Choose a type of question for your form

You can select types of questions from a menu:

1. Open a form in Google Forms.
2. On the right, click Add .
3. To the right of the question title, choose the type of question you want.
4. (Optional) To make it required for users to answer your question, turn Required on or off.
5. (Optional) To add the “Description” field, click More Description.
6. (Optional) To find more options for each question, click More .

Types of questions

Short answer

• You can provide an open question. Responders can find one line to write their answer in a few words.

• You can set rules such as maximum character count. Learn how to set rules with data validation.

Paragraph

• You can provide an open question. Responders can write long answers in paragraphs.

• You can set rules such as maximum or minimum character count. Learn how to set rules with data validation.

Multiple choice

• You can provide a set of options. Responders can choose only one option.

• You can include "Other" as an option. Responders can type a short answer.

• Based on a responder’s answers, you can send them to a certain section of the form. Learn how to show questions based on answers.

Checkboxes

• You can provide a set of options. Responders can select multiple answers.

• You can include "Other" as an option. Responders can type a short answer.

• Based on a responder’s answers, you can send them to a certain section of the form. Learn how to show questions based on answers.

Dropdown

• You can provide a set of options. Responders can choose only one option.

• Based on a responder’s answers, you can send them to a certain section of the form. Learn how to show questions based on answers.

File upload

You can ask the responder to upload a file in your form.

Important:

• You can’t use this question type, if:
  • The form is stored in a shared drive.
  • Your administrator turns on Data Loss Prevention.
• To answer this question, responders need to sign in to a Google Account.
• For the form owner, uploaded files are stored in a new folder on Google Drive.

To set up a file upload question, you can:

• Specify which file types responders can upload.
• Set up the maximum number of files responders can upload.
• Choose the maximum file size responders can upload.

Linear scale

You can ask responders to provide a rating on a scale.

• Your scale can start at zero or one.
• Your scale can end on a whole number from 2 to 10.
• You can set a label for each end of the scale.

Multiple choice grid

You can create a grid where responders can select one or more answers per row.

Tip: This type of question is often used to rate a category of options.

1. Add your question to the “Question” field.
2. Add the options for the rows. For example: A, B, C.
3. Add the options for the columns. For example: 1, 2, 3. Responders can only choose one column per row.
4. (Optional) To make sure responders choose an option from each column, turn on “Require a response in each row.” If they don’t, they get an error message and can’t continue.
5. (Optional) To limit answers to one choice per column:
   1. At the bottom right, click More .
   2. Check the box next to “Limit to one response per column.”
6. (Optional) To shuffle the row order every time the survey is open:
   1. At the bottom right, click More .
   2. Check the box next to “Shuffle row order.”

Example of “Limit to one response per column”

Input:

• Rows: A, B, C
• Columns: 1, 2, 3

Result: Responders can choose one row item (A, B, C) for each column (1, 2, 3). If they check multiple rows in a column, they get an error message.

Checkbox grid

You can create a grid where responders can select one or more answers per row.

Tip: This type of question is often used to rate a category of options.

1. Add your question to the “Question” field.
2. Add the options for the rows. For example: A, B, C.
3. Add the options for the columns. For example: 1, 2, 3.
4. (Optional) To make sure responders choose an option from the columns for each row, turn on “Require a response in each row.” If they don’t, an error message appears and the responder can’t continue.
5. (Optional) To limit answers to one choice per column:
   1. At the bottom right, click More .
   2. Check the box next to “Limit to one response per column.”
6. (Optional) To shuffle the row order every time the survey is open:
   1. At the bottom right, click More .
   2. Check the box next to “Shuffle row order.”

Example of “Limit to one response per column”

Input:

• Rows: A, B, C
• Columns: 1, 2, 3

Result: Responders can check multiple columns (1, 2, 3) for each row item (A, B, C). If they check multiple rows in a column, they get an error message.

Date

Responders can fill out a date in mm/dd/yyyy format.

To include the year or time, at the bottom right of the question, click More .

Time

Responders can fill out the:

• Time in hh:mm AM/PM format
• Duration in Hrs Min Sec format

To switch between time or duration, at the bottom right of the question, click More .