Question design
Prepare mathematics exams that remain readable on screen
A digital maths exam must communicate the exact mathematical task. Clear notation, stated assumptions and tested answer rules matter as much as a correct numerical key.
Choose notation that removes ambiguity
Use properly rendered fractions, roots, indices and grouped expressions when available. A typed slash can be ambiguous in a longer expression, so add parentheses deliberately. State units, domains and rounding requirements in the prompt. If a diagram matters, label it clearly and explain whether it is drawn to scale. Never rely on colour alone to distinguish essential lines or values.
Decide what counts as an equivalent answer
For a short answer, decide whether you expect an exact form, a decimal, a unit or a particular precision. Do not assume an automated checker recognises symbolic equivalence unless that behaviour has been verified. Where a method matters, use a question format and review process that can actually capture it. Tell participants how the response should be entered, with a separate example.
Make the scoring match the intended evidence
A wrong final value can come from a small arithmetic slip after a sound method. If your format only captures the final answer, the result cannot reliably diagnose every intermediate step. Use a sequence of focused questions when you need evidence about the method. For selected responses, build distractors around common errors and verify that rounding does not make two options equivalent.
Test on the smallest realistic screen
Preview long expressions on a phone and check zoom, line wrapping and horizontal overflow. Use sharp diagrams with enough contrast and provide an accessible text description where appropriate. Pilot the expected calculations with the allowed tools and time. If a connection is interrupted, participants should know how to check saving status and how to report a problem without opening another attempt.
Before you publish
- Units, domains and rounding rules appear in the prompt.
- Accepted answer forms have been tested rather than assumed.
- Formulas and diagrams remain legible on a phone.
Questions, answered
- Should a formula be an image?
- Prefer rendered mathematical text when supported. Use an image for diagrams or notation that cannot be represented reliably, and supply a useful text description.
- Does a correct final answer prove the method?
- No. If the method is part of the learning goal, gather evidence for it through suitable questions or a separate reviewed task.
