9.1: Minimal Templates

This page provides copy-paste templates for common problem patterns (see Introduction to PG Language for an introduction to PG and Breaking Down the Components for detailed component breakdowns). Each template includes a complete OPL header so you can start with proper metadata.

Template: single numeric answer

## TITLE('Compute a simple sum')
## DESCRIPTION
## Add two values and report the total with specified units.
## ENDDESCRIPTION
## KEYWORDS('addition','numeric entry','units')
## DBsubject('Biostatistics')
## DBchapter('Basic calculations')
## DBsection('Unit reporting')
## Date('2026-01-28')
## Author('Author name')
## Institution('Institution name')

DOCUMENT();
loadMacros(
	"PGstandard.pl",
	"MathObjects.pl",
	"PGML.pl",
	"PGcourse.pl",
);

Context("Numeric");
$a = random(2, 8, 1);
$b = random(3, 9, 1);
$ans = Real($a + $b);

BEGIN_PGML
Total: [________]{$ans} units
END_PGML

ENDDOCUMENT();

Template: RadioButtons (single choice)

## TITLE('Select the correct label')
## DESCRIPTION
## Choose the correct label from a short list using radio buttons.
## ENDDESCRIPTION
## KEYWORDS('radio buttons','single choice','labels')
## DBsubject('Cell Biology')
## DBchapter('Lab techniques')
## DBsection('Labeling conventions')
## Date('2026-01-28')
## Author('Author name')
## Institution('Institution name')

DOCUMENT();
loadMacros(
	"PGstandard.pl",
	"PGML.pl",
	"parserRadioButtons.pl",
	"PGcourse.pl",
);

$radio = RadioButtons(
	[ 'Label A', 'Label B', 'Label C' ],
	'Label B',
);

BEGIN_PGML
Select the correct label: [_]{$radio}
END_PGML

ENDDOCUMENT();

Template: PopUp matching

## TITLE('Match terms to definitions')
## DESCRIPTION
## Match each term to its definition using PopUp widgets.
## ENDDESCRIPTION
## KEYWORDS('matching','PopUp','definitions')
## DBsubject('Molecular Biology')
## DBchapter('Vocabulary')
## DBsection('Core terms')
## Date('2026-01-28')
## Author('Author name')
## Institution('Institution name')

DOCUMENT();
loadMacros(
	"PGstandard.pl",
	"PGML.pl",
	"parserPopUp.pl",
	"PGcourse.pl",
);

$popup1 = PopUp(['?','A','B','C'], 'A');
$popup2 = PopUp(['?','A','B','C'], 'B');

BEGIN_PGML
1. Term one [_]{$popup1}

2. Term two [_]{$popup2}
END_PGML

ENDDOCUMENT();

Template: multi-part prompt

## TITLE('Compute and interpret a value')
## DESCRIPTION
## Compute a value, then interpret it with a short follow-up statement.
## ENDDESCRIPTION
## KEYWORDS('multi-part','numeric','interpretation')
## DBsubject('Biochemistry')
## DBchapter('Concentrations')
## DBsection('Dilution')
## Date('2026-01-28')
## Author('Author name')
## Institution('Institution name')

DOCUMENT();
loadMacros(
	"PGstandard.pl",
	"MathObjects.pl",
	"PGML.pl",
	"PGcourse.pl",
);

Context("Numeric");
$c1 = random(2, 6, 1);
$c2 = random(1, 4, 1);
$ratio = Real($c1 / $c2);
$double = Real(2 * $ratio);

BEGIN_PGML
1. Compute the ratio: [________]{$ratio}

2. What is twice the ratio? [________]{$double}
END_PGML

ENDDOCUMENT();

Template: DraggableProof (ordered list)

## TITLE('Order a sequence of steps')
## DESCRIPTION
## Put items in the correct order using a drag-and-drop
## interface.
## ENDDESCRIPTION
## KEYWORDS('ordering','DraggableProof','sequence')
## DBsubject('Molecular Biology')
## DBchapter('Techniques')
## DBsection('Protocols')
## Date('2026-02-15')
## Author('Author name')
## Institution('Institution name')

DOCUMENT();
loadMacros(
	"PGstandard.pl",
	"MathObjects.pl",
	"PGML.pl",
	"draggableProof.pl",
	"PGcourse.pl",
);

$ordering = DraggableProof(
	[ "Step one", "Step two", "Step three" ],
	[],
	SourceLabel => "Items",
	TargetLabel => "Correct order",
);
$ordering_html = $ordering->Print;

BEGIN_PGML
Put the steps in the correct order.

[$ordering_html]*
END_PGML

ANS($ordering->cmp);

ENDDOCUMENT();

Template: fill-in-the-blank (String)

## TITLE('Name a biological term')
## DESCRIPTION
## Type the correct term in the blank using a string
## context answer.
## ENDDESCRIPTION
## KEYWORDS('fill in the blank','String','terminology')
## DBsubject('Cell Biology')
## DBchapter('Vocabulary')
## DBsection('Core terms')
## Date('2026-02-15')
## Author('Author name')
## Institution('Institution name')

DOCUMENT();
loadMacros(
	"PGstandard.pl",
	"MathObjects.pl",
	"PGML.pl",
	"contextArbitraryString.pl",
	"PGcourse.pl",
);

Context("ArbitraryString");
$ans = Compute("mitochondrion");

BEGIN_PGML
The organelle responsible for producing most of the cell's
ATP is the [__________]{$ans}.
END_PGML

ENDDOCUMENT();

Remember to update TITLE, DESCRIPTION, KEYWORDS, and DBsubject fields for your specific problem.