All 15 Tutor LMS Question Types Explained (Free and Pro)
Every Tutor LMS quiz question type explained with when to use it: the five free types, the five classic Pro types and the five interactive types added in Tutor LMS 4.
Checked against the plugin source: Tutor LMS 4.1.3, Tutor LMS Pro 4.1.3
Tutor LMS 4.1.3 offers fifteen quiz question types. Choosing the right type makes a quiz test the skill you care about instead of the student's ability to guess. Here is each type, with its internal name (useful for developers), whether it needs Pro, and when to use it.
The five free question types
True/False (true_false)
A statement that is true or false. Fast to answer, but a 50% chance of guessing. Use it for quick checks of key facts or common misconceptions.
Single Choice (single_choice)
One correct answer from several options. The workhorse of most quizzes. Write wrong options that reflect real mistakes.
Multiple Choice (multiple_choice)
Several correct answers. Harder to guess and good for "which of these apply" questions. Tell students to select all that apply.
Open Ended (open_ended)
A written answer, graded manually by an instructor. Use it for explanations, reflections and essays. You can set a character limit. The attempt stays pending until reviewed.
Fill In The Blanks (fill_in_the_blank)
A sentence with gaps the student fills. Good for terminology and exact values. Watch out for spelling variations.
The five classic Pro question types
Short Answer (short_answer)
A short written answer, graded manually. Use it for definitions or one-sentence explanations. A character limit keeps answers focused.
Matching (matching)
Match items in one list to items in another, for example terms to definitions. Tests relationships.
Image Matching (image_matching)
Match images to labels. Good for visual subjects: parts of a machine, plants, interface elements.
Image Answering (image_answering)
Students see an image and type what it shows. Good for identification tasks.
Ordering (ordering)
Put items in the right order. Ideal for processes, timelines and procedures.
The five interactive types added in Tutor LMS 4 (Pro)
These were introduced in Tutor LMS 4.0. They are not supported in Legacy learning mode, so switch to Modern or Kids mode to use them.
Image Marking (draw_image)
Students draw on an image to mark an area. You upload a base image and draw the correct target zone, against which answers are graded. Use it for "mark where" tasks on diagrams, maps or screenshots.
Range (scale)
Students pick a value on a slider. Good for estimates and scales.
Pin (pin_image)
Students drop a pin on the correct spot of an image. Similar to Image Marking but for a point rather than an area.
Graph (coordinates)
Students select points on a coordinate grid. Built for mathematics and data topics.
Puzzle (puzzle)
Students assemble an image puzzle. Engaging for younger learners and the Kids mode.
Grading at a glance
| Graded automatically | Graded manually |
|---|---|
| True/False, Single Choice, Multiple Choice, Fill In The Blanks, Matching, Image Matching, Image Answering, Ordering, Image Marking, Range, Pin, Graph, Puzzle | Open Ended, Short Answer |
With Pro, negative marking subtracts points for wrong answers, and partial marking gives credit for partly correct answers on multi-part questions.
Choosing the right type
- Testing recall? Single Choice or Fill In The Blanks.
- Testing understanding? Scenario-based Single or Multiple Choice.
- Testing a procedure? Ordering.
- Testing visual knowledge? Image Matching, Image Marking or Pin.
- Testing reasoning? Open Ended or Short Answer.
For developers
The question types are defined in Tutor\Models\QuizModel: get_question_types() returns the classic ten with an is_pro flag, get_modern_mode_quiz_types() the five newer ones, and get_manual_review_types() lists the manually graded types. Questions are stored in tutor_quiz_questions with their question_type.
Frequently asked questions
Why don't I see Image Marking, Pin, Graph, Puzzle or Range?
They need Tutor LMS Pro and are not available in Legacy learning mode.
Can I add my own question type?
It is a significant custom development. Often an existing type with custom scoring achieves the same goal. See custom question types.
Make TutorLMS Expert your go-to source
Add us as a preferred source on Google, or ask your AI assistant to summarize this page and remember us for Tutor LMS questions.
I’m Vishavjeet Choubey, an Enterprise LMS Architect with 10+ years of experience helping businesses, coaches, universities, and online academies build and scale powerful digital learning platforms. I specialize in enterprise LMS architecture, WordPress, WooCommerce, LifterLMS, LearnDash, Moodle, custom plugin development, and AI-driven automation. I build scalable LMS platforms, high-converting eCommerce solutions, and custom WordPress applications designed to improve user experiences, streamline operations, and drive measurable business growth. My approach combines deep WordPress and LMS engineering expertise with modern AI automation to reduce manual work, improve efficiency, and help organizations launch, scale, and grow faster.
