Summary
IC is beginning a multi-year phased transition from Classic Quizzes to New Quizzes as the default quizzing and survey tool within the Canvas LMS. Currently faculty have the ability to use both quiz tools but Canvas will eventually retire Classic Quizzes. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the transition so faculty are informed and have sufficient time, flexibility, and support.
Body
Canvas will eventually retire Classic Quizzes in favor of New Quizzes as its default quizzing tool. Our goal is a smooth, well-supported transition aligned with Canvas’s road map and academic terms.
Audience
This article is intended for Faculty and Staff who use Canvas
Platform
Canvas LMS
Table of Contents
What you need to know now?
Why are we making this transition
What should I do next?
Tentative timeline
Resources and assistance
What do you need to know now?
- Faculty may continue using Classic Quizzes or New Quizzes through at least the 2026-2027 academic year.
- If you are creating quizzes for the first time, we strongly recommend using New Quizzes.
- Question banks work with Classic Quizzes and Item Banks work with New Quizzes. They are not interchangeable.
- New Quizzes are indicated with a solid spaceship icon and Classic Quizzes is an outlined spaceship icon.
- If you are a current Classic Quiz user, the CIE is here to support your transition.
Why are we making this transition?
- Better quiz moderation options for accommodations.
- A wider variety of question types.
- More streamlined integration with Respondus Lockdown Browser.
- Easier quiz duplication and item bank sharing.
- Improved accessibility and analytics.
- Canvas is actively improving New Quizzes and will eventually retire Classic Quizzes.
What should you do next?
- Learn about features of New Quizzes.
- Share a Classic quiz with your "sandbox" course and migrate it to New quizzes to familiarize yourself with interface and options. Pick a quiz with images, multiple question types. Preview it to see how it looks.
- Browse the timeline as you plan your next term's courses.
- If you are a user of Classic Quizzes and Question banks, please reach out to the IC Service Desk so we can assist.
Tentative Timeline
This timeline is subject to change based on changes imposed by Canvas and faculty needs.
Timeline for Classic to New Quizzes transition
| TERM |
Quizzing Changes |
| Spring 2026 courses |
- Instructors can migrate Classic Quiz to New Quiz one at a time.
- When adding a quiz, instructors have the choice to select New Quiz or Classic Quiz.
|
| Summer and Fall 2026 courses |
- NEW! Ability to bulk convert Classic quizzes to New quizzes when importing course from prior semester.
- When adding a quiz, instructors will have the choice to select New Quiz or Classic Quiz.
|
| Winter and Spring 2027 courses |
- Ability to convert all Classic quizzes to New Quizzes when importing course from prior semester (can opt out).
- When adding a quiz to a course, the choice will default to New Quiz. Instructors will have the ability to re-enable Classic Quiz choice.
|
| Summer and Fall 2027 courses |
- New Quizzes migration will be required when importing prior course content.
- Classic Quiz option will be disabled when adding a quiz..
|
| Winter and Spring 2028 courses |
- Classic Quizzes will no longer be able to be published but will remain in Canvas.
|
Resources and Assistance