Hacking Google Forms Quizzes: 4 Grading Tricks You May Not Know
If you’ve ever given a survey or quiz in Google Forms, you know how helpful they can be. Below, I’ve compiled 4 of my favorite tips to help you use Google Forms in your classroom more efficiently.
1. Change the default point value for quiz questions
Adjusting the settings for quiz questions in Google Forms can be a huge time saver. Not only can you change the default point value for Google Forms quiz questions, but you can also make all new quiz questions required automatically.
Here’s how:
In the editing window of Google Forms, click the three little dots in the top right corne.
Select “Preferences.”
Select your default “Questions” preferences. This will apply to all new questions added.
2. Grade short answer responses
If you love the self-grading features of Google Forms quizzes, you might be hesitant to sprinkle in a few short answer responses because, well, Google can’t self-grade those and grading takes TIME.
Fortunately, Google Forms makes it easy to view and grade short answer responses. It’s actually a lot quicker than you might think.
Here’s how:
Select a short-answer question in the editing window of Google Forms.
Click “Answer Key” and select “Add Answer Feedback.” Add the correct answer or the main points of the response you want students to address. This will give you a reference point and help you grade the responses faster.
When it’s time to grade, click “Responses” at the top of the Google Forms editing window.
Click “Question” and select the question you want to grade from the drop down menu.
This will display all student responses for that question in one place. You’ll be able to mark questions as correct or incorrect from there. You can also assign partial points if needed.
3. Assign extra credit quiz questions
I used to be a die-hard Flubaroo fan because of the additional quiz features it offered — the ability to add extra credit questions being one of them. After some tinkering in Google Forms, though, I’ve discovered a way to assign and grade extra credit quiz questions without having to rely on an additional add-on. (Sorry, Flubaroo. You brought me a lot of joy, but now it’s time to move on…)
Here’s how:
In the editing window of Google Forms, set the point value for the extra credit question to “0” and toggle off the “Required” status.
If it’s a multiple choice question, set the correct response in the Answer Key as usual. If it’s a short answer option, either leave it blank or write the correct answer as a reference in the “Add Answer Feedback” section.
When it’s time to grade, click the “Responses” tab at the top of the editing window.
Click “Question” and select the extra credit question from the drop down menu
Assign points to the responses as needed. Google Forms automatically groups like-responses together, which makes it really quick and easy to grade.
4. Give feedback for responses in Google Forms
To help students understand what they’ve missed and why, you can add feedback under each question that will display when students view their score. You can set a response for both incorrect and correct answers. Feedback can include texts, links, and YouTube videos.
This feature is also ideal for assigning practice questions and study guides.
Here’s how:
Click on a question in the editing window of Google Forms.
Click “Answer Key”
Select “Add Answer Feedback” and type what you want to appear.
BONUS: Add animated GIFs to your Google Forms
This one has nothing to do with grading, but if you’re not already adding GIFs to your Google Forms, you’re missing out on one of my all-time favorite tricks. Watch the quick video below to learn how.
If you want to explore even more ways you can use Google Forms in the classroom, check out this incredibly informative post by my friend Abby, AKA Write On With Miss G: 15 Ways to Use Google Forms.