Upload questions in bulk on Blackboard Ultra
Blackboard Ultra's "Upload questions from file" feature lets instructors quickly add questions to tests.
1. Create a TXT or .TSV file
Use tab-delimited TXT or .TSV files (up to 250 questions)
You can use google sheets or excel. Here example: Example sheet
Supported question types: Multiple choice, True/False, Essay, Fill in Blank(s), Numeric, Matching
File format rules:
No header row
One question per row
First field defines question type
Separate fields with tabs
Answer identifiers (e.g., "correct", "true") must be in English
Questions with errors won't upload.
Staff can edit uploaded questions like any others. This feature saves time and streamlines assessment creation.
2. How to Upload to Blackboard Test
- From a test, select the plus sign to open the menu
- Select the Upload questions from the file option.
- Select Browse to locate the file.
- Select the .tsv file and submit and OK. The questions appear in the test.
- You can edit and reorder the questions.
Please watch the video for detailed instructions
The example sheet includes example of these question types.
Note: TAB means writing in the next cell in Sheets or Excel.
| Question Type | Structure |
|---|---|
| Multiple Choice | MC TAB question text TAB answer text TAB correct|incorrect TAB answer two text TAB correct|incorrect Text within ( ) may be repeated for each of the answers that are part of the Multiple Choice question. The maximum number of answers is 100. |
| Multiple Answer | MA TAB question text TAB answer text TAB correct|incorrect TAB answer two text TAB correct|incorrect Text within ( ) may be repeated for each of the answers that are part of the Multiple Answer question. The maximum number of answers is 100. |
| True/False | TF TAB question text TAB true|false |
| Essay | ESS TAB question text TAB [example] Text within [ ] is optional. You may choose to add a sample or leave this blank. |
| Ordering | ORD TAB question text TAB answer text TAB answer two text Text within ( ) may be repeated for each of the answers that are part of the Ordering question. The maximum number of answers is 100. The order typed in the file is the correct order. The system will randomly order the answers. |
| Matching | MAT TAB question text TAB answer text TAB matching text TAB answer two text TAB matching two text Text within ( ) may be repeated for each of the answers that are part of the Matching question. The maximum number of answers is 100. The system will randomly order the answers and their question. When uploading a matching question, you must have a one-to-one relationship between questions and answers. If not, correct answers may be marked incorrect if more than one answer has the same value. |
| Fill in the Blank | FIB TAB question text TAB answer text TAB answer two text Text within ( ) may be repeated for each of the answers that are part of the Fill in the Blank question. The maximum number of answers is 100. |
| Fill in Multiple Blanks | FIB_PLUS TAB question text TAB variable1 TAB answer1 TAB answer2 TAB TAB variable2 TAB answer3 The format consists of a list of variable-answers where each variable-answer is composed of the variable name and a list of correct answers for that variable. Variable-answers are delimited by an empty field. The maximum number of variables is 10. |
| File Response | FIL TAB question text |
| Numeric Response | NUM TAB question text TAB answer TAB [optional]tolerance |
| Short Answer | SR TAB question text TAB sample answer |
| Opinion/Likert Scale | OP TAB question text The maximum number of answers is 100. |
| Jumbled Sentence | JUMBLED_SENTENCE TAB question text TAB choice1 TAB variable1 TAB choice2 TAB TAB choice3 TAB variable2 The format consists of a list of choices-answers. Each choice-answer consists of the choice followed by the list of variables for which that choice is the correct answer. An empty field indicates the end of a choice answer. A choice immediately followed by an empty field indicates that choice is not the correct answer for any variable. The maximum number of answers is 100. |
| Quiz Bowl | QUIZ_BOWL TAB question text TAB question_word1 TAB question_word2 TAB phrase1 TAB phrase2 The format consists of a list of valid question words followed by an empty field and a list of valid answer phrases. The maximum number of interrogatives is 103. The maximum number of answer phrases is 100. |