Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)

A multiple choice question (MCQ) is a closed-ended question that offers several predefined answers from which the respondent must select one or more options. This format is used in surveys, polls, tests, and quizzes because it facilitates statistical data analysis and ensures actionable responses. MCQs come in two main types: single choice where only one answer is possible, and multiple choice allowing the selection of several options simultaneously.

The most commonly used multiple choice question formats in professional surveys are simple checkboxes for quick choices, matrix questions to compare multiple criteria on the same scale, dropdown lists to manage numerous options without cluttering the interface, Likert scales to measure degree of agreement or satisfaction, and drag-and-drop ranking questions to prioritize preferences.

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Definition: What is an MCQ?

An Multiple Choice Question consists of closed-ended questions, where you have to choose one or more answers from a set of predefined options.

There are two types of MCQs:

• Single: Only one answer is possible per question
• Multiple: Several answers are possible for the same question

MCQs can have different answer formats: checkboxes, drop-down menus, matrices, rating scales…

Different Question Formats

Question Format	Ideal Use Case	Recommended Number of Options	Ease of Analysis
Simple checkboxes	Questions with 2 to 7 clear options	3 to 7 options	★★★★★ Excellent
Matrix	Evaluate multiple criteria on the same scale	3 to 10 rows, 3 to 7 columns	★★★★☆ Very good
Dropdown list	Numerous options (age, location, profession)	8 to 50+ options	★★★★☆ Very good
Likert scale	Measure satisfaction, agreement, or frequency	5 or 7 levels	★★★★★ Excellent
Ranking	Prioritize preferences or priorities	3 to 8 items	★★★☆☆ Average

Matrices

Multiple choice matrices allow asking several questions on the same topic, with the same answer options proposed. This allows comparing the answers and analyzing the correlations between the questions.

For example, 5 statements can be made about a product (ease of use, design, durability, etc.) and the same answer choices can be offered each time (strongly disagree, disagree, neutral, agree, strongly agree).

This will easily provide percentage responses, positive or negative, for each criterion. And it will be possible to analyze whether certain aspects are correlated (a poor rating on the design also implies a poor rating on the overall appreciation for instance).

Drop-down Menus

Drop-down menus make it possible to display many answers while taking up little space. It is a practical format when there are many possible answers.

Drop-down menus are well suited for multiple choice questions with many possible responses, such as:

• Age group
• Level of education
• Socio-professional category
• Department or region of residence
• Etc.

This format takes up less space than a vertical list of checkboxes. It allows asking questions with many choice answers without visually overloading the questionnaire.

Drop-down menus thus bring simplicity and flexibility in the design of MCQs, while making it easier for respondents to participate.

Ranking

The ranking format consists of presenting a list of items and asking respondents to rank them in order of preference.

For example, one can ask:

“Rank the following criteria in order of importance when choosing a car:”

• Price
• Design
• Reliability
• Comfort
• Safety

The respondent then has to drag and drop the items to order them from most important to least important in their view.

This format makes it easy to obtain an average ranking for all respondents. We can thus determine which criteria are the highest priorities in a choice or decision.

It provides a more nuanced vision than simple checkboxes or separate ratings. The ranking accurately reflects the trade-offs and hierarchy between different elements.

Evaluation

A Likert scale allows collecting the level of agreement or appreciation from respondents.

For instance, one can ask them to rate different criteria on a scale of 1 to 5:

• Product design: ☆☆☆☆☆
• Ease of use: ☆☆☆☆☆
• Value for money: ☆☆☆☆☆

The rating format on a quantitative scale makes it easy to obtain an average score for each criterion. Scores can thus be compared to see which aspects were best or least rated.

An overall average score can also be calculated by averaging all the ratings across the different criteria.

This quantified rating format is very common because it is simple to implement and analyze. It allows easily leveraging trends and quantitative benchmarks.

Advantages of Multiple Choice Questions in Surveys

Multiple choice questionnaires are easy to analyze thanks to the statistics and percentages they generate. They make it easy to quantify responses and obtain actionable data.

Participation is easy for respondents as there is no writing required. They are guided towards pre-defined answers, thus avoiding irrelevant responses.

Multiple Choice Questions are available online on all devices: smartphones, tablets, computers. They are thus very accessible and make it possible to reach a maximum number of people.

The standardized format of the answers makes these questionnaires comparable. As the responses are fixed, it is possible to benchmark and track the evolution of the results over time.

Finally, MCQs are quick to fill out thanks to the pre-defined choice of answers. They therefore collect a maximum amount of data in a minimum amount of time.

These various advantages make multiple choice questionnaires reliable and easy-to-use tools.

Final Recommendations for Multiple Choice Questions

Choosing the right multiple choice question format depends directly on your survey objective and the type of data you wish to collect. For quantitative studies requiring precise statistics, favor Likert scales and matrix questions that facilitate comparative analysis. If you’re conducting a customer satisfaction survey, combine numerical rating questions with simple multiple choice questions to identify priority areas for improvement. For general public surveys aiming for a high participation rate, opt for simple formats like checkboxes with a maximum of five options per question.

Marketing and customer relations professionals will get the most out of matrix questions to quickly evaluate multiple dimensions of a product or service. HR managers will advantageously use ranking questions to identify employee priorities during internal surveys. Researchers and analysts will favor standardized Likert scales that allow for robust statistical comparisons and correlation analyses. Whatever your use case, always test your survey with a small group before mass deployment to identify ambiguous questions or inappropriate formats.

Designing an effective survey rests on three fundamental pillars. First, always adapt the question format to the type of information sought rather than multiplying formats for novelty’s sake. Second, systematically test your survey on a small sample before official launch to detect ambiguities and optimize the respondent journey. Third, analyze the abandonment rate by question to identify friction points and adjust accordingly. A well-designed multiple choice survey generates immediately actionable data and facilitates decision-making based on facts rather than intuition.

Multiple Choice Questions FAQ

What is the difference between a single choice and a multiple choice question?

A single choice question allows the respondent to select only one answer from the proposed options, typically presented with radio buttons. This format is used when only one option is logically possible, such as gender, age range, or overall satisfaction level. Conversely, a multiple choice question allows the selection of several answers simultaneously via checkboxes. This format is perfectly suited for identifying multiple preferences, motivations, or behaviors, for example preferred communication channels or features used in a product.

How many answers should you offer in a multiple choice question?

The ideal number of answers in a multiple choice question varies depending on the chosen format. For simple checkboxes, it is recommended to offer between three and seven options to maintain easy reading and avoid cognitive fatigue. Beyond eight options, favor a dropdown list that optimizes space while remaining user-friendly. For matrix questions, limit yourself to a maximum of ten rows and seven columns to preserve readability on mobile devices. Always add an “Other” option with a free text field when you suspect your list isn’t exhaustive, avoiding forced inappropriate responses.

When should you use a matrix question rather than separate questions?

A matrix question is particularly effective when you need to evaluate multiple elements according to the same response criteria, such as measuring satisfaction on different aspects of a service with an identical scale. This format considerably reduces the number of survey pages and speeds up response time, as the respondent quickly understands the repetitive logic. Matrices are ideal for product satisfaction studies, performance evaluations, or multi-criteria opinion surveys. However, avoid matrices on mobile devices if they have more than five columns, as the display becomes difficult to navigate on small screens.

Can you make a multiple choice question mandatory in an online survey?

Yes, it is technically possible to make any multiple choice question mandatory in an online survey, but this practice should be used judiciously. Making a question mandatory guarantees complete data collection but can also increase the abandonment rate if the respondent doesn’t have a strong opinion or if no option corresponds to their situation. Best practice is to make mandatory only questions essential to your analysis, typically demographic segmentation criteria or the main questions of your study. For other questions, always offer a “Don’t know” or “Prefer not to answer” option to maintain a high completion rate while respecting respondent freedom.

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Read the article:
German – Multiple-Choice-Fragen, click here
French – question à choix multiples, click here
Polish – Pytanie wielokrotnego wyboru, click here
Portuguese – Perguntas de Múltipla Escolha, click here