Assessments and online quizzes
The essential guide to navigating Moodle assessments and quizzes.
At UNSW, Moodle is the central platform for completing and submitting your assessments.
You will use it to take quizzes, upload files and submit assignments. This page brings these processes together in one place, providing clear guidance to help you stay organised and meet your course requirements with confidence.
See also
Moodle provides two primary methods for submitting assessments: Moodle Assignment and Turnitin.
Always read your assessment instructions carefully and follow the required format to ensure your submission is accepted.
-
The Moodle Assignment activity is the submission box for written work.
It can be used for both individual and group submissions.Submissions may be made in one of the following formats:
- Online text – enter your response directly into the Moodle text editor
- File upload – upload a document file (e.g. Word or PDF) from your device
- Media upload – upload an image, audio, or video file from your device.
Please note: Each assessment must be submitted in the file format specified in the assignment instructions. All files must be accessible and follow your course’s naming conventions. If you are unsure, contact your course convenor for more information on the submission requirements.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
⚠️ Having trouble submitting?
Check the FAQ for common issues before contacting your lecturer.
A Media Collection activity in Moodle works like a gallery where photos, videos and audio files can be displayed together. It can be organised into collections and albums, making it easy to group related media. This activity is often used for creative or visual assignments.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
-
Turnitin checks your work for originality by comparing it with student submissions, online sources and academic resources. It reviews each file for proper referencing, plagiarism, similarity and AI-generated content.
Important to know:
- All submissions remain in the Turnitin database. If you resubmit the same or similar work, it may be flagged as highly similar
- Turnitin only accepts .doc or .pdf files (PDF is recommended)
- Submissions must contain readable text. Image-only files (e.g. scanned documents) will not be processed.
Please note: Each assessment must be submitted in the file format specified in the assignment instructions. All files must be accessible and follow your course’s naming conventions.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
-
The similarity score shows the percentage of your assignment that matches other sources. It helps instructors and students identify similar or overlapping text. The score appears in the submission inbox almost immediately after submission.
Important
- Lecturers decide if you can see the score
- Some courses allow resubmission before the due date if the score is too high
- After three resubmissions, new reports take 24 hours to generate.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
-
-
- Text only: Scanned documents must be run through OCR before submission.
- Accepted formats:
- MS Word (.doc, .docx)
- WordPerfect (.wpd)
- Rich Text (.rtf)
- PDF (.pdf)
- PostScript (.eps)
- HTML (.htm)
- Plain text (.txt)
- Some formats (e.g., .hwp, .odt, .ps, PowerPoint) are accepted if text is computer-readable.
- Not accepted: Any other file types. Convert to PDF first if unsure.
-
- Only one file per assignment is allowed
- Files must contain at least 20 words
- Maximum file size: 100MB
- You may paste text directly into the “Submit Paper” page instead of uploading a file.
-
- You’ll also receive a receipt by email.
- If you don’t see the receipt, your submission failed.
- After submission, Turnitin shows a digital receipt on screen.
-
Your course or school may decide whether you can:
- Submit multiple times or only once
- Receive an originality report after every submission or only the first
- View originality reports at all.
-
⚠️ Having trouble submitting?
Check the FAQ for common issues before contacting your lecturer.
-
- Error or upload issues – Contact your lecturer first. Take screenshots or recordings of any error messages as proof.
- Submission link missing – Some links only appear after a set date/time. Check the release time.
- Media Gallery submissions – Your lecturer will tell you how to submit. Follow their instructions.
- File format problems – Some formats don’t work on all devices. Save and submit as a .pdf whenever possible.
-
The option to resubmit depends on how your lecturer set up the task and the due date. If you submitted the wrong file or need another chance, contact your lecturer. They can allow resubmission or delete your current submission.
-
Turnitin has two key dates:
- Due date – last time you can submit
- Post date – when grades and feedback are released.
You’ll only see your marks after the post date. If your grades don’t appear when they should, ask your lecturer.
-
Here are common reasons and what to do:
- Late submissions – Submitting after the due date may be blocked. Ask your lecturer for advice
- Wrong submission dates set – If you’re on time but still can’t submit, your lecturer may need to fix the dates
- Wrong file type or size – Check the allowed formats and file size before uploading
- Browser or computer issue – Make sure your browser meets Moodle’s requirements. Try another browser or computer if needed
- Turnitin outage – Sometimes the system goes down. Planned outages are rare and announced on Moodle. Unplanned ones usually don’t last long. If this stops you from submitting, email your lecturer before the deadline with your assignment attached.
Moodle Quizzes are online assessments that can range from simple multiple-choice tests to more complex tasks with detailed feedback.
Each quiz may have different rules, so always read the description carefully before you begin.
Starting and accessing a quiz
Quizzes may appear anywhere in your course. Some are always available, while others are restricted to a set timeframe. Timed quizzes close automatically when the countdown ends, so always check the description for availability and time limits before you begin.
To start a quiz, you must have your pop-ups enabled in your browser settings, as in most cases the quiz opens up in a new window.
A quiz can have many different question types within it. However, the main features of the interface remain the same.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
⚠️ Trouble completing a quiz?
- Take a full-screen screenshot and record what you did before the error. This can support a request to reattempt the quiz.
- If the quiz link is missing, check for date/time restrictions
- Always contact your lecturer or course convenor first.
To view feedback on a specific assessment, check the activity where it was submitted, as feedback from your lecturer or tutor will appear there once released. You can see your overall assessment grades by selecting the Grades tab at the top of your course home page. Keep in mind these grades are for individual assessments only and do not reflect your final mark or Weighted Average Mark (WAM).
-
Grading criteria, also called rubrics or marking guides, show exactly how your work will be assessed. They outline each aspect of the assignment and the levels of achievement for each one. This makes grading more transparent and helps you understand both what you did well and what you need to improve.
- Before submitting an assignment, check the grading criteria under Submission status > Grading criteria so you know what your teacher is looking for.
- After your work is graded, the completed rubric or marking guide will appear in the Feedback section, showing the marks you earned for each part.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
-
You can view your Turnitin mark in two ways: through the Gradebook or by using the Turnitin submission link. Both options will show your mark once it has been released.
If you check through the Turnitin submission link, you will also see any feedback or comments provided by your lecturer or tutor, along with your grade.
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
-
Click 'Get Started' to view the step-by-step guide.
Some of your final and in-term exams may be held on the digital assessment platform Inspera. Familiarise yourself with the processes, requirements and FAQs relating to Inspera.
Have a question?
Contact us for advice on all things UNSW, including faculty-specific questions, essential services, and even support and development. We’re here to help.