New Quizzes vs Classic Quizzes: the difference
Canvas has two different quiz engines, and they don't behave the same. Knowing which one you're in tells you what's being tracked.
Definition
The short history
For years, Classic Quizzes was the only quiz tool in Canvas. Instructure then built New Quizzes on a separate engine to add richer question types and item analysis, and has been steering courses toward it while gradually retiring Classic. Because the migration has been slow and its timeline has moved more than once, plenty of courses still run on Classic today.
The key differences
- Question types. New Quizzes adds formats Classic doesn't have, like hot-spot and categorization items.
- Settings & item banks. New Quizzes handles question banks and per-question settings differently.
- Activity data. The two engines record and surface attempt activity differently — which is the part worth understanding.
Why it matters for what's tracked
The well-documented quiz log behavior — including the “stopped viewing” event for tab switches — is most associated with Classic Quizzes. New Quizzes logs activity too, but exactly what's captured varies by version and settings. The safe takeaway: treat any timed quiz as if leaving the page is recorded, regardless of engine. Staying on the page — what CheatGPT does — is what removes the guesswork.
Frequently asked questions
How do I tell which one I'm taking?
Does the quiz log work the same on New Quizzes?
Is Canvas getting rid of Classic Quizzes?
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