Multiple choice maker — printable MCQ worksheet with answer key

How to use the multiple choice maker

1. In Questions, write a question on one line. On the lines below it, write each option starting with “-”.
2. Mark the correct option with an asterisk: -* Mercury or - Mercury *. Leave a blank line between questions if it helps you read them; it is optional.
3. Set the Worksheet title and the Instructions line that appears in italics under the title.
4. Keep Add name, date and score lines ticked for a class handout, or untick it for a self-test.
5. Print the Worksheet, then print the Answer key separately. The plain-text key can also be copied or saved as answer-key.txt.

What it does and when to use it

Teachers use it to turn a list of questions into a clean test paper: options get circled letters A, B, C, questions are numbered, and the score line shows the total, such as “Score: / 4”. Students use it to make practice papers from their notes.

For short-answer questions, the random question picker draws them one at a time. For term–definition pairs, the flashcard maker builds cut-out cards. Once the test date is set, add it to the exam countdown.

How it works

The tool reads your text line by line. A line that starts with a dash (-, – or •) or an asterisk is an option and belongs to the question above it. Any other non-empty line starts a new question. An asterisk next to the dash or at the end of the line marks the option as correct, and the marker is removed from the printed text.

Before anything is printed, every question is checked. A question with fewer than two options, more than 26, no marked answer or more than one marked answer stops the build, and an option written before the first question is reported with its line number. Each option’s letter comes from its position, so the answer key always matches the worksheet. Everything runs in your browser.

Worked examples

Two science questions with old numbering. Questions “Q1. Which planet is closest to the Sun?” (Venus, Mercury marked, Mars) and “Q2. At sea level, water boils at” (90 °C, 100 °C marked at the end of the line, 110 °C), titled “Science starter” with the name lines off. The tool reports 2 questions and 6 options, drops the “Q1.” and “Q2.” prefixes, and gives the key:

1. B — Mercury
2. B — 100 °C

Two answers marked. “Capital of Italy?” with Rome and Turin both starred returns an error: Question 1 “marks 2 options as correct; mark exactly one.”

Only one option. “Capital of Spain?” with only “-* Madrid” is rejected because each question “needs at least two options”.

Limits and tips

• Each question must fit on one line.
• Options are printed exactly as typed, so check spelling and keep them a similar length; a much longer option can give the answer away.
• There is no on-screen quiz mode or automatic marking. Students answer on paper and you mark with the key.