Discover the New “Rating” Question Type in Google Forms: A Step-by-Step Guide

A Fresh Way to Collect Feedback in Google Forms

Google Forms just got a new feature that’s bound to make surveys, quizzes, and polls more engaging: the "Rating" question type. Whether you’re a teacher collecting feedback from students or someone managing forms for events, this feature allows you to use icons like stars, hearts, or thumbs up to make responses more fun and interactive. With this new addition, creating visually appealing surveys that encourage responses has never been easier.

In this step-by-step guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about the Rating question. By the end, you’ll be ready to design forms that not only collect useful data but also delight your respondents.

Step 1: Open Google Forms and Start a New Form

To begin, head over to Google Forms by going to forms.google.com. Once you're there:

Click the blank form or choose a template that suits your needs.
Give your form a title and description to inform respondents what it’s about.

💡 Pro Tip: Add a clear and engaging description to increase participation. For example, “Help us improve! Rate your experience with today’s session.”

Step 2: Add the “Rating” Question Type

Now let’s explore how to use the new Rating question type:

Click on the + button (Add Question) or hover over an existing question field to add a new one.
In the question type dropdown menu (the small arrow next to “Multiple choice”), scroll down and select Rating from the list.

What You’ll See:

A default set of five stars will appear next to your question.
You can change the icon style to hearts, thumbs up, or likes.

💡 Pro Tip: Use icons that match your audience’s preferences. For example, stars work great for rating products, while hearts might be better for emotional responses.

Step 3: Customize the Rating Question

You can tweak the Rating question to suit your survey needs. Here’s how:

Change the Number of Icons:
- By default, you’ll see five icons. However, you can increase the number to up to 10 or reduce it to as few as three.
- Adjust the number depending on the complexity of what you’re rating. For instance, three stars might suffice for quick feedback, while 10 stars could give more nuanced insight.
Select Icon Type:
- Click the icon dropdown to switch between stars, hearts, thumbs up, and likes.
- Consider what matches the tone of your form—stars are formal, while thumbs-up icons feel more casual.

💡 Pro Tip: Stick with a consistent icon style across the form to avoid confusing respondents. For example, if you start with stars, don’t switch to hearts halfway through the survey.

Step 4: Write an Effective Rating Question

When you add your Rating question, it’s essential to write the question in a way that invites thoughtful responses. Here are some examples:

For Teachers: “How engaging was today’s lesson on a scale from 1 to 5 stars?”
For Event Organizers: “Please rate your satisfaction with the event setup.”
For Customer Surveys: “How likely are you to recommend our service?”

💡 Tip: Make sure your questions are clear and specific. Instead of asking, “Did you enjoy it?” go for “Rate the clarity of the presentation.”

Step 5: Preview and Test Your Form

Before sending the form to your audience, it’s important to preview it to ensure everything looks the way you want.

Click the eye icon in the upper-right corner of the Google Forms interface to open the preview mode.
Scroll through your form, paying close attention to the Rating question.
Test the icons by selecting different options to make sure they work smoothly.

💡 Tip: If you notice any awkward phrasing or mistakes, head back to the editor and make adjustments. Better to catch these early!

Step 6: Share Your Form with Your Audience

Once everything looks good, it’s time to share your form. Google Forms provides multiple ways to distribute your survey:

Via Link: Click Send and copy the shareable link.
Email: Enter email addresses directly into the send field.
Embed Code: If you want to embed the form on a website or blog, click on the embed icon (< >) to generate code.

💡 Tip: Use shortened URLs to make sharing easier. Google Forms has an option to shorten the link right in the Send menu.

Step 7: Review and Analyze Responses

Once your respondents have filled out the form, head over to the Responses tab to review their feedback.

The responses to the Rating question will appear as graphs or charts, showing the distribution of stars, hearts, or thumbs-up ratings.
You can export the data to Google Sheets for deeper analysis if needed.

💡 Tip: Use this data to track trends over time. For example, if you ask students to rate lessons weekly, you can spot which topics resonate best.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Problem: The Rating Icons Aren’t Showing Up Correctly

Solution: Refresh your browser and ensure you’re using the latest version of Google Chrome or your preferred browser.

Problem: Respondents Are Confused by the Icons

Solution: Add a brief explanation right above the question. For example, “Select a star rating, with 1 star being the lowest and 5 stars the highest.”

Best Practices for Using the Rating Question in Google Forms

Consistency is Key: Stick with one type of icon throughout your form to avoid confusion.
Use Sparingly: Don’t overwhelm respondents with too many rating questions in a single survey.
Pair with Open-Ended Questions: Follow up with a text question asking respondents to explain their rating for deeper insights.

Alternative Uses of the Rating Question

The new Rating feature isn’t just for feedback! Here are a few creative ways to use it:

Classroom Polls: Ask students to rate how confident they feel about a topic before and after a lesson.
Event Planning: Use stars to let attendees vote on upcoming event themes or session topics.
Employee Engagement: Get quick feedback on employee satisfaction using thumbs-up ratings.

Conclusion: Start Using the Rating Question Today!

Google Forms’ new Rating question type is a game-changer for anyone who needs quick, visual feedback. With customizable icons and the ability to adjust the number of rating levels, it offers a fresh way to gather insights that are easy to understand at a glance. Whether you’re a teacher, event organizer, or business owner, this feature will streamline your feedback process and engage your audience in new ways.

So what are you waiting for? Head over to Google Forms and give the Rating question a try! Your surveys will thank you—and so will your respondents.

There you have it! A complete guide to using Google Forms’ new Rating question type. If you found this helpful, share your thoughts in the comments below or let me know how you’ve used this feature creatively. Happy form building!

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