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💬 Open question

An open question lets players type their answer freely using their keyboard. This mode is perfect for questions where you want written responses — for example, names, numbers, or short explanations.

Example: Open question about music

📝 How it works​

  • Question: Ask for a specific answer in a freeform text field (example: “Which duo performs this song?”).
  • Answer: Players type in their response. You can provide multiple accepted answers for automatic validation.
  • Attachments: Add audio, images, or video as a clue (for example, play a music clip).
  • Feedback: Players see after answering if their response was marked correct or not. You can also provide additional feedback or explanations.

⚙️ Expanded settings​

Open questions offer a range of settings to fit your quiz:

  • Multiple accepted answers: Add alternate spellings, abbreviations, or synonyms for more flexible auto-correction.
  • Time-based scoring: Reward faster answers (see “Scoring” below).
  • Force automatic correction: Enable this to let the game automatically mark correct answers based on your provided list.
    • If not enabled (the default for most live games), open answers must be reviewed and scored manually using the Jury app.

For more on these options, see writing questions.

🏆 Scoring for open questions​

Scoring in open questions is designed to be fair, even for slower typers:

  • Time-based scoring divides the available points into blocks, not a strict per-millisecond countdown.
  • For example, answering in the first block (e.g. first 5 seconds) gives full points; the next block gives 80%, and so on. This helps reduce the penalty for slow typers.
  • By default, only 25% of the points depend on speed — the remaining 75% is fixed, so everyone who answers correctly gets most of the points, regardless of typing speed.

⚙️ Tip: You can further adjust scoring behavior and other settings in the Round options.

🧑‍⚖️ Jury review in QuizWitz Live​

In QuizWitz Live, open questions generally require a manual review with the Jury app:

  • The Jury app lets jury members accept, reject, or adjust scoring for open answers.
  • Phonetic and alternative matching helps, but human judgment is essential for fair scoring and creativity.
  • For full instructions and features, see the Jury app documentation.

💡 Tips for great open questions​

  • Be specific: Tell players exactly what you want them to answer.
  • Anticipate variations: Add common abbreviations, alternate spellings, or synonyms to accepted answers.
  • Use attachments: Add audio, images, or video to make your question clearer or more engaging.
  • Coordinate with your jury: Make sure your jury knows what to accept for subjective or tricky answers.

For more about attachments and feedback, see the Attachments documentation.