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

This is a common question from people who use a questionnaire to measure something instead of testing knowledge. For example, you might want to find out how active a person is, so you need one total score at the end. You can assign point values to questions in Google Forms by creating a quiz, but you cannot assign different points to each answer in a multiple choice question and calculate the total score. You could add up the points by hand in a sheet for every response, but that takes time and the person filling the form does not get to see the score. With Formfacade, you can do that using the SCORE function. The total score is calculated as people answer the questions. Even better, you can show a different result for each score range, so a low score and a high score don't read the same.

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

How to assign points and calculate scores using Formfacade?

  • 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). We will calculate the total score to determine how active a person is.
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
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
How much physical activity does your job require?
  • (a) Not much
  • (b) A moderate amount
  • (c) Average
  • (d) Intense
  • (e) Very intense
Points: We will use the same points scale for all the three multiple choice questions
  • Answer choice (a) - 1 point
  • Answer choice (b) - 2 points
  • Answer choice (c) - 3 points
  • Answer choice (d) - 4 points
  • Answer choice (e) - 5 points
We will calculate the total score by adding the individual points for the 3 multiple choice questions. The total score would be between 3 and 15.
  • 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 displaying 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 function

SCORE() function allows you to assign scores to each answer choice in multiple choice questions, checkboxes questions and grid questions. It takes two input parameters:
1. The first parameter specifies whether the score should be calculated for all questions in the section (SECTION) or questions across all the sections (ALL) or only the questions that match the search term in the description.
2. The second parameter is the points to be assigned for different answer choices (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) etc.
In this example, we will use SCORE(ALL,1,2,3,4,5) to calculate the physical activity score.
First parameter: ALL option to calculate the total score across the three multiple choice questions.
Second parameter: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 to assign points for answer choices (a), (b), (c), (d), (e) respectively.
  • The "Calculate" box already has POINTS(). Delete it, write the SCORE function in "Calculate" and click on the Save button.
The Calculate box with SCORE(ALL,1,2,3,4,5) and the Save button marked
If the respondent selects answer choice (e) for Q1, answer choice (d) for Q2 and answer choice (c) for Q3, then the total score calculated using the SCORE(ALL,1,2,3,4,5) will be (5+4+3)=12.
The How active are you? form with answers (e), (d) and (c) selected and a total score of 12

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.

Watch this video

Summary

If you want the same points scale for all your multiple choice questions and a total score, a quiz in Google Forms cannot do it. With Formfacade, you write the SCORE function 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.

Last updated: