIP: You first have to click the save iconif you're creating this question from within an Activity Editor. After the question has been saved, you can then click the preview iconto ensure that your new question behaves as expected.

  1. Click Save to save your new question. Your new question is now stored in the Questions pane of the Content Repository.

TIP: Click the save iconif you're creating this question from within an Activity Editor. This saves your question to the activity and the Content Repository.

Grading details for matching questions

Each individual matching pair within a matching question is marked as either correct or incorrect.

Matching questions allow only a one-to-one match such that an element from the first list can't be matched with more than one element from the second list.

Partial grading is awarded when not all of the matching pairs are matched correctly (Example — if the student correctly matches only two of the four matching pairs in a matching question, they'll receive a grade of 50% for the question).