> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.equip.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Import Questions Using Excel

> Bulk-import quiz questions from an Excel template into a custom test on Equip.

When you are creating a **Custom Quiz** on Equip, you do not have to type questions in one at a time. You can fill an Excel file with all your questions and import them in a single upload. Imported questions are **appended** to the quiz, so you can import into a brand-new quiz or add to one that already has questions.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TIgl5Yv8jWw?rel=0" title="Import Questions from Excel" frameBorder="0" allowFullScreen style={{width: "100%", maxWidth: "560px", borderRadius: "0.75rem"}} />

## Downloading the Template

The import always starts from a quiz inside **Custom Tests**. From there, grab the template, fill it in, and upload it back.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Custom Tests">
    From your **Assessments Dashboard**, select **Custom Tests** in the left sidebar. Click **New** to create a quiz, or open the existing quiz you want to add questions to.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the import dialog">
    Click the **Import** button at the top right of the quiz screen.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Download the template">
    Click **Download Template**. Alternatively, open the [Google Sheets template](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1_QgE_eX2Rb4mKcNtpnc8ojhi7wAQGRrys3Gte7hWcS0/edit?usp=sharing) and download it as an Excel file via **File > Download**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Fill in your questions">
    Add one question per row, following the column rules in the next section. Save the file when you are done.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload the file">
    Back in your quiz, click the **Import from Excel** icon and select your file. Optionally enable **Autocalculate Negative Points** before uploading.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  Do not remove any columns from the template. Your file must contain **only one sheet** and **no empty rows**, or the import will fail.
</Warning>

## Formatting Questions

Each row in the template is one question. Columns marked with an asterisk in the template cannot be left empty.

| Column            | Required   | What to Enter                                                                                                            |
| ----------------- | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| **Question Type** | Yes        | `MCQ` (single correct answer) or `MCA` (multiple correct answers)                                                        |
| **Question**      | Yes        | The text of the question                                                                                                 |
| **Opt1 to Opt5**  | At least 2 | The answer choices. With three choices, fill Opt1 to Opt3 and leave the rest blank                                       |
| **CorrectAnsInd** | Yes        | For an MCQ, the number of the correct option (e.g. `2`). For an MCA, comma-separated numbers with no spaces (e.g. `2,3`) |
| **Markdown**      | No         | Enter `1` to render the question and options as Markdown                                                                 |
| **Points**        | No         | Points awarded for a correct answer                                                                                      |
| **Time**          | No         | Time limit for the question, in seconds                                                                                  |
| **Image**         | No         | A direct image URL ending in `.jpg`, `.png`, etc.                                                                        |
| **Tags**          | No         | One or more tags, separated by commas                                                                                    |

<Note>
  The Excel import supports MCQ and MCA questions only. Your quiz itself is fully editable after the import, so you can add other [question types](/custom-quiz-question-types), reassign points, or tweak any imported question afterwards.
</Note>

### Autocalculate Negative Points

If you are uploading many questions and want negative marking, enable **Autocalculate Negative Points** during the import. Every MCQ is then assigned negative points automatically:

```
Negative Points = Points Assigned / Number of Options
```

For example, an MCQ worth 2 points with 4 options gets 0.5 negative points. MCAs are never auto-assigned negative points.

## Markdown and LaTeX Support

Use the **Markdown** column to control formatting: enter `1` in that column and the question text and options render as Markdown. Leave it blank for plain text.

For mathematical equations, write them in **LaTeX** inside your Excel file, then enable LaTeX in the quiz's **Advanced Settings** so they render correctly for candidates.

<Tip>
  Combine the Markdown column with the **Image** column to build rich questions: formatted text, code snippets, and a supporting image, all from a single spreadsheet row.
</Tip>

## Troubleshooting Imports

Most failed or messy imports come down to a formatting issue in the file. Check these first:

| Symptom                        | Likely Cause                                                                | Fix                                                                                                            |
| ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Upload rejected                | Columns were removed, the file has multiple sheets, or there are empty rows | Restore the original template columns, keep a single sheet, and delete blank rows                              |
| Wrong answers marked correct   | **CorrectAnsInd** formatted incorrectly                                     | Use a single number for MCQs; for MCAs, separate numbers with a comma and no space (`2,3`)                     |
| A question has too few choices | Fewer than two options filled in                                            | Every question needs at least **Opt1** and **Opt2**                                                            |
| Images not showing             | The Image URL is not a direct link                                          | Use a URL ending in `.jpg`, `.png`, etc. Google Drive links and links to pages containing an image do not work |
| Equations show as raw text     | LaTeX not enabled on the quiz                                               | Turn on LaTeX in the quiz's **Advanced Settings**                                                              |

<Note>
  Duplicate uploads create duplicate questions, because imported questions are appended rather than merged. If you import the same file twice, remove the extra questions in the quiz editor.
</Note>

## Related Resources

* [Custom Quiz Question Types](/custom-quiz-question-types) - Every question type you can add after importing
* [Negative Marking](/negative-marking) - How negative points work across Equip and custom content
* [Question Bank Quiz](/question-bank-quiz) - Draw randomized questions from large pools of your own questions
* [Custom Quiz Time Limits](/custom-quiz-time-limits) - How per-question and whole-test timers work in custom quizzes