This is how you make a digital test (quiz) with Google Forms

The vast majority of Dutch education takes place from home, but you can also take a test remotely. We show you step by step how this works with Google Forms.

Take a test with Google Forms: this is how you do it

Google Forms (or Google Forms in Dutch) is a popular free tool to quickly create a survey. However, many people do not know that you can also use the service to take a test. In this tip, we’ll show you how.

Step 1: Turn a survey into a test

Before you get all the necessary options that we discuss below, you need to turn a standard form into a test. You do this as follows.

1. Go to Google Forms and open a new file;
2. Click on the gear at the top right of the screen;
3. Go to the ‘Quizzes’ tab;
4. Turn on the switch for ‘Make This a quiz’.

Now that you have created a test, you can give it a title and add a description. Handy to explain here how the test works, or how those who take it can ask questions.

Step 2: Add your test questions

To add a question, press the plus sign in the right column. As soon as you do this, several options will appear. This is where you can choose the type of answer. Are you going for a multiple choice question, or would you rather have your own answer filled in?

In addition to a written question, you can also choose to post an image. You do this by clicking on the image icon next to the text box where you enter the question. A handy way to add a graph or table, for example.

Step 3: This is how you select the correct answer

After completing the questions, it is also important to display the correct answer. That saves a lot of checking because Google does this for you. You do this as follows.

1. Click under a question on the blue button ‘Answer Key’ (or Answer Key in Dutch;
2. Choose the correct answer for a multiple choice question, or fill it in for an open question;
3. Enter the number of points that this correct answer is worth at the top.

Step 4: Explain the correct or incorrect answer

A valuable option of Google Forms is the ability to provide feedback on a correct or incorrect answer. Instead of ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ you can use this to explain what went wrong or refer to a web page or video with extra explanation or extra exercises. This works like this:

1. Follow the steps above at Step 3 to select an answer;
2. Now click on ‘Add answer feedback’, the blue button below the answers;
3. Enter an explanation and use the link and video button to refer to an external website.

Step 5: format and complete the test

Before you send in the test, you can still adjust the design. You do this by clicking on the paint palette in the top left corner of the screen. Here you will be given the option to add an image that will be displayed above the key and adjust the background color.

You can also change the font here. By clicking the ‘Preview button’ you can see how someone will receive the test. A great way to test whether everything works and is set up as you had in mind.

Tip: Have the scrap paper uploaded
Would you like to see how students arrived at the correct answer in a math test, for example? Then add the option at the bottom of the test to let the students upload a photo. Write that they can share their scrap paper with the calculations here.

Step 6: share and take the test

Are you satisfied with your test? Then it is time to share and take it. You do this by clicking on ‘Send’. A new window will then appear. Here you can choose to send the test via email, share it via a link (for example via Microsoft Teams) or embed it on a website.

By ticking the box ‘Collect email addresses’, you can collect the email addresses and check whether everyone has taken the test. Would you rather also collect names? Then add a question to the test in which the participant enters his or her question.

The advantage of a test via Google Forms is that not everyone has to take the test at the same time. All answers are automatically collected in the ‘Responses’ or ‘Answers’ tab at the top of the screen. By clicking on this you can view all answers.

Step 7: Review the results

Click on the ‘Answers’ tab to see all answers. Then click on ‘Individual’ to view his or her answers per participant. That way you can mark the test.

By clicking on the green square in this window you can export all results to a Google Sheets document. You automatically put them in a table that you can export as a PDF or print out directly.

Step 8: Send the results

You can also send the result of the test from Google Forms. This can be useful, because it allows the person who took the test to see what he did wrong and which parts therefore need extra attention. You send the test results as follows:

1. Click on the ‘Answers’ tab;
2. Click on ‘Release score’;
3. Choose the people whose score you want to release ‘;
4. Click on ‘Send Emails’ and ‘Release’.

More tips for working well at home

Looking for more useful tips and apps to improve working from home? Check our overview: