How to troubleshoot Quiz issues?

Having trouble with a Real Python quiz? This guide covers the most common issues and how to resolve them.

Quick Fixes

Before diving into specific problems, try these quick fixes that resolve most issues:

  1. Refresh the page - A simple page refresh often resolves temporary glitches
  2. Disable browser extensions - Ad blockers and privacy extensions can sometimes interfere
  3. Try a different browser - We recommend Chrome, Firefox, or Safari

Common Issues and Solutions


"Check Your Answer" Button Not Working

Symptoms:

  • Clicking the button does nothing
  • No feedback appears after clicking
  • Button appears disabled or unresponsive

Solutions:

  1. Check for JavaScript blockers
    • Quizzes require JavaScript to function
    • Temporarily disable ad blockers (uBlock Origin, AdBlock Plus, etc.)
    • Disable privacy extensions (Privacy Badger, Ghostery, etc.)

    • Check if your browser has JavaScript enabled


  2. Try a different browser
    • Chrome, Firefox, Safari work best

Python Code Questions Not Working

Symptoms:

  • "Error: Unable to initialize Python code execution"
  • Code editor is blank or unresponsive
  • Skip button doesn't work

Solutions:

  1. Use a modern, updated browser
    • Chrome, Firefox, Safari are recommended

    • Update your browser to the latest version


  2. Disable strict tracking prevention
    • Firefox: Click the shield icon → Turn off Enhanced Tracking Protection for this site
    • Safari: Preferences → Privacy → Uncheck "Prevent cross-site tracking"

    • Brave: Click the lion icon → Turn Shields down for this site


  3. Check for Content Security Policy blockers
    • Some corporate networks or browser extensions block inline scripts

    • Try accessing from a personal device or network


Quiz Not Saving Progress

Symptoms:

  • Returning to a quiz starts from the beginning
  • Completion status not showing
  • Score not recorded

Solutions:

  1. Don't use private/incognito mode
    • Quiz progress requires session cookies

    • Private browsing clears these when you close the window


  2. Keep the same browser session
    • Logging out and back in may reset quiz state

    • Finish the quiz in one session if possible


  3. Check cookie settings
    • Ensure cookies from realpython.com are not blocked
    • Some privacy settings block session storage

Multiple Choice Questions Behaving Strangely

Symptoms:

  • Selecting one option deselects another
  • Can't select multiple answers when required
  • Wrong answer marked even when correct one selected

Solutions:

  1. Read the question carefully
    • Some questions ask you to select ALL correct answers

    • Look for phrases like "Select all that apply" or "Which of the following..."


  2. Check for visual glitches
    • Try scrolling up/down to refresh the display

    • The quiz window may need to be resized on smaller screens


  3. For multi-select questions
    • Click each correct answer individually
    • Selected answers should show a checkmark or highlight
    • Click again to deselect if needed

Text Input Answer Not Accepted

Symptoms:

  • Your answer seems correct but is marked wrong
  • Minor typos cause failure
  • Capitalization issues

Understanding the validation:

Text input questions check for specific expected answers. Here are common issues:

  1. Exact matching is often required
    • loop  is not the same as the loop  or a loop

    • Follow the question's context for the expected format


  2. Punctuation in code answers
    • Include or exclude parentheses as appropriate
    • .round()  vs round()  may be different answers

Tip: If you're confident your answer is correct, use the feedback button to let us know - we regularly improve answer validation based on user input!

Code Input Issues

Symptoms:

  • Pressing Enter submits instead of creating a new line
  • Can't indent code properly
  • Editor not responding

Solutions:

  1. Creating new lines in code
    • Press Shift+Enter  for a new line in some quiz modes
    • For multi-line code, the editor should allow normal Enter key
  2. Indentation
    • Use spaces (not tabs) for Python indentation

    • The code editor typically uses 4 spaces per indent level

      Pasting code

    • Ctrl+V  (Windows) or Cmd+V  (Mac) should work

    • If pasting doesn't work, try typing the code manually

      Special characters

    • Avoid using smart quotes (" ") - use straight quotes (" ")
    • Some word processors convert quotes; type them directly

Quiz Appears Too Small or Cut Off

Symptoms:

  • Can't see all answer options
  • Content appears truncated
  • Need to scroll excessively

Solutions:

  1. Adjust browser zoom
    • Press Ctrl+0  (Windows) or Cmd+0  (Mac) to reset zoom

    • Try zooming out with Ctrl+-  or Cmd+-

      Use full-screen mode

    • Press F11  to enter full-screen

    • This gives maximum space for the quiz

      Check device orientation

    • On tablets, try landscape mode
    • Desktop is recommended for the best experience

Browser-Specific Issues

Safari

  • Known issues: Python code execution may occasionally fail
  • Fix: Update to Safari 14+ or try Chrome
  • Alternative: Disable "Prevent cross-site tracking" in Privacy settings

Firefox

  • Known issues: Enhanced Tracking Protection can block quiz functionality
  • Fix: Click the shield icon in the address bar and disable protection for realpython.com

Brave Browser

  • Known issues: Shields may block required scripts
  • Fix: Click the Brave lion icon → Set Shields to "Down" for realpython.com

Mobile Browsers

  • Recommendation: Quizzes work best on desktop browsers
  • If using mobile: Prefer Chrome or Safari on iOS, Chrome on Android

Still Having Issues?

If the solutions above don't resolve your problem:

  1. Use the feedback button on the quiz page to report the issue
    • Include your browser name and version
    • Describe what you expected to happen

    • Note any error messages you see


  2. Check your browser console for errors
    • Press F12  → Console tab
    • Look for red error messages

    • Include these in your feedback report


  3. Try again later
    • Temporary server issues occasionally occur
    • If widespread, our team is notified automatically

Providing Feedback

We're constantly improving our quizzes based on user feedback. If you encounter:

  • A question that seems wrong or unclear
  • An answer that should be accepted but isn't
  • Technical issues with specific questions
  • Suggestions for improvement

Please use the feedback button on the quiz page. Your input helps us make quizzes better for everyone!

Still need help? Contact Us Contact Us

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