Why generate from a document instead of a topic
Most AI quiz makers start from a topic prompt: you type “the water cycle” and the model writes questions from its general knowledge. That works, but the questions reflect a generic version of the subject, not the version you taught.
Generating from your own document fixes that. The questions use your wording, your examples, and the specific points your chapter chose to emphasize. Students are assessed on what was actually covered in class, which is the whole point of a recap quiz. It also means you spend less time editing, because the source already matches your curriculum.
The 5-step process
Sign up free - no credit card
Go to sheelon.me and create a free account with your email or Google account. It takes about a minute and you do not need to enter payment details to use AI generation.
Click "Create Quiz" → "From Document"
From your dashboard, click "Create Quiz," choose "Generate with AI," then pick "From Document" instead of the topic box.
Upload your file
Drag in a PDF, Word doc, PowerPoint deck, or text file up to 10 MB. Sheelon reads the text and uses it as the source for every question.
Set the quiz parameters
Choose how many questions you want, the difficulty, and the question types. A prompt like "12 questions, medium difficulty, mostly multiple choice with 2 true/false" works well.
Generate, review, and launch
The AI writes the questions from your document in under 30 seconds. Review each one, fix anything you would word differently, save, and click Host Game to get a join PIN.
File types you can upload
Sheelon extracts text from most formats teachers already have on hand. The file limit is 10 MB, which covers a typical chapter, handout, or slide deck.
Textbook chapters, handouts, study guides
Word (.docx)
Lesson notes, worksheets
PowerPoint (.pptx)
Lecture slide decks
Excel (.xlsx)
Vocabulary lists, data tables
Text & Markdown
Plain notes, exported docs
HTML, CSV, RTF
Web pages and exports
Getting good questions on the first try
Document generation is reliable, but a few habits make the output noticeably better and cut your editing time:
- Upload chapter-sized chunks, not whole books. One unit or chapter at a time gives focused questions. A 300-page PDF forces the model to skim, and the file is likely over the 10 MB limit anyway.
- Use clean source text. A PDF exported from a word processor reads better than a phone photo saved as a PDF. If your file is a scan, run it through OCR first so the text is selectable.
- Say how many questions and which types. If you leave it open, the AI picks a reasonable mix. Specifying gives you the assessment you actually want.
- Review answers in your subject area. The AI is strong but not infallible. Expect to tweak 1 to 3 questions out of 10, usually to reword an ambiguous option or swap a weak distractor for a real misconception.
What you get on the free plan
You do not need to pay to try this. Here is the honest breakdown of what the free plan includes and where Pro starts, so there are no surprises:
| Feature | Free | Pro |
|---|---|---|
| AI generation (topic + document) | 5 quizzes / 50 questions, lifetime | Unlimited |
| Question types | 3 (multiple choice, true/false, type answer) | All 10 |
| Players per game | 50 | 150 |
| Quizzes saved | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Export results (PDF / Excel / CSV) | No | Yes |
The free AI allowance is a lifetime total of 5 generated quizzes rather than a monthly reset, so it is best spent on the quizzes that save you the most prep. Once you are past the trial-and-see stage, Pro at $3.99 per month (or $39 per year) removes the cap and unlocks the other seven question types.
From document to live game in under a minute
Once the quiz is saved, hosting it is the same as any other Sheelon quiz:
- Click Host Game on the quiz you just built.
- Pick a mode: Classic (individual scoring), Team (groups compete), or Assignment (students work at their own pace).
- A 6-digit PIN appears. Put it on the projector or read it out.
- Students open sheelon.me/join on any device, enter the PIN, and type a nickname. No app, no account.
- Click Start Game and the questions advance in real time with a leaderboard between rounds.
Frequently asked questions
Does the quiz only use my document, or general knowledge too?
What is the file size limit?
Can I upload a scanned PDF or a photo?
Is my uploaded file stored or shared?
Can students join from their phones?
Turn your next handout into a quiz
Free plan, no credit card. Upload a PDF or doc, let the AI write the questions, and host a live game in minutes. Pro unlocks unlimited AI and all 10 question types for $39 a year.
Create Free AccountFree forever plan · AI included · No credit card
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