Help Center/How to Use Cognitive Levels (Bloom’s & SOLO) in Quiz Generation

    How to Use Cognitive Levels (Bloom’s & SOLO) in Quiz Generation

    Last updated: December 15, 2025

    How to Use Cognitive Levels (Bloom’s & SOLO) in Quiz Generation

    QuizMagic allows you to generate quizzes aligned with established educational frameworks: Bloom’s Taxonomy and SOLO Taxonomy. This guide walks you through the steps to configure cognitive levels when generating quizzes.

    What Are Cognitive Frameworks?

    Cognitive frameworks help you create quizzes that test different levels of thinking—from basic recall to advanced analysis and creation. QuizMagic supports two frameworks:

    • Bloom’s Taxonomy: 6 levels from Remember → Create
    • SOLO Taxonomy: 4 levels from Uni-structural → Extended Abstract

    Using these frameworks ensures your assessments align with specific learning objectives.

    Step 1: Navigate to Quiz Generator

    1. Log in to your QuizMagic account
    2. Click “Quiz Generator” from the dashboard or navigation menu
    3. You’ll see the Quiz Generator form

    Step 2: Add Your Source Material

    Choose one of three input methods:

    • Text: Paste your content directly
    • File: Upload PDF, Word, PowerPoint, or image files
    • YouTube: Paste a YouTube video URL

    Alternatively, select “Enter a Topic” to let AI generate content based on a topic.

    Step 3: Configure Basic Quiz Settings

    Before selecting a cognitive framework, set up:

    SettingOptions
    Quiz TypeMultiple Choice, True/False, Fill in the Blanks, Short Answer, or Mixed
    DifficultyEasy, Medium, or Hard
    Output LanguageAuto-detect or select a specific language
    Number of Questions5-100 (Premium users get higher limits)

    Step 4: Select a Cognitive Framework

    Scroll down to the “Cognitive Framework” dropdown and choose:

    OptionDescription
    None (Standard Mode)No cognitive level tagging (default)
    Bloom’s TaxonomyTag questions by the 6 Bloom’s levels
    SOLO TaxonomyTag questions by the 4 SOLO levels

    Step 5: Configure Bloom’s Taxonomy Distribution

    If you selected Bloom’s Taxonomy, you’ll see checkboxes for each level:

    LevelWhat It Tests
    RememberRecall facts and basic concepts
    UnderstandExplain ideas and concepts
    ApplyUse information in new situations
    AnalyzeDraw connections and distinctions
    EvaluateJustify decisions and judgments
    CreateProduce new or original work

    How to Configure:

    1. Check the box next to each level you want to include
    2. Set the number of questions for each level using the +/- buttons or type directly
    3. Choose the difficulty (Easy, Medium, Hard) for each level separately

    Example Configuration:

    • Remember: 2 questions (Easy)
    • Understand: 3 questions (Easy)
    • Apply: 3 questions (Medium)
    • Analyze: 2 questions (Hard)

    Important Validation Rule

    The total questions across all levels must equal your selected “Number of Questions.” A counter shows your progress:

    Total: 10 / 10 questions ✓

    If the numbers don’t match, you’ll see a validation error when generating.

    Step 6: Configure SOLO Taxonomy Distribution

    If you selected SOLO Taxonomy, you’ll see checkboxes for each level:

    LevelWhat It Tests
    Uni-structural (One Idea)One relevant aspect understood
    Multi-structural (Many Ideas)Several aspects understood, but not integrated
    Relational (Connecting Ideas)Aspects integrated into a coherent whole
    Extended Abstract (Going Beyond)Generalizes beyond given information

    How to Configure:

    1. Check the box next to each level you want to include
    2. Set the number of questions for each level
    3. Choose the difficulty for each level

    Example Configuration:

    • Uni-structural: 2 questions (Easy)
    • Multi-structural: 3 questions (Medium)
    • Relational: 3 questions (Medium)
    • Extended Abstract: 2 questions (Hard)

    The same validation rule applies—totals must match your selected question count.

    Step 7: Generate Your Quiz

    1. Review your configuration
    2. Click “Generate Quiz”
    3. Wait for AI to generate questions tagged with cognitive levels

    Step 8: View Cognitive Levels in Results

    After generation, each question displays its cognitive level. Look for:

    • Bloom’s Level: Shows as a badge (e.g., “Bloom’s: Analyze”)
    • SOLO Level: Shows as a badge (e.g., “SOLO: Relational”)

    Toggle Visibility

    Use the “Show Cognitive Levels” toggle above your quiz results to show or hide the level badges.

    Tips for Best Results

    For Bloom’s Taxonomy:

    • Formative assessments: Focus on Remember, Understand, Apply
    • Summative assessments: Include Analyze, Evaluate, Create
    • Balanced quizzes: Distribute across 3-4 levels

    For SOLO Taxonomy:

    • Entry-level assessments: Focus on Uni-structural and Multi-structural
    • Advanced assessments: Include Relational and Extended Abstract
    • Progressive assessments: Start simple, increase complexity

    General Tips:

    • Match difficulty settings to cognitive levels (higher levels often pair with harder difficulty)
    • Use the Additional Notes field to guide AI on specific focus areas
    • Review generated questions and use the Edit feature to adjust levels if needed

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I use cognitive frameworks with all quiz types?

    Yes! Cognitive frameworks work with Multiple Choice, True/False, Fill in the Blanks, Short Answer, and Mixed quizzes.

    What if I don’t configure any levels?

    If you select a framework but don’t check any levels, QuizMagic will generate a standard quiz without cognitive tagging.

    Do students see cognitive levels when taking quizzes via Smart Sharing?

    No, cognitive level badges are visible only to teachers/quiz creators. Students see the questions without framework tags.

    Can I save a quiz with cognitive levels?

    Yes, saved quizzes retain all cognitive level information. You can access them from Saved Quizzes anytime.

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