How to calculate multiple scores by adding different questions in Google Forms?

"Each category has its own point system, and the totals are added at the bottom"- Support forum

This is a common question from people who build assessments with more than one category in Google Forms. For example, the same form might measure sedentary behaviour and physical activity and you need a separate score for each. A quiz in Google Forms gives only one total score, so the category scores have to be worked out by hand in a sheet. With Formfacade, you can assign points for each question and calculate multiple category scores by adding different questions. Each person will see a score for each category on the form. Even better, each category score gets its own column when you sync the responses to Google Sheets, so you can compare people one category at a time.

Let's start. Create your form and follow the steps below.

How to assign points and calculate multiple scores?

  • On the page that opens, name your form, click Create form and click Proceed.
  • You will land on the form's "Edit" tab. The "Assign points" dialog opens about 15 seconds later, so wait for it.
The tabs Edit, Preview, Share and Responses, with Edit marked
  • It asks "How do you want to set up scoring?". Select "Assign points manually" and click Proceed.
The Assign points dialog asking How do you want to set up scoring?, with Assign points manually and Proceed marked
  • Pick Multiple choice as the question type to score, assign points to its choices and click Next. The same points go to every multiple choice question in your form.
The step To which questions would you like to allocate points?, with Multiple choice picked, points for Rarely, Weekly and Daily and Next marked
  • It asks "How do you want to show the score?", with both options ticked. Click Next.
  • You're all set message will be displayed. Click the × to go back to the "Edit" tab.
The Assign points dialog saying You're all set! Score calculation is enabled, with Preview form
Your form now has a Score question and the same points on every multiple choice question. The steps below give each question its own points.
  • In the Edit page, click on the question, then click on the gear icon.
The form on the EDIT tab with a multiple choice question selected and EDIT, the question and the gear at the bottom of its card marked
  • Question settings page will be displayed. Click Answer. Assign points for the different answer choices and click Save.
The Answer tab with Assign points for each choice and Answer, the first points box and Save marked
Repeat these steps to assign points for other questions in the form.
The Answer tab for another question with its points and Answer, the first points box and Save marked
  • Your form has one Score question. For each other category score you would like to calculate, click on the Add field icon on the right. It adds a Short answer question. Type the category's name as its title.
A Short answer question called Sedentary behaviour (SCORE) on the EDIT tab, with the Add field icon marked
  • Click on the score question, then click on the gear icon.
The form on the EDIT tab with a score question selected and EDIT, the question and the gear marked
  • Question settings page will be displayed. Click Answer. If the Calculate option already has POINTS(), delete it. In the Calculate option, type POINTS( and then type @ and select a question from this category. Type ) and click Save. To add more questions, type + and another POINTS for each one.
The Calculate box with the POINTS formula, with Answer, Calculate and Save marked
  • Similarly, click on the second score question, then click on the gear icon. Question settings page will be displayed. Click Answer, add the POINTS formula for the questions in this category in the Calculate option and click Save.
The Calculate box with the POINTS formula for the second score, with Answer, Calculate and Save marked
Each category score is calculated as users answer the questions.
The How active are you? form with two answers selected and a score for each of the two categories

Summary

If you need more than one score in your form, a quiz in Google Forms gives only one total. With Formfacade, you assign points for each question, add a Short Answer question for each category and add the POINTS formula in the Calculate option. Create your form and complete the steps above. If you have any questions, write to support.

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