How to make a Google Form - Surveys and quizzes for beginners

Google Forms is a free tool that lets you easily create surveys, questionnaires and quizzes. Whether you want to collect feedback, handle sign-ups or give a test, Google Forms makes it possible. In this guide you'll learn step by step how to create and send professional forms.

What is Google Forms?

Google Forms (called Google Formulieren in Dutch) is part of the free Google Workspace suite. It is an online tool that lets you create forms that others can fill in through a link. All responses are automatically collected and organized in an overview or spreadsheet.

What can you use Google Forms for?

  • Surveys - Collect opinions and feedback
  • Sign-up forms - Registrations for events or courses
  • Contact forms - Let visitors send messages
  • Quizzes and tests - Automatically graded questions
  • Orders - Simple product orders
  • Evaluations - Reviews of trainings or services

Creating a new form

Opening Google Forms

Go to forms.google.com in your web browser and sign in with your Google account. You land on the start page where you see your existing forms and can create new ones.

Starting with a blank form

Click the big plus sign or "Blank" to start a new form. You immediately get an empty form with room for a title and the first question.

Using a template

Google offers handy templates for common situations such as event registration, contact forms and surveys. Click "Template gallery" at the top of the page to see all available templates.

The Google Forms interface

Form title and description

At the top of the form you enter the title. Click "Form description" to add a short explanation of the purpose of the form. This helps respondents understand what is expected of them.

The toolbar

To the right of each question you see a vertical toolbar with options:

  • Add question - Create a new question
  • Add title and description - Add text without a question
  • Add image - Insert a photo or illustration
  • Add video - Add a YouTube video
  • Add section - Split the form into pages

Question settings

At the bottom of each question you find:

  • Required - Toggle to make the question mandatory
  • More options (three dots) - Extra settings such as adding a description

Question types in Google Forms

Short answer

For short text responses such as a name, email address or a brief comment. Ideal when you expect a concise answer.

Paragraph

For longer text responses. Use this for open questions where respondents can answer in detail.

Multiple choice

Respondents choose one option out of several. Ideal for questions with one correct answer or clear categories.

Checkboxes

Respondents can check multiple options. Perfect for questions like "Which of the following options apply?"

A drop-down menu from which one option is chosen. Useful for long lists to save space, for example for choosing a province or country.

Linear scale

A scale of, for example, 1 to 5 or 1 to 10. Ideal for satisfaction questions such as "How satisfied are you?" with labels at both ends.

Multiple choice grid

A table in which each row is a question and each column is an answer option. Perfect for surveys where the same answer scale applies to multiple questions.

Checkbox grid

Similar to the multiple choice grid, but respondents can check multiple boxes per row.

Date

A date picker for selecting a specific date. Useful for appointments or entering dates of birth.

Time

A time picker for entering a specific time.

File upload

Respondents can upload a file, such as a document or photo. Note: this requires respondents to sign in with a Google account.

Designing your form

Customizing the theme

Click the palette icon at the top to customize the theme. You can choose from:

  • Header image - A photo or illustration at the top of the form
  • Theme color - The main color of your form
  • Background color - The color behind the form
  • Font - Choose a different style

Adding images and videos

You can insert images and videos between questions or with specific questions. This makes your form more visually appealing and can help explain questions.

Creating sections

For longer forms you can add sections. Each section becomes a separate page. This makes filling in the form clearer and less overwhelming. Click the section icon in the toolbar to add a new section.

Advanced settings

Opening the form settings

Click the gear icon at the top to open the settings. Here you find three tabs with important options.

General settings

  • Collect email addresses - Automatically ask for an email address
  • Send responders a copy - Send respondents a copy of their answers
  • Allow response editing - Let respondents change their answers
  • Limit to 1 response - Prevent duplicate submissions (requires Google sign-in)

Presentation settings

  • Show progress bar - Show respondents how far along they are
  • Shuffle question order - Random order of questions
  • Confirmation message - Customize the text respondents see after submitting

Quiz mode

Turn on "Make this a quiz" to turn your form into a quiz with:

  • Automatic grading
  • Points per question
  • Setting correct answers
  • Feedback on answers

Creating a quiz

Turning on quiz mode

Go to Settings > the "Make this a quiz" tab and turn on the toggle. Your form is now a quiz.

Setting answers and points

For each question, click "Answer key" at the bottom left. Here you can:

  • Select the correct answer
  • Set the number of points
  • Add feedback for correct and incorrect answers

Releasing results

Choose when respondents see their score:

  • Immediately after each submission - Show results right away
  • Later, after manual review - You release the results manually

Sharing and sending your form

Sending the form

Click "Send" at the top right for the sharing options:

  • Email - Send directly to email addresses
  • Link - Copy a link to share
  • Embed - HTML code for a website
  • Social media - Share via Facebook or Twitter

With the link option, you can check "Shorten URL" for a shorter link that is easier to share.

Closing a form

Don't want to receive any more responses? In the "Responses" tab you can turn off the "Accepting responses" toggle. You can also set a message for people who still try to open the form.

Viewing and analyzing responses

Response overview

Click the "Responses" tab above your form. You see:

  • Summary - Charts and statistics of all answers
  • Question - View answers per question
  • Individual - View each submission separately

Exporting to Sheets

Click the green Sheets icon to put all responses in a Google spreadsheet. This is ideal for in-depth analysis or sharing results.

Email notifications

Click the three dots next to Responses and choose "Get email notifications for new responses" to receive an email for every new submission.

Tips for effective forms

Keep it short

Respondents drop off when forms are too long. Only ask what is really necessary and split long forms into sections.

Be clear

Phrase questions clearly and unambiguously. Avoid jargon and ambiguous wording.

Test your form

Fill in the form yourself through the preview (eye icon) before you send it. Check that everything works as expected.

Thank your respondents

Customize the confirmation message to thank respondents for their time and effort.

Frequently asked questions

Are Google Forms anonymous?

By default, responses are anonymous unless you turn on "Collect email addresses" or ask for identifying information. If you use the "Limit to 1 response" option, respondents must sign in, but you can set it so that their email address is not stored.

How many responses can I receive?

There is no limit to the number of responses you can receive with Google Forms. Whether you receive 10 or 10,000 responses, everything is stored and analyzed for free.

Can I fill in the form offline?

Google Forms requires an internet connection to fill in. For offline forms you would need to use other software. You can, however, prepare the form offline in Google Docs Offline mode.

How do I prevent spam responses?

There are a few strategies: turn on "Limit to 1 response" (requires Google sign-in), use the CAPTCHA option (automatic when there is suspicious activity), or add a verification question. You can also review responses manually before you analyze them.

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