Akindi, an exam-generating, scanning, and scoring platform integrated with Canvas, has introduced several new features that make it easier for instructors to build, manage, and grade assessments. Here is a summary of the most significant updates. 

Improved support for LaTeX 

• Importing: Equations and formulas included in Word documents are now automatically identified and displayed in Akindi. 
• Scrambling: Equations are seamlessly scrambled into multiple versions and appear correctly in exported test PDFs and online assessments. 
• Editing: Instructors can preview equations, quickly spot formatting errors that appear in red, and edit equations directly in Akindi. 

Open-ended questions (WAQs) 

Instructors can now include “Written Answer Questions” (WAQs) that allow students to provide open-ended written responses such as calculations, short answers, essays, fill-in blanks, and diagram labeling. When the instructor uploads a document that contains open-ended questions, Akindi automatically recognizes and imports them as WAQs. 

Flexible scoring for manually graded WAQs 

• Enter points for individual WAQs or combine points for several questions into a single column. 
• Designate manually graded WAQs as bonus items. When WAQs are uploaded during assessment creation, applicable questions automatically have bonus settings enabled. 

Matching questions 

Instructors can import, edit, and scramble matching questions in Akindi, and Akindi will automatically grade them. 

Exporting answer keys and a scramble map 

When instructors download question sheets, Akindi automatically includes the instructor version that serves as a single reference for reviewing, sharing, or troubleshooting assessments. This instructor version contains the original questions, the scramble map showing how questions align across versions, and answer keys for each version. 

Additional scramble improvements

• Scramble questions, answers, or both for printed exam versions. 
• Scramble questions, answers, or both to generate online assessments in which every student receives a uniquely randomized version. 
• Use question groups to keep related questions together and prevent them from scrambling. 
• Lock a specific question in place to keep it at the same position across all exam versions. 
• Lock answers in a specific order within a question. 
• When using ‘all of the above’, ‘none of the above’, and True/False answer options, Akindi automatically detects and prevents them from scrambling. A small lock icon beside them indicates they won’t move. 
• Akindi automatically unscrambles results, making it easy for the instructor to review analytics across all versions. 

Custom Formatting of the Printed Exams 

Before printing, instructors can customize font and spacing settings and include a cover page with the course name, assessment name, version, and assessment instructions.