diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index f2299f556..723fdf474 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ learnr 0.10.0 (unreleased)
 
 * Missing package dependencies will ask to be installed at tutorial run time. (@isteves, [#253](https://github.com/rstudio/learnr/issues/253))
 
+* When questions are tried again, the existing answer will remain, not forcing the user to restart from scratch. ([#270](https://github.com/rstudio/learnr/issues/270))
+
 
 ## Bug fixes
 
diff --git a/R/quiz.R b/R/quiz.R
index 9de2d311c..2e9c6782d 100644
--- a/R/quiz.R
+++ b/R/quiz.R
@@ -495,7 +495,10 @@ question_module_server_impl <- function(
     if (is.null(submitted_answer())) {
       # has not submitted, show regular answers
       return(
-        question_ui_initialize(question, submitted_answer())
+        # if there is an existing input$answer, display it.
+        # if there is no answer... init with NULL
+        # Do not re-render the UI for every input$answer change
+        question_ui_initialize(question, isolate(input$answer))
       )
     }
 
@@ -526,7 +529,10 @@ question_module_server_impl <- function(
   observeEvent(input$action_button, {
 
     if (button_type() == "try_again") {
-      init_question(NULL)
+      # maintain current submission / do not randomize answer order
+      # only reset the submitted answers
+      # does NOT reset input$answer
+      submitted_answer(NULL)
 
       # submit "reset" to server
       reset_question_submission_event(