Student survey questions that will provide valuable feedback | SurveyMonkey (2024)

Student surveys are valuable sources of feedback for teachers and self-reflection for students. Surveys at the beginning, middle, or end of the school year can help you plan effective classes, reach struggling students, and improve your teaching methods.

Of course, not all student survey questions provide useful responses. Here’s a list of student survey questions that’ll help you gather actionable insights from your students:

Find out what type of subject material your class struggles with by asking students to rank the most important lessons, from easiest to hardest. The answers will help you understand the material that’s relatively more challenging, allowing you to effectively modify your approach in the future. For example, you can hold a review session following that lesson. Or dedicate more time to improving its curriculum.

You can ask this question using adrag and drop ranking question type. By using lessons as your answer choices, you’ll be able to quickly remind students what you covered in class. These interactive questions are also fun and can preventstraight-lining(when a bored respondent completes a survey quickly by choosing the same answer for every question). Just be careful not to add too many answer options! 10 or more answer options may be too taxing for your respondents.

Homework reinforces learning, but some studies find that too much homework can have a negative effect on wellbeing. More than half of students, for example, say thathomework is their primary source of stress. And students who spend more than two hours on homework each day are at risk of stress-related health problems.

Find out about your student’s homework habits withmultiple choiceorslider question. If any outliers appear—whether they spend very little time or way too much—follow up to discover why.

You probably already know which classroom activities your students really enjoy, but do you know which are the most valuable to their education?

Ask your students using a multiple choice question. You can follow up with a singletextbox question, asking why they found that activity to be so useful.

If you’ve written student survey questions before, you know that often the most helpful responses are also the most specific ones. So ask students to list specific things they like and dislike about your class using acomment box. Students can choose to address classroom dynamics, classroom management, the curriculum, or whatever they want in this open-ended question.

Before you ask students to offer ways you can improve as a teacher, ask them to rate you with a number or slider scale. While the rating alone isn’t particularly useful, it can help you gauge your progress as you improve.

This question gets students thinking constructively, instead of just critically, about class. While you’ll definitely have to curate your students’ suggestions based on what is and what isn’t realistic, adopting one or more suggestions shows your students you’re listening to them.

The advice that your students give to peers reveals a lot about their biggest takeaway from your class. When they give advice, what do they focus on: The lesson plans, the tests, the teaching style? This question reveals not just what current students think of your class, but the expectations future students will have on their first day.

What project, assignment, or test gave each of your student’s pride in their learning? In class, we don’t usually pause to celebrate individual student’s successes. It’s important then, for students to identify and articulate their own accomplishments. This is especially true given that pride in learning is closely linked tohigher academic success.

If you ask this question at the beginning of the year, it helps you tailor your lesson plans to your students’ interests. If you ask this question at the end of the year, it encourages your students to think about their independent academic interests. You might also want to pass on your students’ answers to next year’s teacher to build continuity of learning between the two classes.

Student survey questions play an important role in improving the student learning experience. By asking the right questions, you’ll be able to identify what’s working and what isn’t in the classroom. This will help you focus on the right areas that improve your teaching methods most. Your students’ experience stands to benefit.

NOTE: THE TEMPLATES BELOW ARE NOT BUILT FOR OR INTENDED FOR DISTRIBUTION TO MINORS UNDER 16 (OR A HIGHER AGE DEPENDING ON YOUR LOCATION). Visit the Acceptable Uses Policy for more information.