Aiken Format: Rules, Example and How to Convert a Google Doc

Formswrite Team

Feb 11, 2026

Aiken Format: Rules, Example and How to Convert a Google Doc

Google Doc to Aiken Format: Rules, Example and Converter

Aiken format is a plain-text format for writing multiple-choice questions that Moodle can import in bulk. Each question sits on one line, followed by lettered answer options (A., B., C. ...) and a final line such as ANSWER: B naming the single correct option. Because it is just text, you can write it in any editor, but one wrong character makes the import fail.

Skip the syntax: paste your questions into the Aiken format converter and download a ready-to-import file, or follow the steps below to go from a Google Doc to Aiken with Formswrite.

Aiken format rules

These are the rules Moodle checks when importing an Aiken file (see the Moodle Aiken format documentation):

Rule	What it means
One line per question	The question text must be on a single line, with no line breaks inside it.
Uppercase answer letters	Each option starts on a new line with a single uppercase letter (A, B, C, D ...).
Period or bracket, then a space	After the letter comes `.` or `)` and a space, for example `A.` or `A)` .
ANSWER line right after the options	The line immediately after the last option is `ANSWER:` followed by the correct letter. `ANSWER` must be uppercase, with a space after the colon.
One correct answer only	Aiken supports single-answer multiple choice only. No true/false, short answer, matching or multiple correct answers.
Blank line between questions	Leave an empty line before the next question to keep questions clearly separated.
Plain text, UTF-8	Save as a `.txt` file with UTF-8 encoding so accented and non-Latin characters import correctly.

Aiken format example

A correct Aiken file with two questions looks like this:

textWhat is the capital of France?
A. Berlin
B. Madrid
C. Paris
D. Rome
ANSWER: C

Which gas do plants absorb during photosynthesis?
A) Oxygen
B) Carbon dioxide
C) Nitrogen
D) Hydrogen
ANSWER: B

Common mistakes that break the import:

Writing Answer: C or ANSWER:C instead of ANSWER: C
Using lowercase option letters such as a. or c)
Splitting a long question across two lines
Marking the correct option with bold or an asterisk instead of the ANSWER line
Saving the file as .docx instead of plain text

If you need images, feedback, or other question types, use Moodle XML or GIFT instead, since Aiken does not support them.

How to convert a Google Doc to Aiken format

Manually rewriting questions into Aiken syntax is tedious and error-prone. Formswrite reads your document and produces valid Aiken output for you.

Step 1: Prepare your questions in Google Docs

Write or organize your multiple-choice questions in Google Docs. Each question needs the question text, its answer options (A, B, C, D) and the correct answer. You do not have to follow Aiken rules exactly: Formswrite understands common question layouts, such as numbered questions with the correct option marked or listed in an answer key.

Step 2: Upload the document to Formswrite

Upload your Google Doc to Formswrite. Besides Google Docs, you can also start from Google Sheets, PDF files, Word documents and images, so you can reuse existing material instead of retyping it.

Step 3: Review the detected questions

Check the questions, options and correct answers Formswrite detected. Fix any wording and make sure every question has exactly one correct answer, because Aiken cannot store more than one.

Step 4: Export as Aiken format

Select Aiken Format as the output and download the file. Formswrite writes each question on one line, labels the options with uppercase letters and adds the ANSWER: line for you.

Step 5: Import the Aiken file into Moodle

In Moodle, open your course Question bank, choose Import, select Aiken format, upload the file and click Import. The questions are added to the question bank, ready to use in any quiz.

Reuse the same questions on other platforms

The same Google Doc can also be exported to Canvas, Moodle XML, Blackboard, Brightspace, Schoology, Sakai, Kahoot, Quizizz, Blooket, Gimkit, Socrative, Wooclap, Quizalize, ClassMarker, Pear Assessment, QTI 2.1, QTI 2.2, GIFT, Cloze, LearnDash and H5P. That makes it easy to keep one source document and publish it wherever your students are.

Why use Formswrite for Aiken format

No manual Aiken syntax to write or debug
No technical expertise required
Faster quiz creation from documents you already have
Easy updates: edit the original Google Doc and export again
Works for schools, universities and training teams

Related tools and guides

Aiken format converter: turn pasted questions into an Aiken file
Moodle XML file generator guide: when you need images, feedback or more question types
Google Form quiz generator: create questions from a topic or document

Frequently asked questions

What is Aiken format?

Aiken format is a simple plain-text format for multiple-choice questions, used mainly to import quizzes into the Moodle question bank. Each question is one line, followed by lettered options and an ANSWER line with the correct letter.

Does Aiken format support multiple correct answers?

No. Aiken supports only multiple-choice questions with a single correct answer. For multiple correct answers, true/false or short answer questions, use Moodle XML or GIFT.

Why does my Aiken import fail in Moodle?

The most common causes are lowercase option letters, a missing space after ANSWER:, a question split over two lines, or a file saved as a Word document instead of UTF-8 plain text.

Can I add images or feedback in Aiken format?

No. Aiken is text only and has no fields for images or feedback. Use Moodle XML if you need them.

Can Formswrite convert a Google Doc directly to Aiken format?

Yes. Upload the Google Doc, review the detected questions and export as Aiken Format. Formswrite adds the correct letters and ANSWER lines for you.

Do I need to format my questions in a specific way first?

No. Formswrite detects common question and answer layouts. Numbering your questions and clearly marking the correct option gives the most reliable result.

Is Formswrite limited to Aiken format?

No. The same questions can be exported to many LMS and quiz formats, including Moodle XML, QTI, GIFT, Cloze, Canvas, Kahoot and H5P.