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Question Bank Question Types

How to make sorting questions?

Create sorting questions for your online exams. Auto-grade responses, define custom sequences, and assess sequencing skills effectively.

Updated 2025/05/02

Sorting questions require respondents to arrange a set of items into the correct sequence. These items may include words, phrases, or other content types. Each item is assigned a position number to reflect its place in the sequence.

Ideal for measuring skills like categorization, prioritization, and logical sequencing, sorting questions can be auto-graded based on a predefined correct order.

Steps to create a sorting question

TestInvite's Quick Question Creation tool streamlines the process of creating sorting questions, turning a complex task into a few simple clicks.

  • Choose "Matching" as the question type.
    • Enable the Quick Question Creation tool, accessible by clicking the magic wand icon next to the question type dropdown at the top left of the question creation panel.
      Click the magic wand icon to enable quick question creation.
      Click the magic wand icon to enable quick question creation.
      • Enter your question, leave one blank row beneath it, then list the first, second, third matching titles—and more if needed. 
        • For each row (position), add the choice options under the appropriate number and leave one blank row beneath them.
          In the example above, numbers are used as matching titles. However, you can customize them as needed—for instance, by using planet names as matching titles and numbers as sorting options, or by using ordinal words such as
          In the example above, numbers are used as matching titles. However, you can customize them as needed—for instance, by using planet names as matching titles and numbers as sorting options, or by using ordinal words such as "first," "second," and "third."
          • Use the toggle next to each option to mark the correct placement.
            Mark the correct answers as
            Mark the correct answers as "True".
            • Save the question.

              The test-taker will be presented with dropdowns for each position and must select the correct item per row.

              Preview of the question.
              Preview of the question.
              Preview of the question with correct answers.
              Preview of the question with correct answers.

              Configuration options

              • Each position (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd) can have one correct answer. You can create multiple valid answer key sets if there is more than one acceptable sequence.
                • Automatically grade each response by matching it with the correct sequence.
                  • Assign scores to each correctly placed item. (Default value is 1 and the percentage is 100%)
                    Why use sorting questions?

                    Sorting questions go beyond recognition and test a candidate’s ability to understand order, structure, and relationships. They're ideal for:

                    ✅Testing conceptual understanding (e.g., process stages, rankings)
                    ✅Language sequencing (e.g., chronological storytelling)
                    ✅Scientific or mathematical ordering (e.g., planetary distances, numerical order)
                    ✅Prioritization exercises in decision-making tests
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