2.4.1 Combined

The Combined question incorporates features of four existing question types into one composite question. The four question types that are included are:

  • Numeric (n.b. based on Variable numeric and not Numerical)
  • Pattern match
  • OU multiple response
  • Select missing words.
2.74 A combined question with four input fields

Question name: A descriptive name is sensible. This name will not be shown to students.

Question text: You may use the full functionality of the editor to state the question.

Response fields

The response fields have the form [[:{:}]]

  • may be alphanumeric up to 8 characters. In our example we’ve just used numbers.
  • is one of numeric, pmatch, multiresponse or selectmenu.
  • are dependent upon the type of response field.

Options

Numeric and pmatch have the option to limit the size of the input box.

  • __10__ is the width of the displayed input box in characters alone.
  • _____ (i.e. without a number) provides a box equivalent in length to the number of underscores.

If no ____ is present the input box follows the question stem and is a ‘full single line’.

Multiresponse can be displayed vertically or horizontally

  • v for vertical display. This is the default.
  • h for horizontal display. If the rendering is too long it wraps at a choice.

Selectmenu must be followed by the correct choice.

Note that it is possible to have multiple choices that use the same menu choices e.g. The quick brown [[4:selectmenu:2]] jumps over the lazy [[4:selectmenu:4]].

Where the choices are, cow, fox, cat, dog.

After adding new input fields and to remove empty unwanted input fields click the ‘Verify the question text and update the form’ button. At this point your question text will be validated.

General feedback: We recommend that all questions should have this box completed with the correct answer and a fully worked explanation. The contents of this box will be shown to all students irrespective of whether their response was correct or incorrect. There is no system generated 'Right answer' (from the iCMA definition form) for Combined questions.

2.75 Four response matching fields

These are restricted forms of the Variable numeric, Pattern match, OU multiple response and Selectmenu response matching fields.

Weighting. Different responses can have different percentages of the total mark. The weightings must add to 100%.

Where some fields are answered correctly and others incorrectly the intention is that the feedback associated with the field is used to say what is wrong. Correct answers can be counted up using the the option to 'Show the number of correct responses' in the Combined feedback and Hints fields.

2.76 The combined feedback field
2.77 The multiple tries field

The resulting question when run in interactive with multiple tries behaviour looks as follows:

2.78 How a Combined question might look.

2.5 2D questions