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Answer formats

Updated on August 5, 2026

The answer type defines how the student responds and how the app grades it. Choosing the right type makes grading more precise and feedback more useful.

A number

When to use it: the problem has an exact numerical result — a distance, a temperature, a percentage — and you want to verify it automatically.

How to configure it: in the Correct answers section, add one or more cases with Add answer. Each case has:

  • Expected answer — the correct numeric value.
  • Margin of error — how far the student's answer can deviate and still be accepted as correct. Leave it empty if you only accept the exact value.
  • Name (optional) — a label to identify the case, for example "case with friction".
  • Don't show to the student — if checked, the case does not appear on the solving screen and acts as a hidden test.

You can have multiple test cases in the same problem. The final score is proportional to the number of cases passed.

How it is graded: the app compares the number entered by the student with each case and checks whether it falls within the defined margin of error. No AI is involved.

Use the margin of error when the result has decimals or depends on rounded constants. This avoids penalizing correct answers that differ only due to rounding.

Multiple choice

When to use it: the problem has defined options with one or more clearly correct answers. Also useful for conceptual or comprehension questions.

How to configure it: in the Answer options section, write each option in its Option field and check the boxes for the correct ones. You need at least two options and at least one marked as Correct.

You can have multiple correct options at the same time if the question requires it.

How it is graded: the app compares the options selected by the student exactly against those marked as correct. Grading is automatic, without AI.

Free text

When to use it: the answer is open-ended — an explanation, a derivation, an argument — and cannot be reduced to a number or predefined options. The AI grades the answer following the rubric you define.

How to configure it: in the Grading criteria section, add criteria with Add criterion. If you add none, the AI still evaluates the answer based on the statement, but criteria make grading more precise and feedback more detailed. See Rubrics and grading for more details.

How it is graded: the student writes their answer in a free text field. On submission, the AI reads the statement, the answer and the criteria, and returns a score from 0 to 100 along with a written explanation.

Step by step

When to use it: you want the student to solve the problem in parts and see where their reasoning breaks down, not just whether the final result is correct. See Guided steps for more details.

How to configure it: in the Steps section, add each step with Add step. Each step has:

  • Step instruction — what you ask the student to do in this step.
  • What is expected in this step — an internal note for the AI about what a good answer should include.

How it is graded: the AI evaluates each step separately and gives an overall score and feedback.

Frequently asked questions

Can I mix types? For example, a number and then an explanation. Not in a single problem. If you need both, use the step-by-step type and define one step for the number and another for the explanation.

Can the AI make mistakes when grading free text or step by step? It can, like any automated grading. If you feel the score is unfair, edit the rubric to make the criteria clearer and submit again.

Can I change the answer type after creating the problem? Yes, from Edit. Keep in mind that the change clears the grading data from the previous type.

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