---
title: "Best Practices for Canvas Quizzes"
canonical: "https://servicedesk.shu.edu/space/PUBLICKBA/2662367246/Best%20Practices%20for%20Canvas%20Quizzes"
format: markdown
---
## Enhancing Test Security in Canvas
While Canvas is not a dedicated proctoring platform, you can significantly strengthen the integrity of your online exams by applying a few key strategies and Canvas settings.
> ℹ️ Note: *The recommendations listed below reference options in **[Canvas' Classic Quizzes](https://setonhall.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PUBLICKBA/pages/2660827160)**. **[New Quizzes](https://setonhall.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PUBLICKBA/pages/2660827234)** has many of the same options, but the screenshots will look different.*
### Promote Academic Integrity
- Require students to complete an academic integrity pledge before starting the exam.
- Consider alternate assessment formats such as open-book exams, short-answer or essay questions, annotated bibliographies, or peer review. These methods encourage critical thinking and reduce opportunities for academic dishonesty.
### Manage Time and Access
- **[Set time limits](https://setonhall.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/PUBLICKBA/pages/3801514010/Moderate+a+Quiz+in+Canvas#Timed-and-Non-Timed-Quizzes)** to control how long students have to complete a quiz once they begin. The timer cannot be paused or stopped, even if the student closes their browser or test window. Time limits help reduce opportunities to look up or share answers during the exam.
- **[Define an availability window](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/What-is-the-difference-between-assignment-due-dates-and/ta-p/897)** so all students take the exam within a limited time frame. Define specific start and end dates and times for when students can access the quiz.
- A shorter availability window increases exam security by reducing opportunities for students to share information. However, allow some flexibility to accommodate varying schedules and accessibility needs.
- **[Release scores after the availability window closes](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/What-options-can-I-set-in-a-quiz/ta-p/683)** to prevent early sharing of answers. By default, Canvas allows students to see which questions they missed and the correct answers immediately after submission.
- For greater security, **uncheck “Let Students See Their Quiz Responses”** until the quiz availability window has closed. If the quiz is auto-graded (such as multiple-choice), you should also **hide the assignment grade** to prevent early score access, then **post grades manually** once all students have finished the exam.
### Increase Question Variability
- **Randomize questions with Question Banks** to create large pools of questions for your quiz to draw from. Canvas will randomly select and order questions for each student, ensuring every quiz is unique. To strengthen security, include more questions in your bank than will appear on any single quiz and refresh your banks periodically with new or updated questions.
- [How do I create a question bank in a course?](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-create-a-question-bank-in-a-course/ta-p/1228)
- [How do I create a quiz with a question group to randomize quiz questions?](https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Instructor-Guide/How-do-I-create-a-quiz-with-a-question-group-to-randomize-quiz/ta-p/1032)
- **Enable the “Shuffle Answers” setting in quizzes** to randomize the order of answer choices for each student. This helps prevent students from sharing answer patterns and ensures that no two quizzes appear exactly alike.
- [What options can I set in a quiz?](#)
- Include occasional **short-answer prompts** that require students to explain how they arrived at an answer to a previous objective question. This can help verify understanding and discourage guessing or collaboration.
### Manage Question Display
- **Show one question at a time** to limit students’ ability to take screenshots or share content.
- By default, students view all quiz questions on a single scrolling page. Enabling the **“Show one question at a time”** option requires students to click *Next* to move through the quiz, making it harder to capture or share content.
- Optionally, **lock questions after answering** to prevent students from returning to earlier questions; though this may disadvantage those who need to review their work*. Note that this setting can occasionally slow quiz performance, so consider adjusting the time limit accordingly.*
- [How can I create a quiz where students only see one question at a time?](#)
### **Use Proctoring Tools**
- [Honorlock](https://servicedesk.shu.edu/space/PUBLICKBA/2103410767/Honorlock,+Online+Exam+Proctoring) is an online proctoring tool built into Canvas that helps maintain exam integrity. It verifies student identity with an approved ID scan, records webcam, audio, and screen activity during the exam, and flags suspicious behavior for review.
- Instructors can customize settings to allow for different exam types, such as open-book tests.
- Honorlock also includes a Search & Destroy feature, which scans the web to detect and remove leaked exam content.