Processes and procedures
Put the steps of a task or workflow into their correct order.
Question types
Ordering questions
A set of items to arrange into the right sequence. Also called sequencing questions, they test whether someone knows the order, not just the pieces. Here's how to write and grade them.
Definition
What is an ordering question?
An ordering question gives the participant a set of items and asks them to arrange them into the correct sequence. It's also known as a sequencing question, and it tests something a multiple choice question can't: not whether someone recognises the steps, but whether they know the order the steps go in.
Sequencing questions fit anywhere order carries meaning. Use them for the steps of a process or procedure, for events in chronological order, or, when the sequence is by size or priority rather than time, as ranking questions. Knowing the parts of a fire drill is one thing; knowing which comes first is what the format actually measures.
The craft is making sure there's exactly one defensible order. Items whose sequence is arguable, or two steps that could reasonably swap, punish a knowledgeable participant for not guessing your preference. Ordering questions are written in the editor rather than drafted by AI, so you set the correct sequence and check it holds before publishing.
Put these steps for responding to a personal data breach in the correct order.
Correct order: contain the breach; assess the risk to individuals; report to the ICO within 72 hours where required; notify affected individuals; record the incident. Each step has to come before the next, so the sequence isn't arguable.
Rank these digital storage units from smallest to largest.
Correct order: kilobyte, megabyte, gigabyte, terabyte. Ranking by size gives one unambiguous sequence, which is what makes it a fair ordering question.
When to use it
When ordering is the right format
Reach for it wherever the sequence carries the meaning, and there's one order that's clearly correct.
Chronology
Sequence events, stages or milestones by when they happen.
Ranking by value
Order items by size, priority or magnitude as ranking questions.
Not for a single fact
When there's one right answer rather than an order, a multiple choice question is simpler.
Multiple choice questions →In TestSetGo
How TestSetGo handles ordering
Ordering questions grade automatically the moment an attempt is submitted, against the sequence you set. By default each item in its correct position earns an equal share of the marks, so an answer that's mostly right still scores. Switch to all-or-nothing and only a perfect sequence earns any points.
An ordering question needs at least two items, and the participant arranges all of them, so a response always uses every item exactly once. That keeps partial credit fair: the score reflects how many items landed in the right place, not how many were left out.
You build ordering questions in the editor, set the points, and add an explanation participants see after submitting. The dashboard shows per-question accuracy, and if a sequence proves arguable after answers arrive, apply a correction and affected attempts regrade automatically.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is an ordering question?
An ordering question gives a set of items and asks the participant to arrange them into the correct sequence. It's also called a sequencing question.
How are sequencing questions graded?
Automatically. By default each item in its correct position earns an equal share of the marks; switch to all-or-nothing so only a perfect sequence scores.
What's the difference between ordering and ranking questions?
None in format: ranking questions are ordering questions where the sequence is by size, value or priority rather than time or process. Both use the same arrange-the-items answer.
How many items should an ordering question have?
Four to six is a good range. Two is the minimum, and very long sequences are hard to arrange on a phone and easy to get almost right by luck.
Create an ordering test
Write ordering and sequencing questions in the editor, mix them with other formats, and share a self-grading test in minutes.
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