# Free response questions

> Ask for a written answer in the student’s own words, or a photo of handwritten work. You mark it yourself, with one score or a rubric.

URL: https://learnworkly.com/help/question-types/free-response · Updated 2026-11-11

A **Free response** question asks students to write an answer in their own words. Use it when the reasoning matters more than a single right answer: explaining a concept, writing a paragraph, justifying a method or summarising a text.

Students can also send a photo of work they wrote on paper, so it works for longer handwritten answers too.

## Add a Free response question

1. **Choose the type** In the editor, click **Add a question or content** and choose **Free response**.
2. **Write the question** Type the question in **Type your question…**. Use **Add image** for a picture and **Formula** for maths.
3. **Decide on photos** **Allow photos of handwritten work** is on by default. Turn it off if you only want typed answers.
4. **Set the points** Type the points (up to 100), or add a **Rubric** with up to 10 criteria. With a rubric, the question is worth the total of its criteria.
5. **Add a hint (optional)** Open **Hint and explanation** to add a hint students can open and an explanation shown with the answer.

*[Screenshot: The Free response editor with the question "In your own words, what does the gradient of a line tell you?", the Allow photos of handwritten work switch turned on, the points box and an empty rubric]*

## What students see

Students see the question and a large box that says **Write your answer…**. Their answer is saved as they type, and in a live lesson you see it appear on your screen.

If photos are allowed, a button lets them add a photo of their paper. On a phone, **Take a photo of your work** opens the camera. On a computer, they can scan a QR code with their phone or click **Choose a photo**. Each question keeps up to five photos.

*[Screenshot: A student’s screen with the question "In your own words, what does the gradient of a line tell you?", a typed answer in the text box and a button to add a photo of handwritten work]*

## How it is marked

Free response is never marked automatically. Open a student’s answer in the live view, type a **Score** and click **Save**, or click **Full marks**. With a rubric, you score each criterion and students see the breakdown. You can also send a comment or a voice note in the same panel: see [Give feedback](https://learnworkly.com/help/feedback/give-feedback).

## Ideas for your lessons

> **Ideas for your lessons:** For maths, ask students to explain a method rather than repeat it, such as what a gradient means. For ESL, ask for three sentences using the target grammar and add a rubric with **Grammar**, **Vocabulary** and **Ideas**.

## Frequently asked questions

**Can students both type and send a photo?**
Yes. A typed answer and photos can sit in the same question, and you see both when you mark it.

**Can I change the points after adding a rubric?**
The points box then shows the rubric total. Change the points of the criteria instead, or remove the rubric.