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Extended Text

The Extended Text item type provides students with a prompt and a full Rich Content Editor (RCE) to craft an open-ended written response. Often referred to as constructed response or extended response, this format supports longer, more developed answers and is best used for tasks that require reasoning, reflection, explanation, or analysis. Extended Text items are manually-scored and do not support auto-scoring.

Key Characteristics​

  • Displays a single prompt with no predefined correct answer.
  • Provides students with a Rich Content Editor, including basic formatting tools (e.g., bold, italics, bullets).
  • Student responses are open-response and require manual scoring by an teacher.
  • Ideal for tasks involving writing, justification, or explanation in detail.

When delivered, students see the prompt and a spacious text field where they can organize and articulate their response using available formatting tools.

Instructional Connection​

Extended Text items are designed for higher-order thinking and authentic assessment. They are well-suited for evaluating skills such as argument construction, written analysis, reflection, or synthesis of multiple sources. This item type helps students engage in deep thinking, express reasoning in their own words, and demonstrate understanding in a flexible, written format.

Authoring a Extended Text Question​

From the item editor, click on:

  1. Click on +Question.
  2. From the list of question types, select Extended Text.

Enter the Prompt​

In the Prompt field, provide a clear writing task for the student.

Scoring Configuration (Optional)​

Extended Text items are manually scored by teachers, however authors can provide guidance on scoring parameters via the following:

  1. Custom Scoring - Define how many points the item is worth.
  2. Rubric - Provide a scoring rubric to outline key criteria and performance levels, ensuring consistency across scorers.
  3. Solution - Provide a model or sample response to guide teacher scoring. This is for internal use and not shown to students.

Save the Item​

Click Save to store your item in Studio.