Matching questions can be used to put a list of steps in the correct order or match the responses in one column to the questions in another column.

Matching questions show a column of choices on the left and a column of responses on the right. The responses in the right column are numbered sequentially. Each choice in the left column has an answer box next to it where the user enters the corresponding choice number from the right column. The user can also drag the answer text from the right column over the corresponding answer box in the left column. The number automatically fills in the box.

When creating the question text that appears above the match columns, you should explain how to answer the matching question. For example, “Match the terms and definitions by typing the number corresponding to the definition in the answer box next to the correct term. You can also drag the definition to the answer box.”

There are three steps to complete for creating the matching question items:

• Enter a series of choices in one of the columns.
   
• In the remaining column, create any number of choices that match up with the choices in the other column, but in random order. A common use for a matching question is to match terms and definitions. You can place the terms and definitions items in either column. Generally it is recommended to place the shorter items in the response column on the right, since the user has to read through every choice in the response column to make each match.
   
  If the purpose of the matching question is to put steps in the appropriate order, you can type “Step 1, Step 2” and so on in the one column and type the list of steps in varied order in the other column.
   
  To make the matching question more challenging and reduce guessing, you can include more choices in one of the columns.
   
  You can also use a response multiple times; that is, a choice in one column can match more than one choice in the other column. For example, you may have categories in the right column that match several choices in the left column. For matching food groups, "fruit" would be the correct response for both "apple" and "orange". If responses are used more than once, it is a good idea to mention this in the question text; for example, "You can use the answers in the right column once, more than once, or not at all."
   
• In the answer box for each choice in the left column, enter the number from the right column that creates the match. This establishes the correct answer order the user must enter to answer the question correctly.

Note: If you choose to randomize answers in an assessment, the answers in the right column appear in a different sequence than the original creation order.

To create a matching question:

1. On the File menu, choose  New, point to  Question, and choose Matching.
    
   or
    
   On the Library menu, point to  Question, and choose Matching
    
2. Click Click to add question text and enter the question text.
    
3. Click Click to add choice text and enter the first choice text in the left column.
    
4. Press ENTER to create each subsequent choice and repeat step 3 for each choice.
    
5. In the right column, click Click to add choice text and enter the first choice text.
    
6. Press ENTER to create each subsequent and repeat step 5 for each choice.
    
7. In the answer box next to each choice in the left column, enter the number of the matching response choice from the right column.
    
   The order displays in the Correct area.
    
8. Click Click to add remediation text and add remediation text, if desired.
    
9. Add a background image, if desired, and position the question on or around the image.
    
10. Save the question.

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