Feedback is use to give extra information to the student right after an answer has been attempted on an item.
The [f] tag is used to define feedback. That tag can potentially appear in 3 locations.
(1) At the top of the specification, before any item is defined. In that case, that feedback will be used as the default to show any time an item is completed. It typically takes the form of something non-concomital like "great!", "off to the next question", etc.
(2) Right after an item definition. It is then shown whenever this item has been answered (and only when that specific item has been answered)
(3) Right after an option definition. It is then shown whenever a specific option has been selected as an answer to the item.
Example at activity level
[f] Off to the Next Question!
[i] What are Jose and Viviane making?",
[f] The correct answer was "French Toast".
[o] Bacon and Eggs
[o] Eggs and Toast
[o] French Toast [f] This is the correct answer indeed.
If some feedback is defined both at top level and at item level, the one at item level overwrite the one at top level. If some feedback is defined both at item and option level, the feedback at option level overwrites the one at item level. In the example above, when French Toast is selected, the student sees "This is the correct answer indeed". If any other option is chosen, then the student sees "The correct answer was French Toast". For any item for which feedback is not defined at item level, the top level feedback "Off to the Next Question!" is shown.
For MCQ activities we expect feedback to be provided for each option. Especially when the student is allowed multiple trials on each item. To define feedback for each option is also required for any animated conversation exercise, as illustrated below.
[i] Hi. I m George, your personal chef. I understand that you are going to help me make bangers and mash. Are you ready? OK. How many potatoes do we need?
[o] We need much potatoes
[f] I m sorry? I think I asked how many potatoes, not how much. Can you give me a number?
[o] [a] We need 8 potatoes
[f] OK, 8 potatoes.
[o] We need the potato.
[f] The potato? Surely that isn t enough.
However, there is no need to define any feedback when there is really no reason to use any.