Version A and Version B Math Quizzes: How to Make Two Fair Versions Fast
Create two equivalent versions of a math quiz or test to reduce copying. Same skills, same difficulty, different numbers, with separate answer keys.
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Students sit close together, desks are small, and a wandering eye is a normal part of any quiz. The standard remedy is to hand out two versions, A and B, so neighbors are answering different questions. The catch is that making a second version by hand doubles your prep, and a sloppy second version can end up easier or harder than the first, which is unfair to whoever gets it.
What makes two versions fair
A good pair of versions has the same skills, the same number of questions, the same order, and the same difficulty at each position. Only the numbers change. If question four on Version A is a two-step equation with a negative coefficient, question four on Version B should be too. That way a student who copies a neighbor's work gets nothing useful, and a student who works honestly gets an equally demanding test.
The slow way
Many teachers write Version A, then copy it and change each number by hand, then recompute every answer. It works, but it is easy to introduce a version that is accidentally easier: a divisor that happens to go in evenly, or an answer that comes out as a whole number when its twin is a fraction. You also have two answer keys to check.
The faster way: generate Version B from Version A
- Open the generator and choose the skills for your quiz, for example solving proportions and percent increase and decrease.
- Set the level and question count, then swap or lock questions until Version A is exactly what you want.
- Switch on Version A / B. The generator builds a second sheet with the same skills, levels and layout, but new numbers.
- Download the PDF. Each version comes with its own answer key, calculated from its own numbers.
Version A / B is part of the Pro plan, along with unlimited PDF downloads and step-by-step answer keys.
Tips for running a two-version quiz
- Label each version clearly at the top of the page, and alternate A and B across rows rather than within a row so that neighbors in every direction differ.
- Hand out answer keys per version. Mixing up the keys is the most common error when grading. Keep them in separate piles or print them on different colors.
- Keep questions short. Quizzes of 8 to 12 questions leave time to check work and make grading manageable.
- Reuse the version you liked. If a quiz worked well, save it and generate a fresh pair next term instead of reusing the exact numbers.
When to use more than two versions
For high-stakes tests, you can generate a fresh pair for each class period. Because every sheet is generated from the same skill and level settings, the difficulty stays comparable between periods, which keeps grading consistent across classes.
Preguntas frecuentes
How do I make two versions of a math quiz?
Build one version in the generator, then switch on Version A / B to create a second sheet with the same skills and difficulty but different numbers. Each has its own answer key.
Will Version B be as hard as Version A?
Yes. Both versions use the same skills, levels and layout, so the difficulty at every question position matches. Only the numbers change.
Is Version A / B free?
Version A / B is included in the Pro and Tutor plans. Generating, swapping and printing a single worksheet is free.