Bulk Import Questions
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The Import Questions feature lets you upload multiple questions at once using CSV or Excel files. This saves time when creating large question banks for your quizzes.
Before You Start
File Format Requirements
- File types: CSV (.csv) or Excel (.xlsx)
- Encoding: CSV files must be UTF-8 encoded
- Header row: First row must contain column names
- Column order: Can be in any order, but names must match exactly
Unicode CSV Conversion (For Non-English Content)
If you're using non-English text, follow these steps to ensure proper encoding:
- Fill your data in Excel using the provided format
- Save as Unicode Text (*.txt)
- Open the .txt file in Notepad
- Replace Tab spaces with commas (,)
- Save with .txt extension and change encoding to UTF-8
- Change file extension from .txt to .csv
- Upload the converted .csv file
Quiz Zone Questions
Standard multiple-choice questions with single correct answers, supporting both regular and true/false formats.
Required Columns
| Column | Description | Example Values |
|---|---|---|
category | Category ID (number) | 63 |
subcategory | Subcategory ID (number) | 97 |
language_id | Language ID (number) | 1 for English, 2 for other |
question_type | Question format | 1 for multiple choice, 2 for true/false |
question | Question text | "What is the capital of France?" |
option 1 | First option | "Paris" or "True" |
option 2 | Second option | "London" or "False" |
option 3 | Third option | "Berlin" (blank for true/false) |
option 4 | Fourth option | "Madrid" (blank for true/false) |
option 5 | Fifth option (optional) | "Rome" or blank |
answer | Correct answer | "a", "b", "c", "d", or "e" |
level | Difficulty level | 1, 2, 3, etc. |
note | Additional notes | "Geography basics" or blank |
Sample Data Format
category,subcategory,language_id,question_type,question,option 1,option 2,option 3,option 4,option 5,answer,level,note
63,97,2,1,What is the capital of France?,Paris,London,Berlin,Madrid,,a,1,Geography basics
63,97,1,2,Is water H2O?,True,False,,,,a,2,Chemistry fact
Multiple Choice Example
category,subcategory,language_id,question_type,question,option 1,option 2,option 3,option 4,option 5,answer,level,note
63,97,1,1,Which planet is closest to the Sun?,Mercury,Venus,Earth,Mars,,a,1,Solar system
63,97,1,1,What is 5 × 7?,30,35,40,45,,b,2,Basic math
True/False Example
category,subcategory,language_id,question_type,question,option 1,option 2,option 3,option 4,option 5,answer,level,note
63,97,1,2,The Earth is flat,True,False,,,,b,1,Basic science
63,97,1,2,Water boils at 100°C,True,False,,,,a,1,Physics
Multi Match Questions
Matching questions where users connect left items to right items. Supports multiple selection and sequence ordering.
Required Columns
| Column | Description | Values |
|---|---|---|
category | Category ID | 63 |
subcategory | Subcategory ID | 97 |
language_id | Language ID | 1, 2, etc. |
question_type | Question format | 1 for multiple choice, 2 for true/false |
question | Question text | "Match countries to capitals" |
option 1 to option 5 | Answer options | Various options |
answer_type | Answer format | 1 for multi-select, 2 for sequence |
answer1 to answer5 | Correct answers | "a", "b", "c", etc. |
level | Difficulty level | 1, 2, 3 |
note | Additional notes | Optional |
Sample Format
category,subcategory,language_id,question_type,question,option 1,option 2,option 3,option 4,option 5,answer_type,answer1,answer2,answer3,answer4,answer5,level,note
63,97,2,1,Match elements to symbols,Hydrogen,Carbon,Oxygen,Nitrogen,,1,a,c,b,d,,1,Chemistry matching
Exam Questions
Questions designed for formal examinations with specific marking schemes.
Required Columns
| Column | Description | Values |
|---|---|---|
exam_module_id | Exam module identifier | 1, 2, etc. |
mark | Points for correct answer | 1, 2, 5, etc. |
question_type | Question format | 1 for multiple choice, 2 for true/false |
question | Question text | Full question |
option 1 to option 5 | Answer choices | Various options |
answer | Correct answer | "a", "b", "c", "d", "e" |
Sample Format
exam_module_id,mark,question_type,question,option 1,option 2,option 3,option 4,option 5,answer
2,1,1,What is the speed of light?,3×10⁸ m/s,3×10⁶ m/s,3×10⁹ m/s,3×10⁷ m/s,,a
1,2,2,Energy cannot be created or destroyed,True,False,,,,a
Contest Questions
Questions for timed contests and competitions.
Required Columns
| Column | Description | Values |
|---|---|---|
contest_id | Contest identifier | 1, 2, etc. |
question_type | Question format | 1 for multiple choice, 2 for true/false |
question | Question text | Full question |
option 1 to option 5 | Answer choices | Various options |
answer | Correct answer | "a", "b", "c", "d", "e" |
note | Additional information | Optional notes |
Sample Format
contest_id,question_type,question,option 1,option 2,option 3,option 4,option 5,answer,note
2,1,Which is the largest ocean?,Atlantic,Pacific,Indian,Arctic,,b,Geography contest
1,2,Mount Everest is the tallest mountain,True,False,,,,a,Physical geography
Common Issues & Solutions
Upload Errors
| Error | Solution |
|---|---|
| "Invalid file format" | Ensure file is .csv or .xlsx with proper encoding |
| "Missing required column" | Check that all required columns are present and named correctly |
| "Invalid answer value" | Answer must be "a", "b", "c", "d", or "e" (lowercase) |
| "Category not found" | Create the category first or use correct category ID |
Data Validation Tips
- Answer values: Use lowercase letters (a, b, c, d, e)
- Question types: Use
1for multiple choice,2for true/false - Empty cells: Leave cells blank rather than using "N/A" or spaces
- Special characters: Ensure proper UTF-8 encoding for non-English text
- File size: Large files may timeout; split into smaller batches if needed
Best Practices
- Test with a small sample file first
- Keep backup copies of your data
- Use consistent formatting throughout your file
- Validate category and subcategory IDs exist before import
- Review imported questions after upload to ensure accuracy
Important Notes
- Categories and subcategories must exist in your system before importing questions
- Option 5 is only available if enabled in System Settings
- Question types determine which options are required (true/false uses only options 1-2)
- Language IDs correspond to your system's configured languages
Need Help?
If you encounter issues during import:
- Download the sample file for your quiz type
- Compare your format with the sample
- Check error messages for specific row/column issues
- Ensure all required fields are filled
- Verify file encoding is UTF-8 for CSV files
For large imports, consider breaking your data into smaller batches to avoid timeouts.