Multiple-choice questions are deservingly popular — because they are easy to create, administer, and analyze.

This blog post will serve as a comprehensive guide for multiple-choice questions, examples, types and some FAQs.

What are Multiple Choice Questions?
10 types of MCQ questions
Advantages of multiple choice questions
How to use multiple choice survey questions

Let's get started

What are Multiple Choice Questions?

Simply put, multiple choice questions are those questions that are posed alongside a selection of possible answers. Typically, three to five options are given alongside for the respondents to choose from. Multiple-choice questions can also come in the form of surveys, polls, and quizzes.

The nature of the answer options, i.e., whether answers should remain single-select or multi-select, largely depends on the discretion of the survey maker. The respondent then goes on to select one (or more) options from the multiple choices.

Multiple-choice questions enjoy wide applicability and acceptance. This popular survey question type allows for a more intuitive and structured survey response, leading to easy-to-analyze data.

Here’s a multiple choice questions survey template. You can click it to start customizing it.

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Feel free to use the above template...Book a free demo now and explore 1,000+ survey templates packed with ready-to-use multiple-choice questions (answers included!).

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10 Types of Multiple Choice Questions

Now that we’ve covered the base, one might wonder what the different types of multiple choice questions are.

There are mainly ten types and they are as follows.

Single select multiple choice questions
Multi-select multiple choice questions
Dropdown menu multiple choice questions
Star rating multiple choice questions
Text slider multiple choice question
Numeric slider multiple choice question
Thumbs Up/Down multiple choice question
Matrix table multiple choice question
Rank order multiple choice question
Image/picture based multiple choice question

Off we go!

1. Single select multiple choice questions

Single-select multiple choice questions are closed-ended questions that help the respondents choose from options they might not have initially thought of.

In these types of questions, the respondents can pick only one option among the predetermined options. These questions are very much effective in finding out a user’s primary preference.

Single select multiple choice questions

Examples of single select multiple choice questions with their answers

1. Do you feel comfortable asking for help when you’re stuck?

Yes, I feel very much comfortable asking for help. That’s how you learn!
No, I’m scared people might judge me.

2. Do you trust your manager to listen and understand what you have to say?

I fully and wholeheartedly do!
No, I’m afraid we don’t have that kind of dynamic yet.

3. Are you familiar with the company goals?

Yes. Very much so! It’s my bible
No. But I’d love to
Not yet. But I’m working towards it.

4. How satisfied are you with our product or services?

Very satisfied
Somewhat satisfied
Yet to form an opinion
Not satisfied
Completely dissatisfied

2. Multi-select multiple choice questions

In this type of multiple choice question, the respondents can choose more than one option. There are roughly two categories of multi-select multiple choice questions.

Permuting multiple choice questions, where the selections are permuted each time they appear.
Non-permuting multiple choice questions, where the selection order is static. The survey creator uses checkboxes for these questions, and the respondent chooses the most appropriate answers from the selection.

A few examples of this multiple choice question type

1. How did you find out about our product?

A friend recommended it to me!
Instagram
Facebook
Youtube
Google Ads
Other (please specify)

2. Which 3 features of our product are most valuable to you?

Ease of use
Functionality
Build durability
Portability
Design and aesthetics

3. What are the 3 features that we currently miss?
4. What problems would you like to solve with our product?

Related: 12 Types of Survey Questions to Collect All Types of Data

3. Dropdown menu multiple choice questions

Another type of MCQ, dropdown, allows respondents to choose an answer from a list of choices presented in the dropdown menu. Depending on the use case, the survey maker can configure the option to let the respondent choose one or multiple options.

This type of question is typically used when respondents are required to select from a pool of options and is one of the most commonly used question types in market research surveys. It is easy to use, easy to answer, invariably reduces the length of the survey, and makes it concise.

Need more ideas? We hear you.

Dropdown menu multiple choice questions

Here are a few more examples of drop-down MCQs with their answers

1. What gender do you identify as?

Male
Female
Transgender
Prefer not to say

2. What is your highest level of education?

High school or equivalent
Technical or occupational certificate
Associate degree
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree
Doctorate degree

3. What industry are you in?

Accounting
Administrative
Education
Engineering
Financial Services
Hospitality
Information technology
Management
Nursing
Sales
Other( please specify)

5. What is your approximate annual household income?

$10 000 to $24 999
$25 000 to 49 999
$50 000 to 74 999
$75 000 to 99 999
$100 000 to 149 999
$150 000 and greater

Want to create a multiple-choice questionnaire in a minute or less? Sign up below.

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4. Star rating multiple choice questions

A star rating question is a type of multiple choice question that allows the user to rank attributes on a point-scale represented by the stars. It is essentially a five-point matrix question that allows for visual scaling; with the only difference being in the place of radio buttons or checkboxes, stars are utilized.

A star rating multiple choice question offers an exciting way to collect feedback because of its interactivity. These multiple choice questions are particularly effective on mobile due to the graphic user interface, and simple tap-to-enter, or drag-and-drop functionality.

Plus, the assigned weighed scale for each star can be easily converted to numerical data, making it effortless to generate reports.

Star rating multiple choice questions

Here are some other MCQ questions examples of this question type

1. How likely are you to return to our website?
2. How well does our product meet your needs?
3. How would you rate the value for the money of the product?

5. Text slider multiple choice questions

A good alternative to the open-ended questions, a text slider multiple choice question allows the respondents to answer on a text scale by dragging a slider. They drag the slider bar to select their desirable options, making it yet another convenient graphical rating question type.

This question type saves the respondent a lot of time as they don’t have to manually enter any text or number to answer the question asked. Another feature that makes this question type stand out is the respondent can also opt for a neutral option.

Here are some popularly asked text slider questions –

1. How satisfied are you with your in-store experience today?
2. How likely will you recommend our product or service to others?
3. Did you feel that our team answered your inquiry promptly?
4. Do you agree or disagree that your issue was effectively resolved?
5. How likely are you to purchase again from us?

6. Numeric slider multiple choice question

Similar to the text slider multiple choice question, in this question type, the respondent can answer the question by selecting values by dragging the slide through the range.

This rating scale has proved particularly useful for allowing the survey makers to produce a more extensive range of questions involving numerical data.

Similar examples of numeric slider multiple choice questions with their answers

1. How many hours would you like to work ideally? (5-12)
2. Number of songs that you’d ideally like in a movie? (0-10)
3. Your preferred AC temperature at the workplace? (15-30)
4. What’s your average bike speed while you drive in the city? (20-100)
5. How many times are you likely to order food online in a week? (0-25)
6. Rate your satisfaction with our team in resolving your issue. (0-10)

Did you know SurveySparrow offers a multitude of other handy variations of multiple slider questions? Engage your respondents better with our Thermometer slider, Gauge meter, smileys, and traffic lights.

7. Thumbs up/down multiple choice question

Set apart by its power of simplicity, this classic question type finds marks high attendance in most surveys. Primarily used to elicit respondents’ opinions, the thumbs up/down question helps them to make a quick choice between what they like and dislike.

For this multiple-choice question, an image is used to show thumbs up (for sharing positive feedback) and thumbs down (for sharing negative feedback).

Yes, it’s as simple as that. From the standpoint of the survey creator, it would be advisable to insert a text box to obtain the respondents’ opinions and comments.

thumbs up and down

Here are a few examples of this question type

Did you like your stay with us?
Are you enjoying our products so far?
Can we connect you with a customer success manager via chat?
Were you able to find the information you were looking for on our website?
How much effort did you personally have to put forth in handling your request?

8. Matrix table multiple choice question

Matrix table questions are used when you need to combine multiple queries with the same answers.

To put it simply, it is most useful when you need to ask multiple questions that should be rated on the same scale. Quite earnestly, a matrix question is nothing but multiple questions presented on a grid.

There are two components to a matrix table question- statements (rows of the matrix table. These are the statements you would like a respondent to rate) and scale points (columns of the matrix table. These are the ratings you want respondents to choose for each statement)

matrix multiple choice questions

There are quite a few variations on the matrix table question. Each variation has unique options and a unique format.

9. Rank order multiple choice question

This multiple-choice question lets the respondents order answer options as per their preference. This survey question type allows them to rearrange and rank multiple-choice options in a specific order, thereby evaluating multiple row items based on a specific format.

Because of this, rank order MCQ remains one of the most popular question types there is. They offer detailed insights and are typically used when the researcher wants to know the order of preference of options listed based on attributes such as their features, needs, likes, dislikes, etc.

Survey respondents can easily drag and drop the answer choices to re-order them as they choose.

10. Image/picture-based multiple choice question

Another visual variety of multiple choice questions, a picture choice question, allows for visualization of the answer options.

The respondents can then review and select the option of their choice. This survey question type is a boon in making your surveys or forms look dynamic and overall more engaging. These questions are what makes an image survey.

picture based multiple choice question

There are two types of image questions:

Single-select image question: This is a multiple choice question in which respondents have to select a single image from the choices offered.
Multi-select image question: In this multiple choice question, the respondents select multiple images from the choices offered.

Further examples of this question type

1. Do you prefer to shop on your phone or laptop?
2. Which of the following flavors is your favorite?
3. Which of our products are you most excited about?
4. What is your mode of transportation for getting to the office?

Want to instantly create the perfect multiple choice questions? Our Wings AI will help you get the job done.

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Advantages of Using Multiple-Choice Questions

Needless to say, multiple choice questions are primary to surveys. They are versatile and intuitive and produce structured data that’s easy to analyze.

In many ways, MCQs are considered to be the gold standard by most people, thanks to their advantages over other question types.

Here’s a rundown of some of its benefits:

Optimal for mobile devices: Considering that most people end up taking surveys on their mobiles or tablets, mobile devices aren’t the best interfaces for surveys that use lots of text boxes or require a lot of scrolling. That’s when the role of multiple choice options comes into play. They are a lot easier to navigate, facilitating fast, efficient analysis and reporting.
Simple and accessible: We can all agree that selecting an option is a lot easier than typing in a response. You’ll typically enjoy more response rates and completion rates with multiple choice questions on your survey.
Provide concrete definitions: When crafting survey questions in which you more or less know the range of responses you will get, it’s best to go with a multiple-choice question. The respondents will have an easy time answering questions as they already have the response options available in front of them. This also zeroes down the tedious process of weeding out irrelevant answers.

How to Use Multiple Choice Questions in Your Survey: In 5 Easy Steps

Step 1: Log into your SurveySparrow account

If you’re already a SurveySparrow user, just enter your credentials and log in. If you’re new here, don’t worry! Signing up is quick and hassle-free—you can create an account and get started in under a minute.

Yes, it’s truly that simple to join the SurveySparrow family and begin creating engaging surveys.

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Step 2: Tap on +New Survey at the top-right corner

Once logged in, head to your dashboard. You’ll find a prominent "+New Survey" button located at the top-right corner of the screen.

Click on it to kick off your survey creation journey. This is where the fun begins!

Step 3: Start a classic survey

From the available survey types, choose "Classic Survey." This option lets you create a traditional question-and-answer format survey.

Don’t forget to give your survey a name—it could be something like "Customer Feedback," "Employee Satisfaction," or whatever suits your purpose. Naming your survey helps keep things organized, especially when managing multiple surveys.

Step 4: Begin building your survey

To start adding questions to your survey, navigate to the Build tab. This is where the magic happens.

You’ll see a clean, intuitive interface where you can easily customize and structure your survey. Begin by adding your first question—this could be something simple, like “How satisfied are you with our services?”

Step 5: Choose your question type and get creative

SurveySparrow offers a variety of question types, such as multiple choice, open-ended text, ratings, NPS (Net Promoter Score), and more. Pick the type that best suits your question. For example:

Use ratings for quick feedback.
Try multiple choice for specific options.
Opt for open-ended text when you want detailed responses.

Once you’ve selected the question type and added your content, your survey is ready to go live. And voila!

You’ve successfully created a survey. From here, you can preview, customize the design, and share your survey via links, emails, or even QR codes.

With just a few simple steps, you’re now set to collect valuable feedback that drives meaningful insights. Happy surveying! 🚀

Wrapping Up

Now that you know what multiple-choice questions are, their different types, and how to use them in your survey, it’s time to get the ball rolling.

SurveySparrow could be your perfect partner in creating, distributing, and analyzing your surveys. With over 25+ question types, including the ones mentioned above, it helps you create conversational and engaging surveys that gather actionable insights.

That’s it, folks. Happy surveying!

Multiple Choice Questions: Types, Examples & Sample Questions