Index: lams_tool_assessment/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/assessment/service/AssessmentServiceImpl.java
===================================================================
diff -u -re8b8331273b3d6dd4456138dbd45f9dba3b63148 -r16fc0031466211e9f103136ebdb1952cd4a03d5c
--- lams_tool_assessment/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/assessment/service/AssessmentServiceImpl.java	(.../AssessmentServiceImpl.java)	(revision e8b8331273b3d6dd4456138dbd45f9dba3b63148)
+++ lams_tool_assessment/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/assessment/service/AssessmentServiceImpl.java	(.../AssessmentServiceImpl.java)	(revision 16fc0031466211e9f103136ebdb1952cd4a03d5c)
@@ -620,7 +620,7 @@
 
 	} else if (question.getType() == AssessmentConstants.QUESTION_TYPE_SHORT_ANSWER) {
 	    for (AssessmentQuestionOption option : question.getOptions()) {
-		String optionString = option.getOptionString().trim().replaceAll("\\*", ".*");
+		String optionString = option.getOptionString().trim().replaceAll("\\*", ".*").replaceAll("\\+", "\\\\+");
 		Pattern pattern;
 		if (question.isCaseSensitive()) {
 		    pattern = Pattern.compile(optionString);