Building Assessment Platforms with MathType

Use this guide when building an assessment platform that requires mathematical authoring, semantic processing, or numerical evaluation. It summarizes the MathType features most commonly used in assessment workflows and links to the relevant documentation for each one.

Before you begin

Requirements

• A working MathType integration.
• Familiarity with Presentation MathML and Content MathML.
• Basic knowledge of the MathType editor parameters.

Applies to

MathType for HTML editors

Steps

Configure the authoring experience

Assessment platforms usually distinguish between authors, who create questions, and students, who answer them. MathType provides several features that help create mathematical expressions more efficiently while reducing authoring errors.

Configure Reserved Words

Many assessment platforms distinguish between predefined variables and ordinary identifiers. MathType allows those names to be configured as Reserved Words, which are displayed with a different font and, optionally, a custom color in the editor using the forceReservedWords and reservedWordsColor parameters. This helps authors immediately recognize predefined variables while editing expressions. 

For example, if P1267 represents a predefined variable in your platform:

editor.setParams({
  // Comma-separated list of predefined variables
  reservedWords: "sin,cos,tan,P1267",

  // Optionally highlight reserved words with a custom color
  forceReservedWords: true,
  reservedWordsColor: "#ff0000" // Defaults to "#0000ff"
});

The following example shows how Reserved Words appear inside the editor and the corresponding exported MathML.

<math xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML">
 <mi>a</mi>
 <mo>+</mo>
 <mi>sin</mi>
 <mo>(</mo>
 <mi>P1267</mi>
 <mo>)</mo>
 <mo>-</mo>
 <mi>P1267</mi>
</math>

Reserved Words are especially useful when authoring questions containing predefined variables or parameters.

Enable Autoformat

Autoformat improves the authoring experience by automatically converting common keyboard sequences into mathematical notation while users type. For example:

It also automatically inserts matching parentheses, brackets, and braces, helping users write expressions faster and reducing typing mistakes.

Customize the toolbar

Different users often require different editing tools. For example, content authors may need the full MathType toolbar, while students usually benefit from a simplified interface exposing only the most common mathematical constructs. MathType lets you define custom toolbars or use predefined toolbar configurations.

editor.setParams({
  toolbar: 'quizzes',
});

Process mathematical expressions

MathType edits mathematical expressions visually, while importing and exporting MathML. When designing MathML-centric workflows, it is useful to understand which MathML features are supported and how semantic information is handled.

Use Content MathML

MathType primarily edits Presentation MathML, but it can also import and generate Content MathML through the conversion services.

Content MathML represents the semantic meaning of mathematical expressions and is commonly used by assessment platforms for validation, interpretation, and evaluation.

Check supported MathML features

MathType supports a large subset of Presentation MathML and Content MathML. Before designing workflows that rely on specific MathML elements or attributes, consult the compatibility reference.

Validate expressions

Many assessment workflows require formulas to be syntactically valid before they can be processed further.

Enable syntax checking

Syntax checking identifies expressions that are not valid according to MathType's internal grammar. For example:

• ✅ 3 + 5
• ✅ x + 2
• ❌ 3 +

Syntax checking is enabled through the checkSyntax editor parameter:

editor.setParams({
  toolbar: "evaluate",
  checkSyntax: true
});

The evaluate toolbar is specifically designed for authoring expressions intended for numerical evaluation. This feature is particularly useful before converting expressions to Content MathML or passing them to downstream processing services.

Evaluate expressions

Some assessment platforms require numerical evaluation of mathematical expressions. MathType includes an expression evaluation engine that computes the numerical value of expressions represented as MathML. The evaluation engine:

• Operates on Content MathML.
• Automatically converts Presentation MathML before evaluation.
• Performs numerical evaluation.
• Is not a Computer Algebra System (CAS).

When building evaluation workflows, it is recommended to combine the evaluation toolbar with syntax checking.

Verify it worked

After configuring your platform:

• Authors can efficiently create mathematical expressions.
• Reserved words are displayed correctly.
• Syntax errors are highlighted.
• Expressions can be converted to Content MathML.
• Expressions can be evaluated when required.

Next steps

If your platform eventually requires automatic grading of mathematical answers, consider exploring WirisQuizzes.

Related

• MathType integrations architecture.
• MathType integrations deployment models.
• Autoformat.
• Content MathML.
• Supported MathML elements and attributes.
• Expression evaluation.
• Configure the MathType toolbar.