Many questions let you answer more than once. Each time you submit an answer is a try. Some questions also let you switch to a similar question: a new version of the same problem with different numbers. Your instructor decides how many tries and how many similar questions you get, and it can be different for each assignment.

See how many you have left

The header above each question shows its points and up to two small counters:

  • a circular-arrow icon with the number of tries left on this version of the question;
  • a second arrow icon with the number of similar questions left.

Point at a counter, or tab to it, to see what it means, for example “2 tries on this question remaining” or “You can Get a Similar Question 2 more times”. A counter disappears when it reaches zero. The similar-questions counter isn’t shown at all if the question doesn’t offer similar questions.

After you submit an answer

If your instructor shows scores as you work, each answer box gets a mark: a check for correct (green) or partly correct (yellow), an X for incorrect (red), or an orange X for an answer in the wrong format. To tell a full score from a partial one without relying on colour, read the points after “Score on last try:” above the question. Screen readers read “Correct”, “Partially correct”, “Incorrect” or “Incorrect, wrong format”.

Next to a typed answer with an orange X there is a small circle with an exclamation mark. Point at it, or tab to it, to read “Your answer is equivalent to the correct answer, but is not simplified or is in the wrong format”. Simplify your answer or change its form, then submit it again if you have tries left.

Above the question you see your “Score on last try:” with your points. If your instructor hides scores until later, you see “Question submitted.” instead.

Try again on the same question

If you have tries left and your answer isn’t fully correct, you see “You can retry this question below”. There is no separate retry button: change your answer in the same box and submit it again.

Get a similar question

When the question allows it, you see a Get a similar question button. Select it to get a new version of the problem with different numbers. The new version has its own tries.

  • If you select it again very quickly, you see a message that ends “Wait 5 seconds before trying again.” Work the problem, then try again.
  • When none are left, the Get a similar question button and the similar-questions counter no longer appear. If the assignment is also open in another tab or window, the button can still show there. Selecting it then shows “No more Get a Similar Question remain”. Reload that page to see what you have left.

Tip

Getting a similar question doesn’t lower a score you already earned on that question. The question keeps the score from your best version.

What counts toward your grade

  • Across versions: the question keeps your best version’s score.
  • Within one version: if you see your score after each try, each part of the question keeps its best try. If scores are hidden until later, your last try counts.
  • Penalties: your instructor can set a penalty for later tries or for similar questions. When the question has a Details menu, it shows your score on the last try and the score that is recorded.
  • Whole-assignment retakes: some assignments let you take the whole assignment again. Its start screen says which attempt counts, for example “Highest scored attempt recorded as grade.” or “Last attempt recorded as grade.”

Some questions have parts your instructor grades by hand. If your instructor shows scores as you work, you then see “This question contains parts that must be graded by your instructor. They will show a score of 0 until they are graded.” If your instructor hides scores until later, you see only “Question submitted.”

Need more tries?

The number of tries and similar questions is your instructor’s decision. If you think you need more, ask your instructor, and name the assignment and question number.