[Tex/LaTex] How to write a multiple choice test book with LaTeX

book-designexamexercisesmacrosquestionnaire

I want to write a book which will consist of many multiple choice exam sheets. Putting the codes below into my preamble, I wrote the question like as

\begin{enumerate}
\item $2+2=?$
\choice $1$   \choice $2$  \choice $3$   \choice $4$   \choice $5$
\end{enumerate}

For each exam sheet, in the footer I want to create a table of correct answers. Is there any simple way to do this, or a LaTeX macro script to do this automatically by mentioning correct answer in its LaTeX codes? For example;

\choice 1 \choice 2 \choice 3 \correctchoice 4 \choice 5

In addition, since the choices are not side by side, I have lost many spaces. Is there any LaTeX codes to write choices more symmetrically and automatically in one or two row?

%%% Codes in preamble %%%

\newcounter{choice}
\renewcommand\thechoice{\Alph{choice}}
\newcommand\choicelabel{\thechoice)}
\newenvironment{choices}%
{\list{\choicelabel}% {\usecounter{choice}\def\makelabel##1{\hss\llap{##1}}% \settowidth{\leftmargin}{W.\hskip\labelsep\hskip 1.5em}% \def\choice{% \item } % choice \labelwidth\leftmargin\advance\labelwidth-\labelsep \topsep=0pt \partopsep=0pt }% }%
{\endlist}

\newenvironment{oneparchoices}%    
{% \setcounter{choice}{0}% \def\choice{% \refstepcounter{choice}% \ifnum\value{choice}>1\relax \penalty -50\hskip 1em plus 1em\relax \fi \choicelabel \nobreak\enskip }% choice % If we're continuing the paragraph containing the question, %then leave a bit of space before the first choice:

\ifvmode\else\enskip\fi
\ignorespaces
}%

Best Answer

Here's a variation on my earlier answer. In this version, the choices aren't part of any environment; you just start listing \choices and \correctchoices after the question.

Here's a complete LaTeX file that illustrates it.

\documentclass{article}

%--------------------------------------------------------------------
\newcounter{question}
\newif\ifinchoices
\inchoicesfalse
\newenvironment{questions}{%
  \list{\thequestion.}%
  {%
    \usecounter{question}%
    \def\question{\inchoicesfalse\item}%
    \settowidth{\leftmargin}{10.\hskip\labelsep}%
    \labelwidth\leftmargin\advance\labelwidth-\labelsep
  }%
}
{%
  \endlist
}%

\newcounter{choice}
\renewcommand\thechoice{\Alph{choice}}
\newcommand\choicelabel{\thechoice.}
\def\choice{%
  \ifinchoices
    % Do nothing
  \else
    \startchoices
  \fi
  \refstepcounter{choice}%
  \ifnum\value{choice}>1\relax
  \penalty -50\hskip 1em plus 1em\relax
  \fi
  \choicelabel
  \nobreak\enskip
}% choice
\def\CorrectChoice{%
  \choice
  \addanswer{\thequestion}{\thechoice}%
}
\let\correctchoice\CorrectChoice

\newcommand{\startchoices}{%
  \inchoicestrue
  \setcounter{choice}{0}%
% \par % Uncomment this to have choices always start a new line
  % If we're continuing the paragraph containing the question,
  % then leave a bit of space before the first choice:
  \ifvmode\else\enskip\fi
}%

\newbox\allanswers
\setbox\allanswers=\hbox{}
\newcommand{\addanswer}[2]{%
  \global\setbox\allanswers=\hbox{\unhbox\allanswers #1.~#2\quad}%
}
\newcommand{\showanswers}{%
  \vfill
  \begin{center}
    Answers
  \end{center}
  \noindent\unhbox\allanswers
}



%--------------------------------------------------------------------
\begin{document}


\begin{questions}
  \question What was the color of George Washington's white horse?
      \choice Blue
    \choice Yellow
    \correctchoice White
    \choice Black

  \question Which of these things doesn't fit in?
      \choice John
    \choice Paul
    \choice George
    \choice Ringo
    \correctchoice Socrates

    \question Who's buried in Grant's tomb?
    \choice Washington
    \choice Mickey Mouse
    \correctchoice Grant
\end{questions}

\showanswers
\newpage



\begin{questions}
  \question $1+1= \mathord{?}$
    \choice $0$ \choice $1$ \correctchoice $2$ \choice $3$ \choice $4$

  \question $\sin \frac{\pi}{2} = \mathord{?}$
    \choice $0$ \correctchoice $1$ \choice $2$ \choice $\frac{\pi}{2}$

  \question What was the color of the bus driver's eyes?
    \choice Green \choice Yellow \correctchoice Blue \choice Red
\end{questions}

\showanswers

\end{document}

Using the `exam` class

The exam class obviously is not meant to create a textbook. But exercise/answer sheets can be created with it. Remove or add the class option answers to see the difference:

\documentclass[answers]{exam}
\begin{document}

\begin{questions}
 \question This is the first question.
 \ifprintanswers\emph{Info:} Correct choices are marked bold.\fi
 \begin{checkboxes}
  \choice Wrong answer
  \correctchoice This is a correct answer
  \correctchoice This is another answer
  \choice Wrong answer
 \end{checkboxes}
 \question This is the second question.
 \ifprintanswers\emph{Info:} Correct choices are marked bold.\fi
 
 \begin{oneparcheckboxes}
  \correctchoice True
  \choice False
  \correctchoice True
  \choice false
 \end{oneparcheckboxes}
\end{questions}

\end{document}

enter image description here

Using the `exsheets` package

The exsheets package can be used to create exams, exercise/answer sheets or exercises in textbooks. The following example will show how to add exercises and solutions and print the solutions in a separate section or chapter.

Using `enumitem`

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{exsheets}
\SetupExSheets{counter-format=se.qu}

% due to a bug in versions >0.3a:
\providecommand*\checkedchoicebox{\ckeckedchoicebox}

\usepackage[inline]{enumitem}
\newlist{choices}{itemize}{1}
\newlist{choices*}{itemize*}{1}
\setlist[choices*]{itemjoin=\qquad}
\newcommand*\choice{\item[\choicebox]}
\newcommand*\correctchoice{\PrintSolutionsTF{\item[\checkedchoicebox]}{\item[\choicebox]}}

\begin{document}
\section{Exercises}
\begin{question}\label{qu:one}
 This is the first question.
 \begin{choices}
  \choice Wrong answer
  \correctchoice This is a correct answer
  \correctchoice This is another answer
  \choice Wrong answer
 \end{choices}
\end{question}
\begin{solution}
 This is the first question.
 \begin{choices}
  \choice Wrong answer
  \correctchoice This is a correct answer
  \correctchoice This is another answer
  \choice Wrong answer
 \end{choices}
 You find the question on page~\pageref{qu:one}.
\end{solution}
\begin{question}\label{qu:two}
 This is the second question.
 
 \begin{choices*}
  \correctchoice True
  \choice False
  \correctchoice True
  \choice false
 \end{choices*}
\end{question}
\begin{solution}
 This is the second question.
 
 \begin{choices*}
  \correctchoice True
  \choice False
  \correctchoice True
  \choice false
 \end{choices*}
 
 \noindent You find the question on page~\pageref{qu:two}.
\end{solution}

\section{Solutions}
\printsolutions

\end{document}

enter image description here

With >v0.3a of `exsheets`

The next update of exsheets will not only fix a few issues such as the \ckeckedchoicebox but also provide a possibility without enumitem. A working version can be downloaded here, the update to CTAN will have to wait a few days, though.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{exsheets}
\SetupExSheets{counter-format=se.qu}

\NewTasks[style=multiplechoice]{choices}[\choice]
\newcommand*\correct{\checkedchoicebox}

\begin{document}
\section{Exercises}
\begin{question}\label{qu:one}
 This is the first question.
 \begin{choices}
  \choice Wrong answer
  \choice This is a correct answer
  \choice This is another answer
  \choice Wrong answer
 \end{choices}
\end{question}
\begin{solution}
 This is the first question.
 \begin{choices}
  \choice Wrong answer
  \choice[\correct] This is a correct answer
  \choice[\correct] This is another answer
  \choice Wrong answer
 \end{choices}
 You find the question on page~\pageref{qu:one}.
\end{solution}
\begin{question}\label{qu:two}
 This is the second question.
 \begin{choices}{4}
  \choice True
  \choice False
  \choice True
  \choice false
 \end{choices}
\end{question}
\begin{solution}
 This is the second question.
 \begin{choices}{4}
  \choice[\correct] True
  \choice False
  \choice[\correct] True
  \choice false
 \end{choices}
 \noindent You find the question on page~\pageref{qu:two}.
\end{solution}

\section{Solutions}
\printsolutions

\end{document}

[Tex/LaTex] Multiple choice with answers at the end of the chapter

Here's a bit of a hack using the endnotes package. I tried to inline some comments.

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{endnotes}

% Define two new counters for ease of using.
\newcounter{questionnumber}
\newcounter{choicenumber}[questionnumber]
% Formatting the counters, this is where you change how the counters appear.
\renewcommand*\thequestionnumber{\arabic{questionnumber}.}
\renewcommand*\thechoicenumber{\alph{choicenumber})}

% Define the \question and \choice commands to be similar to what is 
% given in the OP
\newcommand*\question{\item}
\newcommand*\choice{\item}
% Here's a bit of a hack: \endnotetext stores the \meaning of the its argument
% in the endnotetext file, so the macros aren't expanded. I use \edef to fully
% expand the current \thechoicenumber, and use \expandafter to stuff it into
% the argument for \endnotetext. Suggestions for improvements are welcome!
\newcommand*\entreplace[1]{\endnotetext[\value{questionnumber}]{#1}}
\makeatletter
\newcommand\truechoice[1]{\item \protected@edef\currentcount{\thechoicenumber~~#1} \expandafter\entreplace\expandafter{\currentcount}}
\makeatother
% Define a choices environment, just a list basically. 
\newenvironment{choices}{\begin{list}{\thechoicenumber}{\usecounter{choicenumber}}}{\end{list}}

% These are to set up the endnotes. The first makes the endnote marks look 
% like the question numbering (as opposed to being in superscript). The second
% sets the endnotes heading to read "Answers". 
\renewcommand*\makeenmark{\theenmark.~~}
\renewcommand*\notesname{Answers:}

\begin{document}
\begin{list}{\thequestionnumber}{\usecounter{questionnumber}}
\question Some question
\begin{choices}
\choice False choice
\choice Bad choice
\truechoice{This is true for no good reason} True choice.
\end{choices}

\question Who won the 2012 Presidential Election in US?
\begin{choices}
\choice Mitt Romney
\truechoice{Without even counting Florida} Barack Obama
\end{choices}
\end{list}

% Print the "answers"
\theendnotes
\end{document}

And here's the output:

enter image description here

Edit:

In response to zar's comment below, if we want the input syntax to be

\truechoice{Choice text}{Justification/commentary}

instead of

\truechoice{Justification/commentary} Choice text

one can change the definition to

\newcommand\truechoice[2]{\item #1 \protected@edef\currentcount{\thechoicenumber~~#2} \expandafter\entreplace\expandafter{\currentcount}}

But this way you have to put the choice text in braces, for example, you must write

\truechoice{True Choice!}{That choice was true for no good reason}

Edit 2: S.G. and zar noticed some problems with my abuse of the \edef function. A more complicated, but functionally better hack is the following (I'm including the full file below for easy of copy-pasting)

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{endnotes}

% Define two new counters for ease of using.
\newcounter{questionnumber}
\newcounter{choicenumber}[questionnumber]
% Formatting the counters, this is where you change how the counters
% appear.
\renewcommand*\thequestionnumber{\arabic{questionnumber}.}
\renewcommand*\thechoicenumber{\alph{choicenumber})}

% Define the \question and \choice commands to be similar to what is 
% given in the OP
\newcommand*\question{\item}
\newcommand*\choice{\item}
% Here's a bit of a hack: \endnotetext stores the \meaning of the its argument
% in the endnotetext file, so the macros aren't expanded. I use \edef to fully
% expand the current \thechoicenumber, and use \expandafter to stuff it into
% the argument for \endnotetext. Suggestions for improvements are welcome!
\newcommand*\entreplace[1]{\endnotetext[\value{questionnumber}]{#1}}
\newcommand\truechoice[2]{\item #1 \edef\tempchoice{\thechoicenumber} \expandafter\def\expandafter\currentcount\expandafter{\tempchoice \ \ #2} \expandafter\entreplace\expandafter{\currentcount}}

% Define a choices environment, just a list basically. 
\newenvironment{choices}{\begin{list}{\thechoicenumber}{\usecounter{choicenumber}}}{\end{list}}

% These are to set up the endnotes. The first makes the endnote marks look 
% like the question numbering (as opposed to being in superscript). The second
% sets the endnotes heading to read "Answers". 
\renewcommand*\makeenmark{\theenmark.~~}
\renewcommand*\notesname{Answers:}

\begin{document}
\begin{list}{\thequestionnumber}{\usecounter{questionnumber}}
\question Some question
\begin{choices}
\choice False choice
\choice Bad choice
\truechoice{True choice}{This is true for no good reason $1+1$. Let me
add more text. There should be four or five lines. Can I put displayed
math in here? \emph{test} \[ E = mc^2\] Some more text.}
\end{choices}
\end{list}

% Print the "answers"
\theendnotes
\end{document}

and this is what it outputs

enter image description here

which as one can see correctly handles the \emph command and math (both displayed and inline) environments.

Best Answer

Related Solutions

[Tex/LaTex] How to type multiple choice questions with more than one correct choice

Using the exam class

Using the exsheets package

Using enumitem

With >v0.3a of exsheets

[Tex/LaTex] Multiple choice with answers at the end of the chapter

Related Question

Using the `exam` class

Using the `exsheets` package

Using `enumitem`

With >v0.3a of `exsheets`