---
title: "Quiz Import Formats by LMS: Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, D2L | Formswrite Blog"
description: "Which quiz file format each LMS accepts: Aiken, GIFT, Moodle XML, QTI, CSV and text, with a compatibility table for Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard and Brightspace."
canonical: https://formswrite.com/blog/quiz-import-formats-by-lms
last-updated: 2026-10-08
---

# Quiz Import Formats by LMS: Moodle, Canvas, Blackboard, D2L

In short

Moodle imports Aiken, GIFT and Moodle XML. Canvas imports QTI packages. Blackboard imports its own test packages, QTI and a tab-delimited text file. Brightspace (D2L) imports QTI packages and a CSV template for its Question Library. No single file works everywhere, so the practical answer is to keep your questions in one source document and export one file per system.

## Compatibility table

| LMS | Aiken | GIFT | Moodle XML | QTI package | CSV or text |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Moodle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Plugin on most sites | No, not in core |
| Canvas | No | No | No | Yes, as a .zip | No |
| Blackboard | No | No | No | Yes | Yes, tab-delimited text |
| Brightspace (D2L) | No | No | No | Yes | Yes, Question Library CSV |

This table lists what each system reads natively. Admins can add plugins and building blocks, so ask yours before assuming a format is unsupported. Menus and supported versions also change with releases.

## What the formats can carry

| Format | Question types | Answer key | Feedback | Images |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Aiken | Single-answer multiple choice only | Yes | No | No |
| GIFT | Multiple choice, true/false, short answer, matching, numerical, essay | Yes | Yes | Linked by URL only |
| Moodle XML | All Moodle types | Yes | Yes | Embedded |
| QTI | Multiple choice, multiple answer, true/false, short answer and more | Yes | Yes | Usually, depends on the LMS |
| CSV or tab text | A fixed set of types per LMS | Yes | Rarely | Rarely |

## Choosing a format for your situation

1.  One LMS, Moodle, simple multiple choice: use [Aiken](/blog/google-doc-to-aiken-format).
2.  Moodle with feedback or other question types: use GIFT or Moodle XML. The [comparison of Aiken, GIFT and Moodle XML](/blog/moodle-aiken-vs-gift-vs-xml) covers when each fits.
3.  Canvas: use a QTI package, imported through Settings and Import Course Content. See [how to import a QTI file into Canvas](/blog/import-qti-file-into-canvas).
4.  Blackboard: use a test package, QTI, or the tab-delimited layout in the [Blackboard test import guide](/blog/blackboard-test-import-original-vs-ultra).
5.  Brightspace: use QTI or the Question Library CSV template. The [Brightspace quiz import guide](/blog/brightspace-quiz-import-from-word) shows both.
6.  Several systems at once: write the questions once and export a separate file for each.

## QTI versions in one paragraph

QTI exists in several versions. QTI 1.2 is the older one that many systems still import, while QTI 2.1 and 2.2 are newer and describe questions in more detail. A package labelled QTI is not guaranteed to import anywhere, so when an import fails, the first thing to check is which version the receiving system expects. The details are in our guide to the [QTI format and its versions](/blog/qti-format-explained).

## Why one source document is the safest plan

Converting between LMS formats directly tends to lose detail, because each target has its own idea of question types and scoring. A single clean source, such as a Word file with numbered questions, lettered options and a marked answer, can be exported to each target without a chain of conversions. That is also the easiest way to keep your question bank when a school changes platform.

## Export to each system from one document

Formswrite takes questions from a Word file, PDF, Google Doc, spreadsheet or Google Form and exports them to more than twenty platforms, including Moodle (Aiken, GIFT, Moodle XML), Canvas, Blackboard, Brightspace, Schoology, Sakai and QTI 2.1 and 2.2. The free plan allows only Formswrite Forms as an export. Every LMS export is a paid feature, and an account is free to create.

[See the LMS import options](/product/import-quiz-to-lms-platforms)

If you already have a QTI file and want to know what is inside, read [QTI format explained](/blog/qti-format-explained). For converting a spreadsheet, the [CSV to QTI guide](/blog/csv-to-qti-converter-guide) shows the layout.

## FAQ

Can I use the same quiz file in Canvas and Moodle?

Not usually. Canvas reads QTI packages and Moodle reads Aiken, GIFT and Moodle XML, with QTI needing a plugin. The workable approach is one source document and a separate export for each system.

Is QTI a universal quiz format?

It is the closest thing to one, because Canvas, Blackboard and Brightspace all read it. But versions and supported question types differ, and a QTI file exported from one system sometimes needs fixing before it imports cleanly into another.

Which format keeps feedback and images?

Moodle XML keeps both for Moodle, including embedded images. GIFT keeps feedback but not image files. QTI usually keeps both, and Aiken keeps neither.

Does Schoology import the same formats as Canvas?

Not exactly. Schoology has its own import tools and file support that vary by plan and release, so check the options in your instance. Formswrite lists Schoology as an export target, which saves you from learning its format.