> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.timelygrader.ai/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.timelygrader.ai/d2l-support-articles/tutorials-oral-assessments-d2l-brightspace/oral-overview.md).

# Oral Quiz or Oral Defense: getting started

Oral Assessments holds two types. An Oral Quiz asks questions from a bank you write. An Oral Defense asks each student about the work they submitted.

<figure><img src="https://3711328535-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FVTk0635Lo8R5owJx3bPK%2Fuploads%2F2fxvIUk6kO5NV6YbNqZ3%2Farticle-banner.png?alt=media" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

*New · October 2026*

{% hint style="info" %}
Keep two assignments in mind for an Oral Defense: the source assignment, which holds the work being defended, and the destination assignment, which receives the oral grade. They’re chosen separately.
{% endhint %}

## Before you start

* Create the assignment in your LMS first. Oral activities are imported, not created from scratch.
* For an Oral Defense, students must already have submitted to the source assignment in your LMS.
* Decide which type you need before importing. Each type has its own tab.

## Steps

{% stepper %}
{% step %}

### Pick the type

On Oral Assessments, switch between Oral Quiz and Oral Defense. Oral Quiz: create a bank of questions and choose how many each student answers. Oral Defense: ask students to explain and defend their submitted work through personalized questions.

1. Switch between the two types.
2. Import brings an assignment across from your LMS.
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Import the assignment

Click Import and pick any assignment from your connected LMS course. Importing connects the oral activity to that assignment, and it appears as a draft in the tab you’re on.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Open the activity page

Click a card to open its page. It summarises the questions and rubric, and the panel on the right has Start Reviewing, Manage Submissions and Try as Student. Click Edit to change the setup.

1. Edit opens the five setup tabs.
2. The question bank, with each question’s rubric.
   {% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Work through the setup tabs

The editor has five tabs: Questions & Rubric, Grading Settings, Response Settings, Feedback Settings and Passback Settings. Only Questions & Rubric differs between the two types. Changes save as you go.
{% endstep %}

{% step %}

### Try it, then publish

Run Try as Student before publishing. Publishing makes the activity appear under Coursework for students, and you can unpublish later without losing attempts.
{% endstep %}
{% endstepper %}

## Troubleshooting

<details>

<summary>The assignment I want isn’t in the import list.</summary>

The list shows every assignment in the connected course. If it was created moments ago, wait for the next sync and try again.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Students can’t see the activity.</summary>

It’s still a draft. Publish it from the editor’s top bar.

</details>

<details>

<summary>I imported into the wrong tab.</summary>

The type is set at import. Delete the draft and import the assignment again under the other tab.

</details>

## FAQ

<details>

<summary>Which type should I use?</summary>

Use an Oral Quiz to check understanding of course material. Use an Oral Defense when students should explain and justify work they’ve already submitted.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Can students upload different work for an Oral Defense?</summary>

No. Questions come only from what they submitted in your LMS. Students can’t upload, replace or choose other files inside the defense.

</details>

<details>

<summary>Where does the oral grade go?</summary>

To the destination assignment set in Passback Settings.

</details>

## Related articles

* [Building an Oral Quiz question bank](/d2l-support-articles/tutorials-oral-assessments-d2l-brightspace/oral-setup.md)
* [Setting up Oral Defense questions](/d2l-support-articles/tutorials-oral-assessments-d2l-brightspace/oral-defense-setup.md)
* [Response settings: answer modes, timing and retries](/d2l-support-articles/tutorials-oral-assessments-d2l-brightspace/oral-response.md)