7th of December 2025

This article contains this release's feature updates, user interface changes and bug fixes.

Changes to the platform

Added a "Leave unanswered" alternative to written assignments and digital tests

To allow students to deliberately leave a question unanswered, we have added an optional "Leave unanswered" alternative to multiple choice and response questions as previously shared on the roadmap. This option can be found by clicking the Customise layout dropdown and then Edit layout. Selecting this alternative will mark the question as having no given answer, but will not cause the unanswered questions warning to be shown.

If the guess correction is set to only count answered questions, responses with the blank alternative selected will be counted as unanswered, the same as if the student had selected no alternative at all.

Added a sidebar for assignment exercises

As previously shared on our roadmap, locating and opening specific exercises while building assignments took longer than expected. To streamline this, a faster and more intuitive workflow has been introduced: a new sidebar that provides a clear overview of all exercises and enables instant navigation between them.

When working on a question bank exercise or an assignment, the visibility of individual panels (sidebar, editor, and preview) can now be toggled. Panels that are not relevant can be hidden to maintain focus, while at least one panel will always remain visible.

Panel responsiveness has also been improved by adjusting their widths. Panels will now automatically hide when dragged past their minimum width, ensuring a smoother and more flexible editing experience.

Improved interface for question construction

The question types editor interface has been updated to improve usability and match the latest platform styling. Multiple choice, Multiple response, and Fill-in-the-gaps have been fully released, following their earlier availability in closed beta for early testing as noted on our roadmap.

Multiple choice

The Multiple choice question has been split into two separate question types - Multiple choice and Multiple response. Multiple choice allows the participant to select only one alternative, while Multiple response allows several.

Scoring settings are no longer hidden in the options menu. Instead, they are included in the scoring methods, ensuring only relevant options are shown. Multiple choice supports All or nothing and Custom scoring, and Multiple response supports All or nothing, Partial and Custom scoring. 

• All or nothing awards full points only if all correct answers are selected. This method is based on automatic scoring. 
• Partial awards points based on the number of correct answers selected and the incorrect answers avoided. This method is based on automatic scoring. 
• Custom allows manually assigning points to each answer. The option to limit maximum to total points is applied by default, and the option to limit minimum to zero points can be enabled using a toggle.

Answer alternatives can now be reordered using drag handles, which saves clicks. They can also be pinned into place or deleted with a single click using the new icon buttons.

Feedback fields for answer options can be shown or hidden using the Edit feedback toggle, helping you to keep focus. They remain hidden when empty but automatically appear if any answer includes feedback. The model answer and question-level feedback are now grouped in a collapsible section.

Fill-in-the-gaps

For Fill-in-the-gaps question type, question content and gaps are now edited in the same field for a simpler workflow. Gaps can be added using the New gap button and restored using the arrow part of the same button. Gap answer types can now be configured individually and not for the entire question, allowing you to combine alphanumeric, numeric and dropdown gaps. Guess correction only applies when all gaps use the dropdown type.

This question type supports the same scoring methods as Multiple response: All or nothing, Partial, and Custom.

Other question types

Other question types have also been updated to make them easier to use. Selector components in Mathematical equation and Numerical value questions have been replaced with buttons for a clearer overview of available options. In Match, Order and Statement questions, you can now fix items at the current position with a single click, using the new Pin button.

Released Error Carry Forward (ECF) out of beta

The Error Carry Forward (ECF) feature is now generally available for all schools as previously announced on our roadmap. In dependent numerical questions, ECF allows students to earn points for correct calculations based on their previous answers, even if those answers were incorrect. This ensures students are rewarded for following the correct method rather than for a final answer.

In the school review options, administrators can set the preferred default for ECF to enabled or disabled for the entire school. It is disabled by default to match the current behaviour.

In the assignment review options, ECF can be toggled on or off for each assignment, allowing flexible evaluation. The toggle only appears if there are numerical value questions present in the assignment. If the feature is enabled or disabled after results have been submitted, affected scores will be recalculated automatically.

The assignment review options layout has also been improved. Grading methods can now be selected using buttons, and all settings are organised in a single table.

Removed the ability to generate course assignments directly from a blueprint

Previously, blueprints could generate course assignments directly. In these cases, while the exercises themselves remained linked to the question bank, the assignment as a whole was not linked, even if the open beta feature “Synchronise assignments” was enabled.

All assignment generation via blueprints now goes through a question bank assignment first. This ensures that every course assignment is fully linked to the question bank if your school uses the open beta feature. This change also sets the stage for upcoming plans to make it possible to exclude exercises from previously created question bank assignments.

Manage learning objectives directly in the question editor

Many question types now let you create the content, set the grading scheme, and assign learning objectives in one form. The objectives field sits next to the content and grading scheme, so the separate “Objectives” tab is removed.

The question header shows how many objectives are linked, along with the points and question type.

For courses that do not use learning objectives, the objectives field stays hidden for a cleaner editing view.

Bubble sheet assignments now include an inline objectives field for each question. Displayed as a “–” (matching the question bank style), this field allows instructors to quickly assign learning objectives without leaving the question list.

Improved workflow for editing content blocks

Content blocks, previously named Descriptions, help you add extra content to exercises in digital and written assignments. The content block selection dialog now shows your three most recently used block types at the top, making it easier to use the same type.

Blocks are no longer created immediately after selecting a type. Instead, they are only created once you save them, making it easier to cancel if you made a mistake. The editor interface has also been improved. A badge at the top now shows the block type you are editing.

Finally, a new Edit button allows you to start editing content blocks with a single click. The option to change a block’s type has been removed to simplify the experience.

Duplicate criteria and criteria groups

Previously, criteria and criteria groups had to be created manually from scratch. Now, you can duplicate them within the same question using the Duplicate button. This makes it easier to set up grading schemes that include multiple groups with identical criteria.

Duplicated individual criteria are added at the end of the same group, allowing you to place them directly where needed. Duplicated groups, along with all their criteria, are added to the end of the grading scheme. For easier recognition, duplicated items are named "< Original name > (copy)".

Pre-filled the existing empty criteria names with their evaluation criteria descriptions

The empty criterion name fields are now pre-filled for all existing criteria using their evaluation descriptions. This makes it easier to recognise criteria in saved questions at a glance and allows flexible editing. This means you can update criteria names at any time while leaving descriptions unchanged. Evaluation criterion descriptions are also now fully displayed in the print format of assignments when printing questions with grading schemes.

The 'Change question type' option has moved

The 'Change question type' option is now located in the options menu of a the question and opens in a searchable dialog. Previously, changing the question type would save immediately. Now, selecting a question type opens the edit form without saving, allowing you to review the change and discard it if needed.

Show question type badge when editing questions

We now show a badge at the top of the question form that displays the question type (e.g., "Multiple Choice", "Open Question"). This makes it clear which question type you are currently working with. This will be shown in the exercise and grading scheme tab.

Improved flow for editing exercises

When adding questions to an exercise for written assignments or digital tests, a new dialog now opens. It includes a search bar and shows the last three question types you used. This makes it faster to find the question type you want.

After selecting a type, a new question is added to the exercise but only saved after you finish creating it. Before, questions were created right away, which made it harder to remove them if you made a mistake.

You can now edit a question with one click, thanks to the new edit icon button.

Monitoring location no longer shows city information

To address one of the SURF DPIA findings, digital test monitoring no longer displays a participant’s city based on their IP address. To protect privacy, the system now only shows whether a participant is in a school-defined location or off-campus.

Limit the Canon, Proctorio, Schoolyear and Readspeaker integrations to selected courses

The Canon, Proctorio, Schoolyear and ReadSpeaker integrations now support course-level access control. This gives school admins firm control over where each integration is available.

Some integrations have costs per use, so it is useful to limit access to the courses that need it. It also helps when you want to test an integration during a trial period without giving access to every course.

When a school switches to course-level access control, any courses that previously had access will have the integration disabled until access is granted again. School admins can update access at any time.

Removed 'school settings billing' and 'school setting results' restrictions from the custom roles

The custom role restrictions for "School billing" and "School result settings" have been removed from the administrator role as they are both covered by the "School settings" restriction that was introduced with the August 17th release.

The custom role restriction for "School billing" was also present for the department administrator role; however, they never had access even when the restriction was disabled, so the option has been removed.

Added 'departments' and 'school bin' permissions to the department administrator custom role

The department administrator custom role has been expanded with the following restrictions: 

• Viewing, creating, editing and removing departments 
• Viewing the school bin; which restricts access to trashed courses, trashed question banks and trashed users. Department adminstrators were always restricted to only restoring records they can update. This means that if you want to prevent restoring a course, while still allowing the user to view the bin, you should disable the ability to update courses.

These added restrictions allow for finer control over which users are permitted to manage departments and restore records from the bin.

Remove sign in with Google pop-up from the sign in screen

To address one of the SURF DPIA findings, we are removing the sign in with Google pop-up from the sign in page. This pop-up would always load, even if the user never had the intention to sign in with Google. To sign in with Google the 'Sign in with Google' button must be used instead, which only initiates a request to Google after clicking the button.

Improved the removed users page

Restoring a removed user as a school admin now takes less time. A new role filter helps narrow down the list of accounts. A search bar also allows student accounts to be located by entering a student number. After an account is restored, a direct link to the profile appears in the bottom-left corner, making it easy to jump to the restored account immediately.

Added User Agent Header for Canvas API Requests

To keep supporting the Canvas LMS, we have added the required User Agent header to LTI requests made to Learning management systems. For more information about this change please see: https://community.canvaslms.com/t5/Canvas-LMS-Blog/Enforcing-User-Agent-Header-for-Canvas-API-Requests/ba-p/658205

Newest scans appear first on scan page

Scans grouped by assignment now show with the newest uploads at the top. This makes it easier to see what you just uploaded and verify your submissions.

Added support for SVG images in written assignments

It is now possible to use SVG images in a written assignment. This also improves the support for converting a digital test to a written assignment, without having to replace SVG images with a supported image format.

API changes

Remove group_id and klass_id from API beta timeslot response

The group_id and klass_id attributes have been removed in favour of using the assignees attribute, which supports multiple assignees, including groups and classes.

Bug fixes

• Fixed an issue where the 'Preview' button of a digital test required a page refresh to appear after adding the first question
  Previously, after adding the first question to a digital test, you had to refresh the page for the 'Preview' button to appear. Now, when the digital test contains questions, the button automatically appears in the preview panel, so that you can preview the test without refreshing.
   
• Improved warning message when removing grading criteria
  After the ability to edit the grading scheme was introduced to the reviewing screen, we received feedback that the consequences of deleting criterion was not clear to many users. As a result, we have improved the warning messages. A warning is now displayed to confirm that deleting a criterion will also remove it from the grading scheme. If the criterion has already been used to grade a student, the warning message will also include text indicating that deleting it will impact results.
   
• Fixed an issue where custom instructor roles could access grading schemes even though permissions were disabled
  Previously, custom instructor roles could still view and edit the grading scheme even when these permissions were disabled. This has now been corrected. Users with custom instructor roles without permission to view assignment grading schemes, now have the grading scheme hidden in both exercises and grading scheme editors. For users without permission to edit grading schemes, they are displayed in a read-only state, ensuring the content can be viewed but not modified.
   
• Fixed an issue where names with an apostrophe were not searchable in the user overview
  Previously, it was not possible to search on users with an apostrophe in the employees and students overview. Now, it is possible again.
   
• Fixed an issue where invitation links created from custom domains did not work for external users
  Previously, invitation links created while using your school's domain (like ans.school.edu) included that domain. External users could not open these links because they did not have access to your school's domain. Now, invitation links always use the main ans.app domain, so that they work for everyone. External collaborators can open them, and if your school uses a custom domain, you will be redirected automatically when you click on the link.
   
• Fixed an issue where the blueprint error message contradicted the matching exercises count
  Previously, the error message said "No combination of exercises matches the required points" while also showing "1 matching exercise found", which contradicted each other. Now the error message says that matching exercises were found but do not have enough points total. This removes the contradiction and explains why the requirement is not met.
   

• Fixed an issue where the "Generate" button for legacy blueprints was unclear
  Previously, the "Generate" button for generating question bank assignments with legacy blueprints was on the "Question bank assignments" page. However, it was not clear that this generation only worked for legacy blueprints. New blueprints required navigating to the "Blueprints" tab to generate, which was confusing.

  The generate action is now present on each blueprint page. Each blueprint has a "Generate assignment" button that opens the generation form with that blueprint pre-selected. The form title shows which blueprint is being used.

  The old "Generate" button was removed from the question bank assignments page to avoid confusion. This makes it clear that generating happens from within a blueprint, and the blueprint is always visible during generation.
  
   

• Required text fields show a red border when they need to be filled
  Previously, saving a question without completing the required question content provided no warning or feedback, leaving the question unsaved with no explanation. Users could click “Save” repeatedly without understanding why the action failed. Now, if a required text field is left empty and the user clicks away, a red border appears around the editor. Returning focus to the editor restores the normal focus border, and the red border disappears once typing begins. This provides a clear visual indication of which editors must be completed.
   
• Fixed an issue where school breadcrumb links pointed to the wrong page when viewing question bank content
  Previously, clicking the school in breadcrumbs always went to the courses page, even when viewing question banks or question bank exercises. Now, when the breadcrumb path includes a question bank, the school link goes to the question banks page instead of the courses page.