Automatically marked question. Candidates answer the question by entering a mathematical expression.

Math Entry is a question type that allows candidates to answer by entering mathematical expressions and formulas using a dedicated palette. The question allows the Author to enter several correct answers related to an interaction element (the area where the candidate is to respond). 

This article explains the layout of Math Entry questions, details their specific options and how to set correct answers, clarifies the function of the Allow unique responses only setting, and provides useful tips for authoring.

Question layout

In the question's edit mode, you can do the following: 

1. Replace text with desired question text.
2. Add math (LaTex), files, tables, links, PDF, images and / or audio clips to the question text.
3. Insert multiple interaction elements by pressing +Insert.
4. Set general options for the question type. Read more about General options for questions.
5. Select advanced settings in the general options. Here, you can enable the Allow unique responses only option, which prevents scoring duplicate answers.
   • This applies to questions with more than one question element (interaction element). The purpose is to avoid awarding too many marks when a correct answer is repeated in the question elements.
   • Practical Example: If a question contains four math elements, and each has the same correct answer defined, the candidate could enter that answer in all four elements and receive marks for all. If Allow unique responses only enabled, the system will not count duplicate responses as correct more than once.

Specific options

Clicking on the interaction element gives you the specific options for the question type.

• Write the correct answer directly into the text box. The answer can contain both text and mathematical symbols and formulas.

  Using a math palette consisting of two tabs, you can easily enter mathematical symbols and formulas:

  Basic	Advanced

  You can also add several correct answers to an interaction element by pressing Add correct answer. Example: If you want the answer to be accepted as answer in addition to .

• Expected length (characters): This setting specifies the length of the selected interaction element. You choose the length by entering the number of expected characters to be answered by the candidate. 

  

  Information: If you are writing an answer with one or more operands, you should create multiple versions of the correct answer as Inspera Assessment requires the answer to be identical. This means that if, for example, you have a space between the operands and the operator in the answer, the system requires candidates to include that space in their answer.

  

  Therefore, you may want to Preview the Question to make sure that the question will appear correctly to the candidates and that you have made sure that you have tested all possible ways to write correct answers. 

• An External Identifier is a unique string that helps link the question to external systems for data collection, without serving any internal purpose in Inspera Assessment.