How to assign varying points for each question & calculate the total score?

This is a common question from people who need some questions to count more than others. For example, a job with heavy lifting should count far more than time spent sitting, so the same answer choice cannot earn the same points on every question. A quiz in Google Forms gives points only for correct answers, so the weights have to be worked out by hand. With Formfacade, you can assign varying points to different multiple choice questions using the SCORE - QUESTION function. The total score is calculated as people answer the questions. Even better, you can email each person their total, so they can keep it and act on it.

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

How to assign different points using SCORE - QUESTION function?

  • 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?". AI score setup is picked. Click Proceed.
  • "Describe how you want to score this form" is filled in. Click Send and click Next.
  • You're all set message will be displayed. Click the × to go back to the "Edit" tab.
The Assign points dialog asking Describe how you want to score this form, with the box filled in and Send marked
Let's change this form into a simple questionnaire with 3 multiple choice questions with five answer choices each (see below).
Q1. How much time do you spend sitting each day?
  • Watching TV, Playing computer games etc
  • (a) 5+ hrs
  • (b) 4 to 5 hrs
  • (c) 3 to 4 hrs
  • (d) 2 to 3 hrs
  • (e) Less than 2 hrs
Q2. How often do you do sports and recreational activities?
  • Playing sports, going to gym, walking, cycling etc
  • (a) Once or twice in a month
  • (b) Once a week
  • (c) Thrice a week
  • (d) 5 days in a week
  • (e) Daily
Q3. How much physical activity does your job require?
  • Carrying or lifting heavy loads, construction, digging etc
  • (a) Not much
  • (b) A moderate amount
  • (c) Average
  • (d) Intense
  • (e) Very intense
  • Points: Assign varying points for each multiple choice question
  • Q1: (a) - 1, (b) - 2, (c) - 3, (d) - 4, (e) - 5
  • Q2: (a) - 2, (b) - 4, (c) - 6, (d) - 8, (e) - 10
  • Q3: (a) - 5, (b) - 10, (c) - 15, (d) - 20, (e) - 25
We will calculate the total score by adding the individual points for the 3 multiple choice questions. The total score would be between 8 and 40.
  • Click on each question in the Edit page and enter these questions and answer choices. Delete the questions you do not need. Your form may have many, so you can also keep its own multiple choice questions and follow the steps with those.
  • Your form already has a Score question for assigning points and calculating the score, which may be named Total Score. Click on the score question, then click on the gear icon.
The form on the EDIT tab with the Total Score question selected and EDIT, the question and the gear at the bottom of its card marked
  • Field settings screen will be displayed. Select "Answer" tab.
The Answer tab of the score question with Answer and the Calculate box holding POINTS() marked

SCORE - QUESTION function

Score function can be used to assign points to answer choices in multiple choice, checkboxes and grid questions and calculate the total score.
Syntax:
SCORE(scope, point-1, point-2, …, point-n)
where
  • scope - determines whether to assign points to a specific question in the form, all questions in the section, all questions in the form or only the questions that have the matching search term in the description
  • point-1, point-2, … point-n - points to be assigned for different answer choices (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) etc in sequential order
In this example, we will use the entry#id for a question as the scope to assign points for that specific question and calculate the individual score for that question.
How much time do you spend sitting each day?
  • (a) 5+ hrs
  • (b) 4 to 5 hrs
  • (c) 3 to 4 hrs
  • (d) 2 to 3 hrs
  • (e) Less than 2 hrs
SCORE(entry#id, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
  • Type @ and select the required question from the list to add its entry #id in the above formula.
  • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to assign points for answer choices (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) respectively.
How often do you do sports and recreational activities?
  • (a) Once or twice in a month
  • (b) Once a week
  • (c) Thrice a week
  • (d) 5 days in a week
  • (e) Daily
SCORE(entry#id, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10)
  • Type @ and select the required question from the list to add its entry #id in the above formula.
  • 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 to assign points for answer choices (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) respectively.
How much physical activity does your job require? Carrying or lifting heavy loads, construction, digging etc
  • (a) Not much
  • (b) A moderate amount
  • (c) Average
  • (d) Intense
  • (e) Very intense
SCORE(entry#id, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25)
  • Type @ and select the required question from the list to add its entry #id in the above formula.
  • 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 to assign points for answer choices (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) respectively.
To calculate the total score, simply add the three scores as shown in the screen shot below.
SCORE(entry#id, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5) + SCORE(entry#id, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) + SCORE(entry#id, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25)
  • The "Calculate" box already has POINTS(). Delete it, write the SCORE function in "Calculate" and click on the Save button.
The Calculate box with three SCORE functions added together and the Save button marked
If the respondent selects answer choice (b) for Q1, answer choice (c) for Q2 and answer choice (c) for Q3, then the total score will be (2+6+15)=23.
The How active are you? form with answers (b), (c) and (c) selected and a total score of 23

How to show this score after submit?

The message after submit has its own formula, so it will not follow the Score question. To show this score, add the Score question to the message.
  • Scroll down to the end of the form and click on the gear icon on the last "After page" row, above the Submit button. It says "After page 1" on a form with one page. The panel can take a few seconds to open, so click once.
  • Button settings page will be displayed. Click On submit. Select Show customized message for this button.
  • Delete the message that is there and type your own. Click on the @ option, select the Score question and click Save.
The On submit tab with Show customized message for this button selected and a message with the Score question in it and that option, the @ icon and Save marked
When a user submits the form, they will see this score in the message.

Summary

If each question needs its own points, a quiz in Google Forms cannot do it. With Formfacade, you write a SCORE function for each question and add them up in Calculate and the total score is calculated as users answer the questions. Create your form and complete the steps above. If you have any questions, write to support.

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