Surprise quiz tomorrow for Year 9. You drafted the questions in Word, you have an answer key in a separate file, and you need to print twenty-five copies before 8am.
PDF is the format quizzes were made for — fixed layout, easy to print, easy to distribute.
Draft in Word with structure
Use Word's heading styles for question numbers, bullet points for multiple choice options, and tables for matching exercises. The structure converts cleanly to PDF and helps if students need accessible versions. Convert Word to PDF once the draft is complete.
Separate answer sheet
Keep the answer sheet as a separate PDF — never merge it with the question paper that goes to students. For your records and for marking, the answer sheet sits in a teacher folder. For external moderation, merge PDF to combine question paper and answers in a single moderation document.
Print formatting
Quizzes look best printed when each question has space for working. Use A4 with generous margins, double-spacing between questions if students will write answers on the paper. Test print one copy first — what looks fine on screen sometimes runs onto a second page unnecessarily.
Distribute electronically
If students will complete on screen (some classrooms do), share the PDF via the school portal. For exams or surprise quizzes, paper still beats digital — easier to invigilate. The same PDF works for both purposes.
FAQ
Should quizzes be fillable PDFs?
For online completion, yes — use form fields. For print, plain PDF with space to write is simpler.
How do I prevent cheating with a digital PDF quiz?
Digital quizzes via PDF aren't well-protected against cheating. For high-stakes assessment, use a proper assessment platform.
Can I randomise questions in a PDF?
Not within a single PDF. Create multiple versions in Word with different question orders, then convert each to PDF.
How long should I keep quiz PDFs?
Quiz papers and answer sheets typically retained for the academic year plus your school's record policy.
Tomorrow's quiz prints cleanly. Convert from Word in Flint and the Year 9 surprise is ready before the bell.