Create File Upload Questions

File upload questions allow your students to submit a file — for example, a spreadsheet, presentation, or research paper — as their response.

File upload questions are not automatically graded by WebAssign; they must be manually graded.

  1. Click Questions > Create. The Question Editor opens.
  2. In Name, type a name for the question.
  3. In Mode, select File-Upload.
  4. In Question, type your question. Use the answer placeholder string <_> to specify where the answer box should be displayed.
    Best Practice If you want students to use a particular file type or naming convention, state so here. WebAssign accepts file uploads that meet the size, format, and security restrictions in File Restrictions.
  5. In Answer, type a key to help the grader evaluate the student's response.
    This will often reference a rubric used to assess the submitted file. This information and any <eqn> tags should all be on a single line.
    Note
    • If an answer extends beyond the right side of the Answer box, it is wrapped to the next line, but it is still considered a single line so long as you do not press ENTER.

    Even if you will be grading the questions yourself, you must enter something in Answer in order for the file upload box to be displayed when the question is used.

  6. Optional: Type a Solution.

    The solution helps your students understand the steps they need to take to determine the correct answer to the question. Your assignment settings specify when to show the solution.

  7. Click Test/Preview to test the appearance and behavior of the question. See Test Questions.
  8. Click Redisplay to show certain kinds of errors in the Display section of the Question Editor. Make any needed changes to your question.
  9. Optional: Click Show Additional Information and change the question's sharing permission or add descriptive information.
    • By default, other instructors can use your question only if you provide them with the question ID, and only you can edit the question or find it in search results. To change the permission, see Share Questions With Other Instructors.
    • If you make your question publicly available, you might want to provide descriptive information to help others search for it. See Add Search Metadata to Questions.
  10. When your question displays and functions correctly, click Save.

    WebAssign assigns it a unique question ID (QID), which is displayed in parentheses after the question name.

    You can use your question in an assignment and see it in your My Questions list only after it is saved.

Example File Upload Question

The following table summarizes an actual question.

QID

1078920

Name

Template2 2.FILE.01.

Mode

File-Upload

Question

Upload your research project. <_>

Answer

Use the rubric.

Display to Students

Question as displayed to students