How to assign points for a linear scale question?

This is a common question from people who run scale questionnaires in Google Forms. For example, the P4 questionnaire measures pain intensity on a scale from 0 to 10 and the total of all the scale questions is the result you need. Google Forms records each answer, but it cannot add them up while the form is being filled. So you have to add the numbers yourself in the sheet, one response at a time. With Formfacade, you can add the answers for the linear scale questions to calculate the score. Each person will see the total on the form. Even better, you can sync the responses to Google Sheets with the total in its own column, so nobody has to add anything by hand.

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

How to calculate the score for Linear scale questions?

  • 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 the P4 questionnaire to measure the pain intensity. The P4 consists of 4 items that address pain intensity in the morning, afternoon, evening and with activity over the past 2 days. Each item is scored on an 11-point numeric scale.
We will use a linear scale question that starts from 0 and ends on 10. The end points of the linear scales can be named to provide a reference for the users. 0 = No pain, 10 = Worst imaginable pain
  • Click on a question and change it to Linear scale in the list of question types. Set it from 0 to 10 and enter No pain and Worst imaginable pain as the two labels. Do this for all the 4 items and delete the questions you do not need.
  • Your form already has a Score question, which may be named Total Score. Click on the score question, then click the ⚙️ icon.
P4 questionnaire 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 the "Answer" tab and write the formula to assign points and calculate the score.
The Answer tab of the Score question with Answer and the Calculate box holding POINTS() marked
  • The Calculate option already has POINTS(), so delete it. To calculate the score, simply add the answers for all the 4 linear scale questions as shown below and click Save. The total P4 scores can vary from 0 (no pain) to 40 (the highest possible pain level).
The Calculate box with the four linear scale questions added together and the Save button marked
Users will see the total as they answer the questions.
The P4 questionnaire with four linear scale questions from 0 to 10 answered and a Score of 21

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 you want the total of your linear scale questions, Google Forms cannot add them up in the form. With Formfacade, you add a short answer question for the score and add the answers in Calculate and users will see the total in the form. Create your form and complete the steps above. If you have any questions, write to support.

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