Tired of giving and grading by hand those weekly spelling tests? Then go digital with Google Forms Quizzes! Set up a Google Forms spelling test in just 10 quick steps which take about 5 minutes. Google has added a great new feature to Google Forms called Quizzes. Not only can you make your own template for a Google Forms spelling test, but you can make quizzes on any subject.
In this blog post, I will show you how to set up your first Google Forms Spelling test. Make a copy of it so it becomes a template for the next and future spelling tests.
UPDATE
Please read through the comment section for important updates about making this form!
If you’re looking for the original blog post in which I detailed how to use Flubaroo and Google Forms, click on the link HERE. It’s an older blog post showing how to do the same BEFORE Google added the Quizzes feature to Google Forms.
STEP 1: Create a New Google Docs Form
I’d suggest giving it the same title each week, but just changing one part such as the week. Or maybe you can add the type of spelling list (long vowel E or diagraphs, etc.). You want your Google Forms spelling test template to be consistent week after week.
STEP 2: Select Quizzes
STEP 3: Turn on Email Collection
Select ‘Make This a Quiz’ so it will auto-grade your Google Forms spelling test. If everything else is ok, then select SAVE. See the next step if you want to collect student email addresses.
STEP 3 Continued
Though you’re going to add a field in which the students write their name, it’s always best to collect their emails so you can identify the student who took the test. You can have the students see their scores immediately (see under release grade) or later after you’ve reviewed it. You can also control what the students can see such as missed questions, point values, etc.
STEP 4 Ready to Begin Adding Questions
Now you will begin adding questions. You’ll just be adding numbers (one for each spelling word).
STEP 5 Write Your Name Question
I highly recommend that the first question be for them to write their names. That way it will be easy to identify scores for each student. Make sure you assign zero points to this question but make it required.
STEP 6 Add Your First Question
Now you will begin adding questions. One question for each spelling word. You will select ‘short answer’ as the question type. You won’t actually ask a question, but rather put the number for the question. Sort of like numbering your paper for a spelling test. For example, if you have 10 words, you’ll have 10 questions numbered 1 – 10. After each question is done, click on Answer Key to add type in the correct spelling word for the Answer Key.
STEP 7 Adding the Answer Key to the Google Forms Spelling Test
Add each correctly spelled spelling word in the Answer Key. Don’t forget to add the points. You can vary the points for example if you have bonus words that are worth more than the other words.
Since you can add an entire sentence in the Answer Key, you could also have a dictation sentence that the students have to type out using the spelling words. You would just have to type the sentence correctly with punctuation as the Answer Key to that particular question.
STEP 8 Adding More Questions to the Google Forms Spelling Test
To add another question to the Google Forms spelling test, you can either hit the new question icon or click on the duplicate icon. If you use the duplicate icon, remember to change the question number and Answer Key for that question.
STEP 9 Assigning the Google Forms Spelling Test to Students
Once you added all the questions for the test and have filled out the Answer Key, it’s time to assign it to students. If you use Google Classroom, it can be assigned via a link. If not, you can email it to each student.
STEP 10 Creating the Link for Google Classroom
To create a link for Google Classroom, click on the LINK icon. Then shorten the URL. Click copy and now you’re ready to paste that link to an assignment in Google Classroom.
Assigning it to Google Classroom
Go to your Google Classroom, click on CREATE and choose Assignment. Then you’ll paste in the link to the spelling test form.
How to View the Results
There are two ways to view the results. One is directly in Google Forms. Just click on RESPONSES next to QUESTIONS. The other is to create a spreadsheet in Sheets. If you have Flubaroo, you can also use that.
Once the test is over, be sure to click on Accepting Responses so no one takes the test again. You can view results in a summary or by an individual student.
What About the Next Spelling Test?
For the next Google Forms Spelling Test, just use the original and click on ‘Make a Copy’ to use as a template. Just rename the copy. Don’t forget to change the Answer Key!
And that’s it! Setting up this Google Forms spelling test should take you about 10 minutes on your first try. After that, you can use it as a template by making a copy so it should take you no more than 5 minutes to set up!
Sign up for my newsletter so you can download a PDF of all the STEPS. Just fill out the form below and I’ll send you the LINK!
Other Considerations
If you’re wondering if you can add sound to speak each word, that is not possible yet in Google Forms. Add audio to Google Docs, Slides, Forms, etc., is not supported at this time. You can add links to audio files. But that would mean you’d have to record each word as a separate file and then link it. Might be easier just to give the test on Google Forms whole class or small group while you read the words.
I hope this tutorial has been helpful! Let me know how you’re using Google Forms by writing in the comments below.
Don’t Go Yet!
Please read through the comment section for updates about creating this form.
Hi, I’m Claudio, the dad from Two Boys and a Dad. Whether you’re just starting out teaching or a veteran teacher, let me offer you some ideas, tips, suggestions, resources and a sounding board for your daily classroom struggles (and successes!). This is your place to find information and ask questions about teaching in the elementary grades.
When giving a spelling test, if they misspell the word, it underlines it in red… how do you fix that?
Yes, unfortunately something changed in the old Google Forms that doesn’t allow spell check to turn off. However, I updated the blog post to show how to make a spelling test form on the new Google Forms Quizzes. Here is a link: https://www.twoboysandadad.com/2018/10/make-google-forms-spelling-test.html
So Google Forms Quizzes does not underline misspelled words?
Hi Kelsey, Google Forms by default checks spelling so it will underline misspelled words. However, you can disable it. You right-click on each text field in your form and disable spell check. I’ve included an image to make it more clear.
. Hope that helps!
If you save this template and make a copy for the next test does the spell check function stay disabled? I have a teacher that adjusted the browser setting but that resets when the students log out of the computer and back in on a different day.
Hi Alexis,
I would think that if you created a Google Form, all the settings should stay. However, in my district all Chromebook settings are adjusted at the district level. Teachers can not change the settings. However, I would think that if a teacher created a Google Form with specific settings, those settings must stay whenever or whoever opens the form. But, I could be wrong on that. You might want to check with your district IT person to see if settings have to be adjusted a district level.
Thanks for the quick response. We are a Google district but we are a Windows district too. Our Instructional Technologist position was eliminated this year and while I can manage the Google accounts I don’t have time to do a lot of research into functionality and features as teachers use Google Classroom and other Google applications more and more.
I will have her try the steps above to see if that fixes the issue. I will also reply to let you know for future reference if it worked or not.
I can’t get to these menus like you are showing here. Suggestions?
Hi Jane, sorry for the late response. I just found your comment in the spam folder! I was on a Mac when I took that screenshot. I clicked on the field while holding down the option key. On a PC, I think you would either right or left click the mouse while clicking on the field. Hope that helps!
I’m on a MAC and I do not see those options on my google forms.
Hi Shea,
I tried disabling the spell check while in Chrome by holding down the control key while clicking in the field. However, I did NOT get the options either. Hmmm. So I tried the same but using Safari and I did get the options. So now, I’m wondering if it only disables in Safari and not Chrome. I will have to research this further!
It looks like you’re disabling the spell check in the question field… not in the response field that the students type in. How do you disable the spell check in the RESPONSE field?
Thanks!! 🙂
Author
Hello Melissa, Google Forms does have spell check just like all Google Apps. Back in 2015-2016, I was able to turn it off when creating the form on a Mac Computer. However, with the many changes in the years that Google has rolled out their apps, this may no longer be possible. Students can turn on spell check on their Chromebooks in settings (unless your district has restricted settings changes). I stopped using Google Forms for spelling tests once my school started using Spelling City (spellingcity.com) in 2016 – 2017. Spelling City has a limited free option that allows you to give spelling tests. But honestly, if it does underline the word in red, it gives the student a chance to correct it.
Here’s my thinking about that. As a former literacy coach, I can say those good spellers are those that don’t just memorize words and then forget them the next week but look at word patterns, word shapes, and spelling generalizations to think to themselves…does that look right? Proficient spellers do this all the time. So I think giving kids a chance to figure it out, in the long run, will make them better spellers because they are now paying attention to misspellings. You can put a time limit on a test or question or give a general rule that you get 3 tries to spell it right if you get the red line. This is also good practice for standardized testing because the spelling questions are multiple-choice in which students must find the correct spelling of a word among the choices given. Or sometimes misspelled words have to be found in a paragraph.
I would try the Google Forms Spelling Test with the redline (spell check). Let the students know that if they get the red line, they have 3 tries to correctly spell the word. Hope that helps!
Hi, thanks for the helpful article. My question is similar to everyone else’s… spell check. I want to make a quiz and share it through Google classroom. I understand that I could have each student temporarily turn spell check off on their Chromebooks, but I teach 5th grade. I don’t trust them to not turn it back on. If I go line by line as you suggested and turned off spellcheck on the original quiz that I make, will those changes still apply after I send it to my students through classroom? Thanks!
Yes, I believe they do. Only the creator of the form can edit. Since they will only be filling it out they should not be able to adjust the settings. However, that being said sometimes districts have their own settings and it may not work. I’d suggest making the form then have a student take the test and see if the settings hold. Hope that helps!
In my experience, this suggestion above only changes the settings on computer the google form is created on. Once the form is sent to other uses, the spelling and grammar setting on that users computers takes over. Our district does not control spell check options on our students’ chromebooks. This is done on an individual CB level.
Nice explanation. Adding an audio file to each “question” could further automate the process. I also thought you might want to fix the typo in your “assign” graphic.
Hi Heather, that’s an interesting idea about adding audio. Something to explore. My school bought my grade level a license to SpellingCity and we used it for weekly spelling tests. Students took the test whenever they were ready. The App or website reads the words for the test. Now if we could figure out a way to do that in Google Forms, then it would be a similar setup. And thanks for pointing out that typo!
When using google forms for spelling test, how do you turn off autocorrect?
Hi! I am excited about using google forms for spelling tests, and I appreciate your tutorial. I wondered though, what you do since the kids will see their misspelled words are underlined in red when they type them in. I don’t see anywhere about a feature to turn off spell check. What do you do?
Author
Hi Brigette, Google Forms does have spell check just like all Google Apps. You can turn it off when creating the form on a Mac Computer. However, with the many changes in the years that Google has rolled out their apps, this may no longer be possible. Students can turn on spell check on their Chromebooks in settings (unless your district has restricted settings changes). I stopped using Google Forms for spelling tests once my school started using Spelling City. Spelling City has a limited free option that allows you to give spelling tests. But honestly, if it does underline the word in red, it gives the student a chance to correct it. If they can’t, then it truly is a test of their spelling skills. Hope that helps!
Will the auto-correcting red line appear on the student’s end and then they right click and choose the correct word. I thought this would be a good idea, but the spell check options still apply don’t they?
NEVERMIND I hit send before scrolling farther to see the answers….That’s what happens when it glitches and you’re excited to try something but wonder. Thank you.
Could you email me a google forms template that you use? Thanks! I’d really appreciate it.
Author
Hi Amanda, I had to search my Google Drive for that form, but I found it. I don’t know if it still works since I haven’t used it in a while (we switched to Spelling City so I didn’t need to use this form anymore). Click on this link and it will force a copy to your Google Drive. Google Forms Spelling Test Copy
Hi.
Thank you for the tutorial. I think I would rather do this they keep doing “sound files”.
I noticed that you wrote “assing” instead of “assigning” on one of your tutorial slides. You may want to fix that, even though it made me laugh. :). Assing to students. I needed a chuckle. You can find it here: https://www.twoboysandadad.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/google-forms-spelling-test-template-digital-online-classroom-4.jpg
Thanks again for supporting the teachers.
Author
Hi Erica, Thanks for the heads up on the typo. Yes, I will fix it!
Hello
I created a spelling test using Google Form but the problem is the spellcheck option. Learners know when they enter incorrect spellings and they can correct it. DO you know if anything can be done about it?
Author
Hi Shachi, I think when I created my template 5 years ago, I was able to turn off spellcheck. Since then, it doesn’t appear to be an option anymore. It can also depend on the settings of the student’s device. Many times district sets those settings and they can not be changed. I can offer you my original template and you can see if it works for you. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13DMDBkjgFckq6Nu0O6ilhWyBakYxEEeQsnqpCWLiQyo/copy
thanks
There is a spell checker in google forms. So the spelling check is crosslinked.
Can you turn it off too?
Author
Hi Kitty, I think when I created my template 5 years ago, I was able to turn off spellcheck. Since then, it doesn’t appear to be an option anymore. It can also depend on the settings of the student’s device. Many times district sets those settings and they can not be changed. I can offer you my original template and you can see if it works for you. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13DMDBkjgFckq6Nu0O6ilhWyBakYxEEeQsnqpCWLiQyo/copy
I am giving several different spelling test with different numbers of words. How can I use Google Quiz to identify a blank as opposed to a missing response?
Author
I think one way you could do this is to make each question must be answered (Required). This way, no question can be left blank. If a student can not spell the word, the student would still have to enter something because it can not be left blank. Just make sure that option is turned on for each response.
Hello,
I have tried using Google forms as a spelling assessment, but the red underscores keep coming up when my students misspell words.
Am I missing something?
Thanks!
Sharon Hovis
Kewaunee Grade School
Kewaunee, WI 54216
Author
Hi Sharon, I think when I created my template 5 years ago, I was able to turn off spellcheck. Since then, it doesn’t appear to be an option anymore. It can also depend on the settings of the student’s device. Many times district sets those settings and they can not be changed. I can offer you my original template and you can see if it works for you. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/13DMDBkjgFckq6Nu0O6ilhWyBakYxEEeQsnqpCWLiQyo/copy