Managing Numeric Response Questions
This article covers the options and printed output for the numeric response question type.
A numeric response question lets a student enter a number as their answer. On the printed sheet they write their answer in a small grid and bubble in the digits to match — the bubbled digits are what the engine reads for scoring. The handwritten value is for the student’s reference.
The response can contain up to 8 characters, made up of:
- Digits 0–9
- Decimal point (
.) - Plus and minus signs (
+,-)
NOTE: The question text is written in a rich-text editor that supports formatting and lets you insert images and equations directly into the prompt. See Adding Images and Equations to Question and Answer Text for details.
Inline Configuration
Once a numeric response question is added to your assessment, you can configure it directly in the question list:
- Drag handle: the three-bars icon. Drag the question to a new position. If auto-labeling is enabled, the question’s displayed number updates automatically.
- Correct Response: type the correct answer directly into the field. It auto-saves as you type. Maximum 8 characters; can only contain digits, decimals, commas, and plus/minus.
- Points: the score awarded for a correct answer. Defaults to 1. Can be any positive number, decimals allowed.
- Standards: attach one or more educational standards to the question for reporting. Common Core is included; custom standards can also be uploaded. (Teacher Pro)
- Tags: attach one or more tags for slicing reporting data.
- Actions Menu: the three-dot menu. Includes Edit to open the full configuration modal.
Edit Modal
Opening the Edit option from the actions menu launches a modal with the same fields:
- Correct response: the correct answer. Maximum 8 characters; digits, decimals, commas, and plus/minus only.
- Points: the score for the question (positive number, decimals allowed).
- Standards: manage the standard list.
- Tags: manage the tag list.
How It Looks on the Printed Sheet
On the printed answer sheet, the question prompt is followed by a numeric input grid: a row of cells for the student to handwrite each digit, with a column of bubbles below each cell for the corresponding digit to be filled in.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if a student handwrites the right answer but bubbles the wrong digits?
The engine scores based on the bubbled digits, not the handwritten value. Make sure students understand that filling the bubbles is what counts — the written digits are just for their own reference.
Does the order of digits matter?
Yes. The bubbles are positional. A student answering “42” needs to bubble “4” in the first column and “2” in the second; bubbling them in the wrong columns will read as a different number.
Can I accept multiple correct answers (e.g. 0.5 and 1/2 )?
Numeric response only accepts one correct value, and only digit-based values (no fractions or expressions). If you want to accept multiple equivalent forms, consider a multiple choice question with each form as an option, or use a written response question for manual grading.
What if my answer needs more than 8 characters?
Numeric response is capped at 8 characters — that’s a hard limit. For longer or more complex answers, use a written response question and grade it manually.