Quizzical is Being Retired
End of Life: August 2026
Quizzical has reached end-of-life and is no longer actively supported. Instructors should transition to alternative tools before August 2026. While there is no direct replacement, the following options support similar teaching approaches, including student-generated questions, practice quizzes, and participation-based assessment.
If you are currently using Quizzical, we recommend exporting your questions and grades in advance. View instructions for exporting questions and grades.
Start With Your Goal
While there is no direct replacement, the following options support similar teaching approaches using tools from U of T’s Academic Toolbox.
Start by identifying what you used Quizzical for, then explore the corresponding options below. The table below maps common uses of Quizzical to alternative approaches.
| If you used Quizzical for… | Try this using U of T tools | How to implement (quick start) |
|---|---|---|
| Students writing multiple-choice questions | Quercus Assignments | Create an assignment with clear instructions for question structure (e.g., question, 5 options, correct answer, explanation). Add a rubric for grading and question quality. A sample or downloadable template (e.g., Word) can be provided to help structure responses. |
| Assigning students to specific lectures for question writing | Quercus Assignments (with assigned topics or dates) | Assign students specific lectures, topics, or dates using a schedule or sign-up method (e.g., a Discussion or shared document). Quercus Groups can also be used to organize students by lecture or topic. Set corresponding due dates for submissions. |
| Students sharing questions with peers | Quercus Discussions | Create a discussion where students post questions and respond to at least one peer. |
| Practice quizzes for exam prep | Quercus Quizzes (question banks) | Build quizzes using question banks. Allow multiple attempts and randomization. |
| TA feedback + revision (resubmission) | Quercus Assignments | Use SpeedGrader to provide feedback and enable resubmissions for revision. |
| Building a pool of high-quality questions | Quercus Quizzes (question banks) | Select strong student questions and add them to a question bank for reuse in quizzes or exams. |
| Students evaluating question quality | Quercus Discussions, Quercus Assignments (student annotation), or Hypothesis | Students comment on strong questions individually or in groups using Discussions or by annotating a shared document (e.g., Student Annotation Assignment or Hypothesis). Peer Review Assignments can support structured feedback, and Microsoft Forms surveys can be used for quick ratings. |
| Participation-based grading | Quercus Gradebook + low-stakes assignments/quizzes | Assign marks for submission, participation, or quiz completion rather than correctness alone. |
| Tracking student progress and engagement | Quercus Gradebook + Quiz statistics | Use quiz statistics and assignment submissions to monitor participation and performance. |
| Including equations or figures in questions | Quercus Rich Content Editor | Use the built-in equation editor and image upload tools available to both students and instructors in assignments and quizzes. |
Two Ways to Get Started
Choose the approach that best fits your course size and level of support.
- Structured approach (closest to Quizzical; more support and scaffolding): Assignments (students write questions for assigned lectures) → TA feedback → instructor selects strong questions → Quizzes (practice)
- Lightweight approach (simpler setup; more flexibility; less formal feedback): Discussions (students post questions) → peer responses (informal feedback) → instructor selects strong questions → Quizzes
Other Tools
- Piazza: supports student questions and discussion, not structured assignment or quiz workflows
- peerScholar: supports structured peer review and revision of student work
Exporting Existing Quizzical Content
If you are currently using Quizzical, the following steps can help you export your existing content.
To export questions:
- Select the “Report” tab in Quizzical
- Select the “Question Export” button in the top right
- Choose the questions and desired export option
- Select “Export”
To export grades:
- Select the “Grades Export” tab in Quizzical
- Toggle Aggregate settings for submission or participation marks if needed
- Select the “Export Grade Data” button
Need Help?
We are here to support you in transitioning your Quizzical activities. If you would like help identifying or setting up an alternative:
Additional instructions for using Quizzical are available in the Quizzical tool guide.