Configure an Open Answer question in Nubric

Use the Open Answer question interface in Nubric to create and configure questions that require students to enter a mathematical expression or numerical value. Nubric evaluates responses automatically according to the expected answers and evaluation rules you define.

In this article, you will learn how to define question content and expected answers, configure grading, mathematical comparison, numerical tolerance, and expression requirements, add feedback and random variables, and test the question in the preview.

Before you begin

Requirements

• Sign in to Nubric.
• Have a quiz available in My Quizzes > Created quizzes where you can add or edit an Open Answer question.

Applies to

• Teachers and content creators who want to create or configure Open Answer questions in Nubric.

Steps

Review the question interface

In an Open Answer question, students enter their own mathematical expressions or numerical values.  The interface includes the following components:

• Question title: identifies the question in the quiz.
• Question statement: describes the exercise students must solve.
• Initial content: optional pre-filled content shown in the student answer field.
• Answer configuration: defines the expected answers and how Nubric evaluates student responses.
• Question settings: additional options controlling grading and question behavior.
• General feedback: optional feedback for all answers, regardless of their correctness.

Define the question content

1. Enter the question title to identify the question in the quiz.
2. Write the exercise in the question statement.
3. If needed, enter initial content to pre-fill the student answer field.

To insert formulas into the statement, open the MathType editor from the statement toolbar, create the mathematical expression, and insert it into the text.

To provide feedback for all answers, regardless of their correctness, write it in the General feedback field at the end of the interface.

Define the possible answers

In the Answers section, define the responses that Nubric will compare against the student's answer. Specify the expected responses before configuring how they are evaluated. For each answer, configure:

• The expected mathematical expression or numerical value.
• The level of correctness: correct, partially correct, or incorrect.
• The score weight associated with that answer.
• Optional custom feedback.

You can define multiple answers for the same question and assign different levels of correctness to them.

Configure the evaluation criteria

Configure how Nubric compares the student's response with the expected answers and determines whether it is correct. Evaluation options include:

• Mathematical or literal comparison.
• Tolerance settings for numerical answers.
• Recognition of equivalent mathematical expressions.

Nubric's mathematical interpretation engine can analyze the meaning of an expression rather than compare its characters exactly as written. For example, 1/2, 0.5, and 2/4 may be recognized as the same mathematical value, depending on the evaluation configuration.

Use these settings to determine whether different representations of the same result should be accepted.

Define answer normalization rules

If the exercise requires a particular mathematical form, configure the corresponding answer requirements. These can include:

• Simplified expressions.
• Expanded forms.
• Factored expressions.
• Rationalized radicals.

These rules control both whether an answer is correct and how it must be expressed.

Configure question settings

Use the question settings to configure additional parameters that affect how the question behaves during quiz attempts. These include:

• Random variables used to generate multiple versions of a question.
• Constants and functions used in calculations.
• Allowed mathematical constructions.
• Formatting options, such as separator symbols.

Define random variables

To generate multiple variations of the question automatically, it is possible to define random variables.

Instead of presenting the same values to every student, Nubric can generate new numbers or expressions each time the question appears. You can define:

• Random numbers within a range.
• Random expressions based on other variables.
• Algorithmic generation of values.

Preview and test the question

Before publishing or assigning the question, use Preview question to simulate how it appears to students.

• View the question as students will see it.
• Enter answers to test how the evaluation behaves.
• Generate different versions of the question if it uses random variables.

Verify it worked

In the preview, check that:

• The question statement and any initial content appear as intended.
• The expected answers receive the configured level of correctness and score weight.
• Equivalent expressions are accepted or rejected according to the evaluation settings.
• Numerical tolerance and expression requirements behave as configured.
• General and answer-specific feedback appear as intended.
• Regenerating the question produces valid variations when random variables are used.

These checks help confirm that the question content and evaluation rules behave as expected before the question is used in a quiz.

Options and variations

Use Algorithm Mode

Use Algorithm Mode to apply advanced logic when the question requires conditions, constraints, or relationships between generated values. Advanced logic defines the rules, and Algorithm Mode is the tool used to implement them in the question.

Common errors

Only one exact answer format is accepted

Open Answer questions can accept mathematically equivalent expressions, depending on the configuration. Check the evaluation criteria and normalization rules to determine which representations are accepted.

Student answers are evaluated as plain text

Nubric uses a mathematical interpretation engine to evaluate expressions. Check whether mathematical or literal comparison is configured when testing how an answer is interpreted.

Related

• Understanding the Nubric Workspace.
• Exploring the My Quizzes Page.
• Using the Public Content Bank.
• Understanding Question Types in Nubric.
• Understanding the Multiple Choice Question Interface.