XML Multiple Choice Quiz Converter (Moodle Quiz)

Owned by jmcivor
Last updated: Apr 16, 2020 by Holly Steenvoorden
3 min read

This handy little tool converts existing electronic quiz files (Word documents, text files) into an XML format which Moodle can then create questions from.

It supports multiple choice, short answer, numerical, essay, description, and true/false type questions. Only the multiple choice and true/false types have been tested - with success and ease!

The website has fairly good documentation and tutorials.  As of August 2012 this site required log in through Facebook or Twitter.  If you have either of these accounts:

  • click on the link: http://vletools.com
  • Once the site opens, click on the Sign In link (top right).  Choose your social media link, complete the fields, and you are in.

If you don't have a Facebook account, use Selkirk's:

In This Article:

How It Works

  • Once your test is formatted for this site (instructions on next page), it will be uploaded onto this website, converted into an XML format which you then download to your computer.
  • Then you import the file into the question bank of your Moodle course. 

  • Now you can create your quiz from the questions, add, change marks, reorder questions, etc.

    If you have never created a Moodle quiz, then please consider taking the Quiz training sessions prior to attempting this.

Process For Multiple Choice Questions

  1. Open the electronic copy of your quiz.
  2. Save As: Rename the document as you will be reformatting the spacing. Example: test1Moodle.docx
  3. Remove everything from the quiz that is not a multiple choice question, Example: name of test (when you create the quiz in Moodle you will add the appropriate name then).
  4. Remove: blank lines between the question and the possible answers.
  5. Add a (one) line directly beneath the last option with the correct answer. In the example below note the colon and space on the 'answer' line. These are important.

    Example:
    What is the capital of British Columbia?
    1. Vanderhoof
    2. Vancouver
    3. Victoria
    4. Washington
      Answer: C

  6. Save your work.
  7. Select all the questions (Ctl+A)
  8. Go to the website (see info box above re: logging in through Facebook or Twitter accounts): http://vletools.com
  9. Follow the "Quiz XML" button (top portion of the page).
  10. Select the Parser options.
    1. There is an explanation of these options in the right navigation bar if you scroll down. The default is for answers that are currently identified by a letter (i.e.. A, B, C, D).
  11. "Answer Numbering": Select how you want the possible answers to display.
  12. Input field: Paste (Ctl+C) your text questions into the field.
  13. Click "Preview".
    • The Preview field will contain the XML Code version. Below that there will be a list of errors and warnings if any. Read through this to see if you have missed entering an answer.
    • If all is good, scroll back up to the 'Download' button and download.
    • A dialogue box will appear, choose to "Save File".
      • The trick here is to know where your downloaded files are going to so you can locate it to upload into Moodle. If in doubt, you can 'Open with Notepad', and then save the file where you can specify the location and file name.

Process: Multiple Types Of Questions

Multiple types of questions can be included in your document. Once again the formatting is important.

General Rules

  • First line is always the question type.
  • One blank line must be left between each question

Note:

  • Enter the type of question on a line by itself (Essay, Truefalse).
  • Essay questions must have a number or letter preceding the question in order to be recognized as a separate question.
  • truefalse: The word "Answer" must proceed the correct answer (the same as Multiple Choice Answers).

In the following example, True/false and Essay questions are combined in the same document.

Example:

Essay
1. Why are pollinators important?
2. What is significant about wine?

True/False
Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
Answer: True

There are 24 hours in one day.
Answer: True

January is the third month of the year.
Answer: False

Uploading The XML File In To Moodle

Once the XML file has been created and downloaded onto your computer, go to your course.

  1. "Quiz Administration" > "Question Bank" > "Categories"
    1. Create a Category for the quiz questions.
  2. "Quiz Administration" > "Question Bank" > "Import"
  3. "File Format":



  4. Choose - "Moodle XML format"
  5. General:
    1. Import Category - use the drop down menu to select the category you created.
    2. Deselect 'Get category from file' and 'Get context from file' (remove check)
  6. Import questions from file:
    1. Choose a file....
    2. Upload a file
    3. Browse.... to the file you downloaded
  7. Click "Upload this file".
    You should see a list of the questions that have been imported (parsed) into the question bank.
  8. All that remains is for you to:
    1. Move the questions into the actual quiz
    2. Preview (do) the quiz
    3. Make any adjustments to the marks for each question if necessary.


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