Image Hotspot Questions (Beta)

Learn how to create hotspot questions on Synap

Hotspot questions allow learners to answer by clicking on specific areas of an image. Instead of selecting from text-based options, learners interact directly with the visual, making this format ideal for testing observation skills, visual recognition, and applied knowledge.

Image Hotspot questions will only be available in our Business or higher plans.

Image Hotspot question example

How to create an Image Hotspot question

From the quiz editor add a new question and set the type to Image hotspot.

Write your question stem and any other configurations you want on the question. Then from the Answer tab upload the image you want to use. You'll be able to highlight the hotspot zone using a rectangle, circle or polygon, so you can select the exact area you want to be considered correct.

Once placed, you can update the label of the hotspot area or use the ones generated by the system.

Uploading and image and adding hotspot

Multiple hotspots

You can create questions with multiple hotspots by adding additional circles, rectangles or polygons to the image. Note that the user can only place one hotspot as their answer. Multiple hotspots are supported in score by choice if you want to use 0 or negative marks to indicate fully incorrect answers as shown by the image below.

Multiple Hotspots

Using polygons

Use polygon hotspots when you need precise control over irregular shapes. Place each point (or “node”) along the outline of the object, especially at bends or corners. This allows you to trace the shape accurately, so the clickable area matches the object as closely as possible.

Using polygon to create a hotspot area.

Best practices

We recommend avoiding hotspot areas that are too close together or overlapping. The system will allow you to create them, but this can cause ambiguity for learners — for example, a click in the “in-between” space may be marked incorrectly or counted as correct when it shouldn’t be. To ensure fair marking, make sure each hotspot is clearly distinct and easy to select.

Don't overlap your hotspot areas!

Try out Image Hotspot Questions for yourself

Give yourself access to our demo Great Art quiz from this link https://universe.synap.ac/join/cAdbhiTKzIg on our demo platform to try out Image hotspots for yourself.