Configure Form answer keys

An answer key defines the accepted correct response for an automatically graded Form field. It does not supply an answer for the person filling the Form.

You need Form edit access and a Quiz mode other than Off to configure grading.

Set a key

1. Open Form > Form settings > Quiz, choose Points or Percent correct, and finish with Done.
2. Open the field and choose Automatically graded under Grading.
3. Enter or select its Correct answer or Correct answers.
4. In Points mode, set the points for that field.
5. Select Done, wait for saving, and resolve any Form issues.
6. Use Preview to test validation. Review an actual submitted score when verifying grading; Preview does not calculate that result.

Answer keys must fit the field's rules. Text length, numeric limits and Step, date boundaries, and choice counts apply to the key too. A required Checkbox cannot use No as its correct answer. Upload fields are always ungraded.

How answers match

• Short text and Long text: One answer is compared after Unicode normalization, trimming, and collapsing repeated whitespace. Case is ignored unless Match uppercase and lowercase exactly is enabled. This is not meaning-based or essay grading.
• Number: The validated numeric values must be equal. 7 and 7.0 match; a permitted numeric Step does not create a grading tolerance.
• Choice: The same named choices must be selected. Multiple-choice order does not matter. Extra or missing choices and Other text make it incorrect.
• Checkbox: The recorded Yes or No must match. An untouched optional checkbox is unanswered, not a recorded No.
• Date, Time, or Date range: Values must match exactly, including both range endpoints. Different time precision can matter.
• Date and time: Matching also includes the captured time-zone context. Equal-looking local times or equivalent instants from different zones are not guaranteed to match.

Every graded field receives full or zero credit. Unanswered optional graded fields remain in the score's denominator. Mark optional questions Ungraded when skipping them should not lower the score.

Maintain keys when editing a Form

Changing to Ungraded or turning Quiz mode Off does not erase stored keys. An old key can still prevent saving if it contradicts new limits or refers to a deleted choice.

Before deleting a correct choice, clear its correct-answer selection while that choice is still present. Then update choices and select the new key. After changing date/time Input or numeric/text limits, update the key too.

If Done fails after deleting a choice, cancel the changed dialog, reopen the saved field, and clear the old correct-answer selection before trying again. Preserve other needed edits first. Temporarily enable grading if its controls are hidden; disabling scoring alone is not a key repair.

For missing scores, check Quiz mode. For failed saves or competing edits, follow saving recovery.