Author workflow
Import a question bank without importing its mistakes
Import saves repetitive typing; it does not verify the educational content. Treat the source file as structured data, import a small sample first and check the resulting questions before making an exam available.
Prepare one clean source of truth
Start from the platform's current template or supported format. Keep one question per logical record and separate the prompt, alternatives, correct answer and points consistently. Remove merged cells, hidden notes and decorative headings from tables. Make a backup of the original file before normalising it, so you can distinguish a source problem from a conversion problem later.
Pilot a representative sample
Choose several questions that include the difficult cases: multiple answers, accented characters, formulas, images and longer explanations. Import that sample into a draft. Read any validation report and correct the source rather than repeatedly fixing the same issue in the editor. A successful upload only confirms that the file was processed; it does not confirm that every field has the intended meaning.
Audit answer mapping and presentation
Inspect the first and last imported items and every question with unusual formatting. Check whether answer labels refer to positions or actual values and verify points explicitly. Review formulas visually, including fractions, exponents and minus signs. Confirm that images are available and readable. Test shuffled options if enabled, because an explanation that says 'option B' may become misleading after reordering.
Publish in controlled batches
Compare the imported count with the expected count and look for duplicates. Give reusable questions clear titles or topic labels so that later edits are traceable. Preview the completed exam and run a participant rehearsal before inviting the whole group. Keep a simple import log with the file version, date, count and corrections; this makes the next import easier to review.
Before you publish
- A backup and a supported source template are available.
- A sample includes formulas, images and non-English characters.
- Question count, keys, points and shuffled explanations are checked.
Questions, answered
- Can I trust a file that imported without errors?
- Not by that fact alone. Validation checks structure; an incorrect answer key or ambiguous wording may still be structurally valid.
- What should I do with duplicated questions?
- Compare their wording, keys and intended use before removing either copy. Similar questions may be deliberate variants, while identical ones may inflate coverage.
