Prefer to print this page? (opens in a new window)

Form Questions

Editing a Question

When you create your form, your first question will be created as well (multiple choice is default question type) .

You can edit the question as follows:

For Question Title you can type in the question you wish to ask.
For Help Text you can add additional directions or clarification for the question.
For Question Type you can choose between nine different types of questions
If the question type needs a list of answers (such as multiple choice or checkboxes) then you can fill in the available answers.
To force the user to answer the question, select the required question button.
Click Done when finished.

Screenshot of a Google form. The header at the top of the page is in purple with a purple line underneath. There is also another tab that says Responses. The Question tab is selected and the header says My Form. There's a field below that says form description. To the right there is a tool bar with Google Forms options. There are two arrows with text that says Rename your form and points to the upper left and lower on the left. There is an arrow with text that says customize your question and answer options that points to the Question block. There is an arrow with text that says Change your form's look and feel that points to an icon that looks like a palette. There is an arrow with text that says Add Questions that points to the plus icon in the tool bar. There is an arrow with text that says add titles and descriptions, images, videos, or sections that points to the toolbar. There is an arrow and text that says edit, copy, or delete questions that points to an icon that looks like two overlapping pages and a trash icon.

Adding Questions

In addition to the one question you begin with, you can add more questions and other items to your form.

To add an item you can click the Add item button The items you are able to add include:

Basic question types: Text, Paragraph text, Multiple choice, Checkboxes, Choose from a list
Advanced question types: Scale, Grid, Date, Time

Question Types

There are eleven different types of questions you can include in a form:

1 – Short Answer

For the Text type question, you simply type in a question and the user gets a one-line text box to enter their response.
For the Advanced setting you can choose Data Validation to make the user’s response match a certain value, type, or pattern.

2 -Paragraph

For the Paragraph type question, you simply type in a question and the user gets a multi-line text box for their response.
This type of question is well suited for open-ended or essay type responses.
For the Advanced setting you can choose Data Validation to make the user’s response match a certain value, type, or pattern.

3 - Multiple Choice

For the Multiple Choice type question, type in your question.
Then enter in as many options as you wish for the answer choices. You can also copy and paste in your list if you have it typed up elsewhere.
You can also choose to add the Other option where the user will be allowed to add and choose a write-in choice for your list.
When the user completes the question, they may only choose one of the choices you have provided.
For the Advanced setting your can choose Shuffle option order to randomize the answer choice order.

Screenshot of the question types available in Google form. The options in the list are Short Answer (with a long line and a shorter line icon), Paragraph with three lines and a shorter line in an icon), Multiple Choice (with a filled in circle inside of another circle icon), Checkboxes (with a square with a checkmark inside of it), Dropdown (with a circle with a down-pointing arrow), File upload (with a cloud and arrow icon), linear scale(with three dots and a line connecting them), Multiple choice grid (with 9 dots), Checkbox grid (with 9 squares), Date (with a calendar icon), Time (with a clock icon).

4 - Checkboxes

For the Checkbox type question, type in your question.
Then enter in as many options as you wish for the answer choices. You can also copy and paste in your list if you have it typed up elsewhere.
You can also choose to add the Other option where the user will be allowed to add and choose a write-in choice for your list.
When the user completes the question, they can choose as many of the choices as they wish from what you have provided.
For the Advanced setting your can choose Shuffle option order to randomize the answer choice order, or Data Validation to make the user choose a certain number of responses.

5 - Dropdown

For the Choose From a Dropdown type question, type in your question.
Then you can enter in as many options as you wish for the answer choices. You can also copy and paste in your list if you have it typed up elsewhere.
Note: There is not an Other option like in the Multiple Choice and Checkbox types.
When the user completes the question, they may only choose one of the choices you have provided from a drop-down list.
For the Advanced setting your can choose Shuffle option order to randomize the answer choice order.

6 - File Upload - Allow people to attach files.

In Forms, open a form or quiz. Click Add question. and enter your request for information. Next to the question, click the Down arrow. and select File upload.
If prompted, review the uploading information and click Continue. (Optional) Do any of the following actions:
- Specify which file types people can upload. Next to Allow only specific file types, click Turn on and select the types.
- Change the maximum number of files that people can upload.
- Change the maximum file size.
- Set a maximum size for all files collected via the form.

7– Linear scale

The field to let people select a number in a range, linear scale lets you set a scale from 0 or 1 to 2-10 with labels for the lowest and highest options. And yes, emoji work for labels, too.

8 – Multiple Choice Grid

Add questions as rows, and options about them as columns.

You can include as many rows and columns as you want, though do note that readers will have to scroll right to see more than 6 columns on desktop browsers or just 3 columns on mobile. You might want to keep the form preview open while setting up grid questions—just tap the eye icon on the top right, and refresh that page to see your changes.
Also, in addition to the standard option to require responses, the grid lets you require a response per row and can also limit users to only one response per column.

9 - Checkbox Grid

Allows users to select multiple answers for each row in a grid.
You can limit users to select only one answer per column and make users answer each question (row).
You can also shuffle the row order to eliminate the order bias and improve the form responses. Click Submit to finish.

10 - Date type

For the Date type question the user will simply choose a date from a drop down box or with up/down arrows.
You have the option to include the Year or not.

11 - Time

For the Time type question you can choose either the time of day format or duration format with hours, minutes, and seconds.
The user will then select the time or duration using drop down menus and up/down arrows.

When using educational technology tools, be FERPA aware. To learn more, visit the Registrar's FERPA Guidelines site.

Page updated

Report abuse