Essay
Prompt the student to write a long answer, often using headings and text formatting.
The essay question type prompts the student to write a long-form answer in a full rich-text editor. Students can structure their writing with headings, lists, and text formatting — making this the right choice whenever the structure and depth of the answer matters, not just its content.
When to use it
Longer analytical or argumentative writing: essays, reflections, case analyses.
Answers that benefit from structure: an introduction, argument, and conclusion.
Assessing writing skills alongside subject knowledge.
For shorter open answers without formatting needs, consider the multi-line text question type instead.
How it works for students
The student writes their answer in a rich-text editor with formatting tools. If you set word limits, a word counter keeps them on track. Plan for roughly 15 minutes of working time per essay question.
Grading
Essays are graded by AI against your scoring criteria (e.g. argument quality, use of sources, structure), and you review and adjust the suggested scores. Clear, specific criteria give noticeably better grading suggestions than a single generic "quality" criterion.
Settings
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Min words | Optional lower bound on the answer length. Set to 0 to disable. |
| Max words | Optional upper bound on the answer length. Set to 0 to disable. |
Start building better assessments
Mix and match question types to build tests and practice materials that fit your course — or build your own question type with our developer platform.
