Creating Long Answer Questions

Build manually-graded essay and detailed response questions

In this guide

What is a Long Answer Question?

Long Answer questions present students with a multi-line text area for detailed responses. They are manually graded by default, or AI-graded when you provide a reference answer and check Allow automatic AI grading. Ideal for essays, analysis, problem-solving walkthroughs, and detailed explanations.

Manual or AI grading — opt in with a reference answer + Allow automatic AI grading
Configurable word limit — set a maximum word count for answers
Marks set per question — you decide how much each question is worth
Supports dynamic variables — prompt text can include generated values
Assessment-oriented — typically used in exams and formal assessments

Long Answer questions can still use variables in the prompt. For example: "Explain why the solution {x} + {y} = {x+y} is correct."

How Grading Works

Want AI auto-grading for essays? See the dedicated Auto-Graded Essay Guide for step-by-step setup with a reference answer and the AI grading opt-in.

For Assessments

Long-answer items are manual by default. When a question has a reference answer and Allow automatic AI grading is checked, it is auto-scored by AI after submit. Otherwise educators review those items (including questions that have a reference but no AI opt-in).

For Practice

Long answer questions can appear in topic practice too. When AI grading is opted in with a reference answer, learners get a Check button with AI feedback and improvement hints.

Step-by-Step Creation

Select Long Answer as the Type

Choose Long Answer from the question type dropdown when creating a new question.

Define Variables (Optional)

Variables are optional for Long Answer questions. Use them to include dynamic values in the prompt, making each student's question unique.

                            scenario = choice(["e-commerce", "healthcare", "education"])
year = randint(2020, 2025)
                        

Write the Prompt

Craft a clear, specific prompt. Use {variable_name} for any dynamic values.

A {scenario} company experienced a data breach in {year}. As a security consultant, describe your incident response plan in 500–750 words. Include containment, eradication, and recovery phases.

Set Marks and Word Limit

Configure how many marks the question is worth and optionally set a maximum word count to guide response length.

Marks — assigned per question (e.g., 10 marks for an essay); also editable inline under Course Questions → Long Answer
Word limit — optional max words; also editable inline on the Long Answer tab
AI graded — a checkbox on the Long Answer tab. It requires a reference answer before you can enable it. On the question edit form, the same opt-in is labeled Allow automatic AI grading. A reference alone does not turn on AI grading.
Reference Answer — displayed beneath each Long Answer row when present

Examples

Example 1: Essay with Dynamic Topic

A history essay with a randomly chosen topic

Variable: topic = choice(["Industrial Revolution", "French Revolution", "American Civil War"])

Prompt: Discuss the primary economic and social causes of the {topic}. Analyze at least three contributing factors and their interconnections.

Marks: 15 | Word limit: 800

Example 2: Reflection / Analysis

A reflective analysis question without dynamic variables

Prompt: Reflect on a time you had to make an ethical decision in a professional or academic setting. Describe the situation, the factors you weighed, your chosen course of action, and what you learned from the outcome.

Marks: 10 | Word limit: 500