XLSX or CSV for Quiz Import: Which File Should You Upload?
Short answer: if your questions carry images, live across multiple sheets, or use non-ASCII characters (accents, quotes, CJK), upload XLSX. If it is plain text, a single sheet, no images, and you want a tiny portable file, CSV is fine. But the format is not actually the decision — the column layout is. A fixed-column sheet imports cleanly in either format; a freeform one fails in both.
XLSX vs CSV, side by side
| XLSX | CSV | |
|---|---|---|
| Images / image refs | Handled (URLs in a column) | Handled, but easy to break |
| Multiple sheets | Yes | No (one flat table) |
| Encoding (accents, CJK) | Safe (UTF-8 by default) | Regional delimiter pitfalls |
| Cell formatting | Preserved | Lost |
| File size / portability | Larger | Tiny, universal |
When CSV is enough
- Plain text only — no diagrams.
- One sheet, one table.
- Basic ASCII, or you have set UTF-8 and the right delimiter explicitly.
- You want a file anyone can open in any text editor.
When XLSX is mandatory
- You reference images by URL in a column.
- Questions and an answer key sit on separate sheets.
- You use accented characters, quotes, or CJK and have been burned by CSV mojibake.
- Your target importer only accepts XLSX (several do).
The fixed-column method (works for both)
Regardless of format, use one row per question with fixed headers:
| Column | Contents |
|---|---|
| Question | The stem. |
| Option A – F | The choices, one per column. |
| Correct | Position number(s) of the right option(s), e.g. 1 or 1,3. |
| Explanation (opt.) | Feedback text. |
| Image URL (opt.) | One hosted image link. |
Common mistakes that break an import
- Merged cells — importers read a merged header as one cell and shift every column.
- Multi-row headers — the tool expects one header row, not a title block.
- Options as a sentence — "A) red B) blue" in one cell instead of separate columns.
- Correct answer as text — store the position, not the answer wording.
- Delimiter confusion — comma vs semicolon by region corrupts CSV parsing.
One file, every LMS
A fixed-column .xlsx is the common source. From it you can produce a Google Forms quiz, a QTI 2.1 package for Canvas, Moodle, Blackboard, Brightspace, and Schoology, or a Kahoot .xlsx. Author once, import many times. More guides at examparser.com/blog/en.
Frequently asked questions
Should I upload XLSX or CSV for a quiz import?
If your questions have images, live in multiple sheets, or use characters outside basic ASCII, use XLSX. If it is plain text, a single sheet, no images, and you want a tiny portable file, CSV is fine. Either way the deciding factor is not the format — it is whether the columns are fixed and predictable. A fixed-column layout imports cleanly in both; a freeform sheet fails in both.
Why does XLSX matter for quiz import?
XLSX preserves multiple sheets, cell formatting, and embedded image references better than CSV, and it avoids the encoding pitfalls that mangle accented characters or quotes in CSV. Several LMS import paths and converter tools prefer or only accept XLSX for exactly these reasons.
What columns make a quiz spreadsheet import cleanly?
One row per question with fixed columns: Question, options (up to six), a Correct column holding the position number(s) of the right option(s), optional Explanation, and optional Image URL. Fixed columns — not a pretty but irregular layout — are what lets any importer map the sheet reliably.
What are the common mistakes that break a quiz import?
Merged cells, multi-row headers, options written as sentences in one cell, the correct answer stored as text instead of a position, and CSV delimiter confusion (comma vs semicolon by region). Keep one question per row, fixed columns, and a consistent delimiter.
Can the same spreadsheet import into different LMSes?
Yes — a fixed-column .xlsx is the common source. From it you can produce a Google Forms quiz, a QTI 2.1 package for Canvas/Moodle/Blackboard/Brightspace/Schoology, or a Kahoot .xlsx. The same file feeds every platform, so you author once and import many times.
Build a portable question bank once
Keep a fixed-column spreadsheet and import it into any LMS — XLSX or CSV, your call based on content.
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