---
title: "Setting up a Calculated Simple question in Moodle 2.3"
description: "Creating calculated questions in Moodle 2.3 can be quicker using the Calculated Simple question type in the Moodle Question Bank. If you have not reviewed the Calculated and Calculated multichoice..."
url: https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/edu/moodle/calculated-simple/
date: 2012-11-02
modified: 2021-08-16
author: "InMotion Hosting Contributor"
categories: ["Moodle"]
type: post
lang: en
---

# Setting up a Calculated Simple question in Moodle 2.3

Creating calculated questions in Moodle 2.3 can be quicker using the Calculated Simple question type in the [Moodle Question Bank](/support/edu/wordpress/wordpress-changing-the-site-url-and-home-settings/). If you have not reviewed the [Calculated](/support/edu/moodle/calculated-question-bank/) and [Calculated multichoice](/support/edu/moodle/calculated-multichoice-bank/) tutorials, please do so as they will help with this tutorial. The following article will explain the steps for setting up the Calculated Simple question within Moodle.

### Creating a Simple Calculated question

1. [Log into the Moodle Dashboard](/support/edu/moodle/moodle-login-administrator/)
2. Navigate to **Front page settings** > **Question bank** > **Questions**. Click **Create a new question** and select **Calculated Simple** and click **Next**.
3. [![calculated-simple-1-add-moodle](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-1-add.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-1-add.gif) On the **Adding a Simple calculated question** page, Fill in the **General** section. This is the same as step 4 of the [Inserting a Calculated question in the Moodle Question Bank](/support/edu/moodle/calculated-tolerance/). In this tutorial, the question will be on the *Perimeter of a square*. The question will be as follows: **What is the perimeter of a square with the length of {L} inches and the width of {W} inches?**
4. [![calculated-simple-2-answer-moodle](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-2-answer.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-2-answer.gif) In the **Answer** section, enter the formula in the **Correct Answer Formula=** box. For information on the tolerance see [Working with the calculated question Tolerance in Moodle 2.3](/support/edu/moodle/calculated-tolerance/) **Hint!** Formulas should be created the same way they are entered into a calculator. The answer formula for this question will be **2*{W}+2*{L}** **Note!** The grade of *one of the answers should have a score of 100% so it is possible to get full marks for this question*.
5. [![calculated-simple-3-find-moodle](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-3-find.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-3-find.gif) Scroll down to after the Hint section to the **Find the [wild cards](/support/edu/moodle/wildcard-dataset/) {x…} present in the correct answer formulas** button. This feature is a part of the Simple Calculated question. Moodle will generate the Parameters for the questions based off of what was inputted in the Question text of the **General** section. Click the **button**.
6. [![calculated-simple-4-param-moodle](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-4-param.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-4-param.gif) Now the **[Wild cards](/support/edu/moodle/wildcard-dataset/) parameters used to generate the values**box will appear. Here the Range of values and the Decimal places for both variables can be edited. Adjust the Range of Values for each wild card variable. Set the quantity of wild cards to generate and how many to display. The **Generate** button will determine how many datasets to make. The **Display** button will display only the amount selected in the box. In this tutorial, Generate 10 and Display 2. Click **Generate**.
7. [![calculated-simple-5-values-moodle](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-5-values.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-5-values.gif) The **Wild card(s) values** element will appear. Only 2 will display because the display was set to 2. Click **Save changes**.
8. [![calculated-simple-6-list-moodle](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-6-list.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-6-list.gif) Finally, **Preview** the question in the Question Bank. [![calculated-simple-7-final-moodle](https://www.inmotionhosting.com/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-7-final.gif)](/support/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/edu_moodle_104_calculated-simple_calculated-simple-7-final.gif) When answering the question, because 10 [Datasets](/support/edu/moodle/wildcard-dataset/) were created. This question will be randomized with 10 different numbers and answers.

This concludes the article for Setting up a Calculated Simple question in Moodle 2.3. After understanding the Calculated questions, lets move to a simpler question type, the Essay question. Please check the next article on [Creating an Essay question in the Moodle Question bank](/support/edu/moodle/essay-question/).