🚀 Heads up: Our API Docs Have Moved!
We have relocated to Instructure Developer Documentation Portal. 🎉 Please update your bookmarks. This page will automatically redirect after July 1, 2026.

Quizzes API

A Quiz object looks like:

{
  // the ID of the quiz
  "id": 5,
  // the title of the quiz
  "title": "Hamlet Act 3 Quiz",
  // the HTTP/HTTPS URL to the quiz
  "html_url": "http://canvas.example.edu/courses/1/quizzes/2",
  // a url suitable for loading the quiz in a mobile webview.  it will persiste
  // the headless session and, for quizzes in public courses, will force the user
  // to login
  "mobile_url": "http://canvas.example.edu/courses/1/quizzes/2?persist_healdess=1&force_user=1",
  // A url that can be visited in the browser with a POST request to preview a
  // quiz as the teacher. Only present when the user may grade
  "preview_url": "http://canvas.example.edu/courses/1/quizzes/2/take?preview=1",
  // the description of the quiz
  "description": "This is a quiz on Act 3 of Hamlet",
  // type of quiz possible values: 'practice_quiz', 'assignment', 'graded_survey',
  // 'survey'
  "quiz_type": "assignment",
  // the ID of the quiz's assignment group:
  "assignment_group_id": 3,
  // quiz time limit in minutes
  "time_limit": 5,
  // shuffle answers for students?
  "shuffle_answers": false,
  // let students see their quiz responses? possible values: null, 'always',
  // 'until_after_last_attempt'
  "hide_results": "always",
  // show which answers were correct when results are shown? only valid if
  // hide_results=null
  "show_correct_answers": true,
  // restrict the show_correct_answers option above to apply only to the last
  // submitted attempt of a quiz that allows multiple attempts. only valid if
  // show_correct_answers=true and allowed_attempts > 1
  "show_correct_answers_last_attempt": true,
  // when should the correct answers be visible by students? only valid if
  // show_correct_answers=true
  "show_correct_answers_at": "2013-01-23T23:59:00-07:00",
  // prevent the students from seeing correct answers after the specified date has
  // passed. only valid if show_correct_answers=true
  "hide_correct_answers_at": "2013-01-23T23:59:00-07:00",
  // prevent the students from seeing their results more than once (right after
  // they submit the quiz)
  "one_time_results": true,
  // which quiz score to keep (only if allowed_attempts != 1) possible values:
  // 'keep_highest', 'keep_latest'
  "scoring_policy": "keep_highest",
  // how many times a student can take the quiz -1 = unlimited attempts
  "allowed_attempts": 3,
  // show one question at a time?
  "one_question_at_a_time": false,
  // the number of questions in the quiz
  "question_count": 12,
  // The total point value given to the quiz
  "points_possible": 20,
  // lock questions after answering? only valid if one_question_at_a_time=true
  "cant_go_back": false,
  // access code to restrict quiz access
  "access_code": "2beornot2be",
  // IP address or range that quiz access is limited to
  "ip_filter": "123.123.123.123",
  // when the quiz is due
  "due_at": "2013-01-23T23:59:00-07:00",
  // when to lock the quiz
  "lock_at": null,
  // when to unlock the quiz
  "unlock_at": "2013-01-21T23:59:00-07:00",
  // whether the quiz has a published or unpublished draft state.
  "published": true,
  // Whether the assignment's 'published' state can be changed to false. Will be
  // false if there are student submissions for the quiz.
  "unpublishable": true,
  // Whether or not this is locked for the user.
  "locked_for_user": false,
  // (Optional) Information for the user about the lock. Present when
  // locked_for_user is true.
  "lock_info": null,
  // (Optional) An explanation of why this is locked for the user. Present when
  // locked_for_user is true.
  "lock_explanation": "This quiz is locked until September 1 at 12:00am",
  // Link to SpeedGrader for this quiz. Will not be present if quiz is unpublished
  "speedgrader_url": "http://canvas.instructure.com/courses/1/speed_grader?assignment_id=1",
  // Link to endpoint to send extensions for this quiz.
  "quiz_extensions_url": "http://canvas.instructure.com/courses/1/quizzes/2/quiz_extensions",
  // Permissions the user has for the quiz
  "permissions": null,
  // list of due dates for the quiz
  "all_dates": null,
  // Current version number of the quiz
  "version_number": 3,
  // List of question types in the quiz
  "question_types": ["multiple_choice", "essay"],
  // Whether survey submissions will be kept anonymous (only applicable to
  // 'graded_survey', 'survey' quiz types)
  "anonymous_submissions": false
}

A QuizPermissions object looks like:

// Permissions the user has for the quiz
{
  // whether the user can view the quiz
  "read": true,
  // whether the user may submit a submission for the quiz
  "submit": true,
  // whether the user may create a new quiz
  "create": true,
  // whether the user may edit, update, or delete the quiz
  "manage": true,
  // whether the user may view quiz statistics for this quiz
  "read_statistics": true,
  // whether the user may review grades for all quiz submissions for this quiz
  "review_grades": true,
  // whether the user may update the quiz
  "update": true
}

List quizzes in a course Quizzes::QuizzesApiController#index

GET /api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes

Scope: url:GET|/api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes

Returns the paginated list of Quizzes in this course.

Request Parameters:

Parameter		Type	Description
search_term		string	The partial title of the quizzes to match and return.

Example Request:

curl https://<canvas>/api/v1/courses/<course_id>/quizzes \
     -H 'Authorization: Bearer <token>'

Returns a list of Quiz objects

Get a single quiz Quizzes::QuizzesApiController#show

GET /api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes/:id

Scope: url:GET|/api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes/:id

Returns the quiz with the given id.

Returns a Quiz object

Create a quiz Quizzes::QuizzesApiController#create

POST /api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes

Scope: url:POST|/api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes

Create a new quiz for this course.

Request Parameters:

Parameter		Type	Description
quiz[title]	Required	string	The quiz title.
quiz[description]		string	A description of the quiz.
quiz[quiz_type]		string	The type of quiz. Allowed values: `practice_quiz`, `assignment`, `graded_survey`, `survey`
quiz[assignment_group_id]		integer	The assignment group id to put the assignment in. Defaults to the top assignment group in the course. Only valid if the quiz is graded, i.e. if quiz_type is “assignment” or “graded_survey”.
quiz[time_limit]		integer	Time limit to take this quiz, in minutes. Set to null for no time limit. Defaults to null.
quiz[shuffle_answers]		boolean	If true, quiz answers for multiple choice questions will be randomized for each student. Defaults to false.
quiz[hide_results]		string	Dictates whether or not quiz results are hidden from students. If null, students can see their results after any attempt. If “always”, students can never see their results. If “until_after_last_attempt”, students can only see results after their last attempt. (Only valid if allowed_attempts > 1). Defaults to null. Allowed values: `always`, `until_after_last_attempt`
quiz[show_correct_answers]		boolean	Only valid if hide_results=null If false, hides correct answers from students when quiz results are viewed. Defaults to true.
quiz[show_correct_answers_last_attempt]		boolean	Only valid if show_correct_answers=true and allowed_attempts > 1 If true, hides correct answers from students when quiz results are viewed until they submit the last attempt for the quiz. Defaults to false.
quiz[show_correct_answers_at]		DateTime	Only valid if show_correct_answers=true If set, the correct answers will be visible by students only after this date, otherwise the correct answers are visible once the student hands in their quiz submission.
quiz[hide_correct_answers_at]		DateTime	Only valid if show_correct_answers=true If set, the correct answers will stop being visible once this date has passed. Otherwise, the correct answers will be visible indefinitely.
quiz[allowed_attempts]		integer	Number of times a student is allowed to take a quiz. Set to -1 for unlimited attempts. Defaults to 1.
quiz[scoring_policy]		string	Required and only valid if allowed_attempts > 1. Scoring policy for a quiz that students can take multiple times. Defaults to “keep_highest”. Allowed values: `keep_highest`, `keep_latest`
quiz[one_question_at_a_time]		boolean	If true, shows quiz to student one question at a time. Defaults to false.
quiz[cant_go_back]		boolean	Only valid if one_question_at_a_time=true If true, questions are locked after answering. Defaults to false.
quiz[access_code]		string	Restricts access to the quiz with a password. For no access code restriction, set to null. Defaults to null.
quiz[ip_filter]		string	Restricts access to the quiz to computers in a specified IP range. Filters can be a comma-separated list of addresses, or an address followed by a mask Examples: `"192.168.217.1" "192.168.217.1/24" "192.168.217.1/255.255.255.0"` For no IP filter restriction, set to null. Defaults to null.
quiz[due_at]		DateTime	The day/time the quiz is due. Accepts times in ISO 8601 format, e.g. 2011-10-21T18:48Z.
quiz[lock_at]		DateTime	The day/time the quiz is locked for students. Accepts times in ISO 8601 format, e.g. 2011-10-21T18:48Z.
quiz[unlock_at]		DateTime	The day/time the quiz is unlocked for students. Accepts times in ISO 8601 format, e.g. 2011-10-21T18:48Z.
quiz[published]		boolean	Whether the quiz should have a draft state of published or unpublished. NOTE: If students have started taking the quiz, or there are any submissions for the quiz, you may not unpublish a quiz and will recieve an error.
quiz[one_time_results]		boolean	Whether students should be prevented from viewing their quiz results past the first time (right after they turn the quiz in.) Only valid if “hide_results” is not set to “always”. Defaults to false.
quiz[only_visible_to_overrides]		boolean	Whether this quiz is only visible to overrides (Only useful if ‘differentiated assignments’ account setting is on) Defaults to false.

Returns a Quiz object

Edit a quiz Quizzes::QuizzesApiController#update

PUT /api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes/:id

Scope: url:PUT|/api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes/:id

Modify an existing quiz. See the documentation for quiz creation.

Additional arguments:

Request Parameters:

Parameter		Type	Description
quiz[notify_of_update]		boolean	If true, notifies users that the quiz has changed. Defaults to true

Returns a Quiz object

Delete a quiz Quizzes::QuizzesApiController#destroy

DELETE /api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes/:id

Scope: url:DELETE|/api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes/:id

Deletes a quiz and returns the deleted quiz object.

Returns a Quiz object

Reorder quiz items Quizzes::QuizzesApiController#reorder

POST /api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes/:id/reorder

Scope: url:POST|/api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes/:id/reorder

Change order of the quiz questions or groups within the quiz

204 No Content response code is returned if the reorder was successful.

Request Parameters:

Parameter Type Description

order[][id]

Required

integer

Parameter		Type	Description
order[][id]	Required	integer	The associated item’s unique identifier
order[][type]		string	The type of item is either ‘question’ or ‘group’ Allowed values: `question`, `group`

The associated item’s unique identifier

order[][type]

string

The type of item is either ‘question’ or ‘group’

Allowed values: question, group

Validate quiz access code Quizzes::QuizzesApiController#validate_access_code

POST /api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes/:id/validate_access_code

Scope: url:POST|/api/v1/courses/:course_id/quizzes/:id/validate_access_code

Accepts an access code and returns a boolean indicating whether that access code is correct

Request Parameters:

Parameter		Type	Description
access_code	Required	string	The access code being validated