It is a relatively simple process to manually add individual questions to a question bank. However it can become time consuming if you are managing tens or even hundreds of questions. Rather than adding each question individually, you are able to import questions into the question bank in bulk.

To import questions you will need to:

1. Write or convert your questions into a format which can be read by LEO.
2. Upload them directly to the question bank, which you can then add to a quiz activity.

What is the Aiken format?

There are a number of different formatting options which are compatible with the question bank in LEO (see the "Other Formats" section below to learn more), but the simplest to use is the Aiken Format.

The Aiken format is a way of creating multiple choice and true or false questions in a simple text file. First you must write and save your questions in an Aiken format text file, then upload your saved file into your question bank.

How to write your questions in Aiken format

To write your questions using the Aiken format you need to:

1. Write your questions in a simple text editor such as Text Edit (Mac) or Notepad (Windows).
   

   Note: If you use Microsoft Word to write your questions, you must save your file as a plain text file encoded using UTF-8. Otherwise any questions that use smart quotation marks or smart apostrophes will fail to import correctly. See below.

   The Aiken format follows the parameters below:

   • The question must be all on one line.
   • Each answer must start with a single Uppercase letter, followed by either a fullstop OR a right parenthesis and then a space.
   • The answer line must start with the word "ANSWER: ". The choice which signifies the correct answer must be capitalised (as shown in the examples below).

   In practice, questions written in the Aiken Format will look like this:

   What colour are strawberries?
   A. green
   B. yellow
   C. black
   D. red
   ANSWER: D
   
   What does the A stand for in ACU?
   A) Australian
   B) Antarctic
   C) Australasian
   D) Angola
   ANSWER: A
   
   
2. If you use Notepad in Windows you should also set the encoding to UTF-8 (if you have used a text editor such as Text Edit on a Mac to create your questions, you will not have to do this step).
   

How to upload your Aiken file to the question bank

1. Log into LEO and navigate to your unit where you would like to upload the questions.
2. Click the Cog icon to open the Unit Administration menu and click the More option.
3. Under the Question Bank heading click Import.
4. Select Aiken Format for the File Format.
5. Click on the General heading to expand the settings option, then select the appropriate category for your questions to go into from the dropdown options provided.
6. Click on Import questions from file and then click on Choose a file:
   
7. Locate the file on your computer or device and click on Upload this file. The file will appear as a link in the field.
8. Click the Import button.
9. In the next screen you will be able to see if your import was successful, and how many questions you have imported. If the information is correct, click Continue.
10. Your questions are now accessible from within your Question Bank.