Index: lams_tool_laqa/conf/language/lams/ApplicationResources.properties
===================================================================
diff -u -r4409f4bd1640395d7eacbf1681be39628304d815 -rd9946f994303feb9afeed1f9c1a382427dba046b
--- lams_tool_laqa/conf/language/lams/ApplicationResources.properties	(.../ApplicationResources.properties)	(revision 4409f4bd1640395d7eacbf1681be39628304d815)
+++ lams_tool_laqa/conf/language/lams/ApplicationResources.properties	(.../ApplicationResources.properties)	(revision d9946f994303feb9afeed1f9c1a382427dba046b)
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@
 label.new.question = New question
 label.feedback = Feedback
 label.save.question = Add
+label.save.question.new.version = Add as new version
 label.tip.editQuestion = Enables editing of question
 label.tip.deleteQuestion = Deletes question
 label.tip.moveQuestionDown = Moves question down
Index: lams_tool_laqa/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/qa/web/controller/AuthoringController.java
===================================================================
diff -u -rb19b1766bda6ae9634e07b9046948df7d2d2caca -rd9946f994303feb9afeed1f9c1a382427dba046b
--- lams_tool_laqa/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/qa/web/controller/AuthoringController.java	(.../AuthoringController.java)	(revision b19b1766bda6ae9634e07b9046948df7d2d2caca)
+++ lams_tool_laqa/src/java/org/lamsfoundation/lams/tool/qa/web/controller/AuthoringController.java	(.../AuthoringController.java)	(revision d9946f994303feb9afeed1f9c1a382427dba046b)
@@ -358,7 +358,8 @@
      * saveQuestion
      */
     @RequestMapping(value = "/saveQuestion", method = RequestMethod.POST)
-    public String saveQuestion(@ModelAttribute("newQuestionForm") QbQuestionForm form, HttpServletRequest request)
+    public String saveQuestion(@ModelAttribute("newQuestionForm") QbQuestionForm form, HttpServletRequest request,
+	    @RequestParam(name = "newVersion", required = false) boolean enforceNewVersion)
 	    throws IOException, ServletException {
 	SessionMap<String, Object> sessionMap = getSessionMap(form, request);
 	SortedSet<QaQueContent> qaQuestions = getQuestions(sessionMap);
@@ -421,13 +422,19 @@
 
 	int isQbQuestionModified = isDefaultQuestion ? IQbService.QUESTION_MODIFIED_ID_BUMP
 		: qbQuestion.isQbQuestionModified(oldQbQuestion);
+	if (isQbQuestionModified < IQbService.QUESTION_MODIFIED_VERSION_BUMP && enforceNewVersion) {
+	    isQbQuestionModified = IQbService.QUESTION_MODIFIED_VERSION_BUMP;
+	}
 	QbQuestion updatedQuestion = null;
 	switch (isQbQuestionModified) {
 	    case IQbService.QUESTION_MODIFIED_VERSION_BUMP: {
-		// impossible scenario as long as ESSAY question type can't have version
-		throw new RuntimeException(
-			"Impossible scenario as long as ESSAY question type can't have new versions");
+		// new version of the old question gets created
+		updatedQuestion = qbQuestion.clone();
+		updatedQuestion.clearID();
+		updatedQuestion.setVersion(qbService.getMaxQuestionVersion(qbQuestion.getQuestionId()) + 1);
+		updatedQuestion.setCreateDate(new Date());
 	    }
+		break;
 	    case IQbService.QUESTION_MODIFIED_ID_BUMP: {
 		// new question gets created
 		updatedQuestion = qbQuestion.clone();
Index: lams_tool_laqa/web/authoring/newQuestionBox.jsp
===================================================================
diff -u -rb19b1766bda6ae9634e07b9046948df7d2d2caca -rd9946f994303feb9afeed1f9c1a382427dba046b
--- lams_tool_laqa/web/authoring/newQuestionBox.jsp	(.../newQuestionBox.jsp)	(revision b19b1766bda6ae9634e07b9046948df7d2d2caca)
+++ lams_tool_laqa/web/authoring/newQuestionBox.jsp	(.../newQuestionBox.jsp)	(revision d9946f994303feb9afeed1f9c1a382427dba046b)
@@ -32,6 +32,15 @@
 		<script type="text/javascript" src="<lams:LAMSURL/>includes/javascript/jquery.validate.js"></script>
 		<script type="text/javascript" src="<lams:LAMSURL/>includes/javascript/jquery.form.js"></script>
 		<script type="text/javascript">
+			function saveQuestion(isNewVersion){
+				let form = $('#newQuestionForm');
+				if (isNewVersion) {
+					action = form.attr('action');
+					form.attr('action', action + '&newVersion=true');
+				}
+				form.submit();
+		  	}
+		
 			$(document).ready(function(){
 				
 		    	$("#newQuestionForm").validate({
@@ -186,9 +195,22 @@
 					    <a href="#nogo" onclick="javascript:self.parent.tb_remove();" class="btn btn-sm btn-default loffset5">
 							<fmt:message key="label.cancel" />
 						</a>
-						<a href="#nogo" onclick="javascript:$('#newQuestionForm').submit();" class="btn btn-sm btn-default button-add-item">
-							<fmt:message key="label.save.question" />
-						</a>
+						
+						<div class="btn-group btn-group-sm dropup">
+							<a id="saveButton" type="button" class="btn btn-sm btn-default button-add-item" onClick="javascript:saveQuestion(false)">
+								<fmt:message key="label.save.question" />
+							</a>
+							<button id="saveDropButton" type="button" class="btn btn-default dropdown-toggle"
+									data-toggle="dropdown" aria-haspopup="true" aria-expanded="false">
+								<span class="caret"></span>
+								<span class="sr-only">Toggle Dropdown</span>
+							</button>
+							<ul class="dropdown-menu">
+								<li id="saveAsButton" onClick="javascript:saveQuestion(true)"><a href="#">
+									<fmt:message key="label.save.question.new.version" />
+								</a></li>
+							</ul>
+						</div>
 					</div>
 				</div>
 		   	</div>