Index: lams_tool_assessment/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/assessment/service/AssessmentServiceImpl.java
===================================================================
diff -u -re62e56b0f0d04f6820592e95b0271619784a2c9f -rcef487db738be5b97de9a572b44ae098b4af34c6
--- lams_tool_assessment/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/assessment/service/AssessmentServiceImpl.java	(.../AssessmentServiceImpl.java)	(revision e62e56b0f0d04f6820592e95b0271619784a2c9f)
+++ lams_tool_assessment/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/assessment/service/AssessmentServiceImpl.java	(.../AssessmentServiceImpl.java)	(revision cef487db738be5b97de9a572b44ae098b4af34c6)
@@ -3647,6 +3647,7 @@
 
 	    QbCollection collection = null;
 	    Set<String> collectionUUIDs = null;
+	    Long privateCollectionUUID = null;
 
 	    for (JsonNode questionJSONData : questions) {
 		AssessmentQuestion question = new AssessmentQuestion();
@@ -3759,21 +3760,27 @@
 		}
 
 		Long collectionUid = JsonUtil.optLong(questionJSONData, RestTags.COLLECTION_UID);
-		boolean addToCollection = collectionUid != null;
-		if (addToCollection) {
-		    // check if it is the same collection - there is a good chance it is
-		    if (collection == null || collectionUid != collection.getUid()) {
-			collection = qbService.getCollection(collectionUid);
-			if (collection == null) {
-			    addToCollection = false;
-			} else {
-			    collectionUUIDs = qbService.getCollectionQuestions(collection.getUid()).stream()
-				    .filter(q -> q.getUuid() != null)
-				    .collect(Collectors.mapping(q -> q.getUuid().toString(), Collectors.toSet()));
-			}
+		if (collectionUid == null) {
+		    // if no collection UUID was specified, questions end up in user's private collection
+		    if (privateCollectionUUID == null) {
+			privateCollectionUUID = qbService.getUserPrivateCollection(userID).getUid();
 		    }
+		    collectionUid = privateCollectionUUID;
 		}
 
+		boolean addToCollection = true;
+		// check if it is the same collection - there is a good chance it is
+		if (collection == null || collectionUid != collection.getUid()) {
+		    collection = qbService.getCollection(collectionUid);
+		    if (collection == null) {
+			addToCollection = false;
+		    } else {
+			collectionUUIDs = qbService.getCollectionQuestions(collection.getUid()).stream()
+				.filter(q -> q.getUuid() != null)
+				.collect(Collectors.mapping(q -> q.getUuid().toString(), Collectors.toSet()));
+		    }
+		}
+
 		if (isModification) {
 		    if (collectionUUIDs != null) {
 			addToCollection &= !collectionUUIDs.contains(uuid);
@@ -3830,7 +3837,6 @@
 		checkType(question.getType());
 		newQuestionSet.add(question);
 
-		// all questions need to end up in user's private collection
 		if (addToCollection) {
 		    qbService.addQuestionToCollection(collectionUid, qbQuestion.getQuestionId(), false);
 		    collectionUUIDs.add(uuid);
Index: lams_tool_scratchie/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/scratchie/service/ScratchieServiceImpl.java
===================================================================
diff -u -re62e56b0f0d04f6820592e95b0271619784a2c9f -rcef487db738be5b97de9a572b44ae098b4af34c6
--- lams_tool_scratchie/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/scratchie/service/ScratchieServiceImpl.java	(.../ScratchieServiceImpl.java)	(revision e62e56b0f0d04f6820592e95b0271619784a2c9f)
+++ lams_tool_scratchie/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/scratchie/service/ScratchieServiceImpl.java	(.../ScratchieServiceImpl.java)	(revision cef487db738be5b97de9a572b44ae098b4af34c6)
@@ -2826,6 +2826,7 @@
 
 	QbCollection collection = null;
 	Set<String> collectionUUIDs = null;
+	Long privateCollectionUUID = null;
 
 	ArrayNode questions = JsonUtil.optArray(toolContentJSON, RestTags.QUESTIONS);
 	for (int i = 0; i < questions.size(); i++) {
@@ -2850,21 +2851,26 @@
 	    }
 
 	    Long collectionUid = JsonUtil.optLong(questionData, RestTags.COLLECTION_UID);
-	    boolean addToCollection = collectionUid != null;
-
-	    if (addToCollection) {
-		// check if it is the same collection - there is a good chance it is
-		if (collection == null || collectionUid != collection.getUid()) {
-		    collection = qbService.getCollection(collectionUid);
-		    if (collection == null) {
-			addToCollection = false;
-		    } else {
-			collectionUUIDs = qbService.getCollectionQuestions(collection.getUid()).stream()
-				.filter(q -> q.getUuid() != null)
-				.collect(Collectors.mapping(q -> q.getUuid().toString(), Collectors.toSet()));
-		    }
+	    if (collectionUid == null) {
+		// if no collection UUID was specified, questions end up in user's private collection
+		if (privateCollectionUUID == null) {
+		    privateCollectionUUID = qbService.getUserPrivateCollection(userID).getUid();
 		}
+		collectionUid = privateCollectionUUID;
 	    }
+	    
+	    boolean addToCollection = true;
+	    // check if it is the same collection - there is a good chance it is
+	    if (collection == null || collectionUid != collection.getUid()) {
+		collection = qbService.getCollection(collectionUid);
+		if (collection == null) {
+		    addToCollection = false;
+		} else {
+		    collectionUUIDs = qbService.getCollectionQuestions(collection.getUid()).stream()
+			    .filter(q -> q.getUuid() != null)
+			    .collect(Collectors.mapping(q -> q.getUuid().toString(), Collectors.toSet()));
+		}
+	    }
 
 	    if (qbQuestion == null) {
 		qbQuestion = new QbQuestion();