Multiple choice
One prompt, several options, exactly one correct answer. The auto-graded workhorse of professional testing.
Multiple choice →Question types
Types of test questions
A test is only as good as its questions. This guide covers the formats worth knowing, what each one measures, and how to choose.
Choosing a format
How to choose a question format
Two decisions do most of the work: what you want to measure, and how you want it graded.
The first decision is between objective and constructed-response questions. Objective questions (multiple choice, multiple response, true or false) give the participant options to choose from, so there is one predetermined correct answer. Constructed-response questions ask the participant to produce the answer, from a typed word up to a full paragraph. The more a question lets them construct, the richer the reasoning it reveals, and the harder it is to grade.
The second decision follows from the first: auto-graded or judged. Choice types, true or false, short answer and fill in the blank all grade automatically, matching the response against a correct option or an accepted-answer list. That gives instant, consistent results at any scale, which is why objective formats dominate professional testing. Long answers can't be matched to a single correct string, so a person marks them against a guide.
Most good tests mix formats rather than lean on one. Objective questions cover facts, rules and thresholds quickly and cheaply. An open-ended question or two captures the reasoning no tick box can. The nine formats below are the building blocks, each with a page of examples and guidance.
The formats
The nine question types, explained in depth
TestSetGo supports nine question types in all. Every format below auto-grades the instant an attempt is submitted, except long answer, which is marked by a person against a guide.
Multiple response
Several options with more than one correct answer. Auto-graded, all-or-nothing or per-item partial credit.
Multiple response →True or false
A single statement judged true or false. Quickest to answer and grade, best used in numbers.
True or false →Short answer
A typed word, number or phrase. Tests recall, and auto-grades against a list of accepted answers.
Short answer →Fill in the blank
A sentence with a word removed to supply. Cloze-style recall in context, graded against accepted alternatives.
Fill in the blank →Long answer
An open-ended, essay-style response in the participant's own words. Measures reasoning; marked by a person against a guide.
Long answer →Numeric
A typed number, graded on its value. Accepts an exact answer, a range or a tolerance for rounding.
Numeric →Ordering
A set of items arranged into the correct sequence. Also called sequencing; auto-graded per position or all-or-nothing.
Ordering →Matching
Two columns to pair up, each prompt with its answer. Auto-graded per pair or all-or-nothing.
Matching →Mixing formats
Combine question types in a single test
You don't have to pick one format. Build a test from any mix of the nine types, each with its own points, so one test can run from true/false myth-busting to a reasoned long-answer scenario.
- Any mix of the nine types in one test, each with its own points
- Objective questions grade instantly; long answers queue for marking
- Images, rich text and LaTeX maths in any question type
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many question types should a test use?
As many as the material calls for, and no more. Most good tests mix two or three formats: objective questions for facts, a long answer or two for reasoning.
Which question types are graded automatically?
Multiple choice, multiple response, true or false, short answer and fill in the blank all auto-grade the instant an attempt is submitted. Long answer is the exception: it's marked by a person against a marking guide.
What's the difference between objective and open-ended questions?
Objective questions give the participant options to choose from, so there's a single predetermined correct answer that grades automatically. Open-ended questions ask them to construct the answer themselves, which reveals reasoning but needs human judgement to grade.
Which question type is best for a quiz or exam?
There's no single best type. It depends on what you're measuring: multiple choice is the reliable default for facts at scale, short answer tests recall, and long answer shows reasoning.
Build a test from the right questions
Mix any of the nine question types — including numeric, ordering and matching — share by link, and let the objective ones grade themselves. Free, no card required.
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