A bimodal question is a question that can be displayed as either a Multiple Choice or a Short Answer question. Bimodal questions give you more flexibility when building a test. You can create new questions from within an existing Test or Question Bank or directly from the Questions tab.

The default question type for a Bimodal question is Multiple Choice. Learners can choose a single correct answer from 2 or more answer options. Once the question has been entered, you can use the Mode dropdown to switch the question type to Short Answer. In a Short Answer question, learners respond to an open-ended question with a word, words, or short phrase of up to 500 characters.

Creating a Bimodal Question

1. In the Enter question text box, type in your question.
   

   Use the Rich Text Editor to edit the question text.

   If the question requires scrolling, you will see a Back to Top arrow above the Save button.

2. In the Enter answer text box, type in an answer choice.
   

   Use the Rich Text Editor to edit the answer choice text.

3. Use the radio buttons to indicate the correct answer.
4. Optionally, click the lock to the left of one or more answer options.
   

   This locks the answer into the same position, even if answer options are scrambled. This allows you to create questions using options like, "all of the above," while still enabling scrambled options.

5. From the Options tab, you can
   • Set the question Mode of Multiple Choice or Short Answer.
     

     Multiple choice answer options and short answer keywords will not be lost when switching between modes.

   • Change the Points value of the question.
   • Set the Columns for the multiple choice answer choices.
     

     Choose between 1 and 4 columns for the answer choice display in multiple choice mode. Learners will be presented with the answer options in the number of columns selected.

   • Set a Character Limit for Short Answer responses.
     

     The character limit can be a maximum of 500 and cannot be zero.

   • Add an Equation as the correct answer for Short Answer mode. When added, learners must enter an equation as their answer. 
   • Enter Keywords for the Short Answer mode.
     

     Keywords are used to score learner responses. Only one keyword is required by default.

   • Require all keywords for the Short Answer mode.
     

     Requires all keywords to be present in answer to be counted as correct.

   • Link a Narrative or Case Study to your question. When linked, click Preview to open a preview modal for the narrative / case study.
     

     A narrative is a descriptive passage, special instruction, a table, image, or other information that you can link to one or more questions. When taking an online exam or printed test, narratives are presented to the learner along with the questions they are linked to.
     A case study is a set of one or more tabs with descriptive passages, special instructions, tables, images, or other information that you can link to one or more questions. Case Studies are typically used to mimic information as it would be displayed in a patient’s medical chart. When taking an online exam or printed test, case studies are presented to the learner, along with the questions they are linked to.

   • Disable Spell Check so that the browser does not identify misspelled words and learners cannot access the browser spell check feature. Spell Check is enabled by default.
   • Toggle on Allow calculator use to allow learners to use an in-app calculator to answer the question.
   • Choose the Print Settings for the question.
     • Select the Answer Style from the dropdown. Writing is the default, and lines are added under the question for learner responses. Drawing puts a box under the question for the learner to answer with diagrams or equations.
     • Select the Answer Size from the dropdown. Choose how much space is given to the learner for their answer from Extra Small, Small, Medium (default), Large, or Extra Large.
6. From the Metadata tab, you can view or edit metadata tags associated with the question.
7. From the Feedback & Rationale tab, you can enter
   • Instructor Annotations are additional notes that learners will never have access to, regardless of exam settings.
     

     Use the abbreviated Rich Text Editor to format the question text and / or add a resource.

   • Rationale refers to the reasoning or justification behind the question's answer. Understanding the rationale behind a question can help clarify its purpose and relevance.
     

     Use the abbreviated Rich Text Editor to format the question text and / or add a resource.

   • Advanced Feedback, when toggled on, allows you to enter specific Correct and Incorrect Feedback for each answer option.
   • Correct Feedback is positive reinforcement of the correct answer.
   • Incorrect Feedback can be constructive criticism or additional information that helps clarify why the learner's response is incorrect.
8. From the Additional Information tab, you can reference an article from our Knowledge Base that is relevant to your task. You do not need to switch between the EchoExam interface and the Knowledge Base.
9. Optionally, you can click the Desktop, Tablet Portrait, and Mobile Portrait icons to preview how the question is displayed on different devices.
10. When finished, click Save.