Can you recommend a database design for quiz questions and answers that would allow for an extensible number of question types? [closed]

Answer 1

In the design below we will use a series of flags in the questions table to indicate what type of question it is. We also indicate the level of the question. The answer table is linked to the question table via the foreign key. The complet test table will hold the results of complet tests taken. Only one incomplete test is allowed per user. In the incomplete test table we will link the question back to the questions table (oops I missed the relationship line), which will link to the possible answers we record the answers give by the user in a string column of the incomplete test table.

Answer 2

Single answer is like multiple answer with a constraint, so those can easily be stored in the same table. So what you have works for both of those already.

I would advise against trying to consolidate too much, though, because if you ever need to add another type of question, you may well end up having to refactor your paradigm, which not only will be a headache for the old types but also more, or just as much, work for the new type. That is, add special tables for the matching type questions.

You can always combine the results using a view. That way individual types are easy to maintain, but the combined results are easy to generate too. Let the database handle the complexity, not your own cleverness. (If you disagree with that you might as well write a custom engine rather than use SQL in the first place. :-) )

Answer 3

You can easily think of "Matching" as many questions with Multiple-Choice-Single-Answer

Instead of radio button I would suggest a dropdown box. Layout would work better.

For more inspiration, check out how LON-CAPA does it.

Good luck!