Skip to main content
Skip table of contents

Branch survey questions in myCourses

If you have Multiple Choice or True/False questions in your survey, you can use the Branching Wizard to branch your questions. Branching questions means that you can force your survey respondents to skip certain questions or terminate the survey based on a specific response to a preceding question.

  1. On the main Surveys page, click the name of a survey.

  2. Click the Properties tab.

  3. Select the checkbox beside Prevent moving backwards through pages  to ensure survey respondents cannot explore different branches.

  4. Click the Branching Wizard button to bring up a Confirmation pop-up window. 

    If you continue with the Branching Wizard, you will not be able to add and edit the questions.

  5. Click Yes to bring up the Branching Wizard pop-window. The wizard displays a list of the questions in your survey and their corresponding types. Answers are shown for Multiple Choice and True or False questions. You have the option to skip questions or terminate the survey based on the answer to a Multiple Choice or True or False question.

  6. Enter a number in the Next column beside an answer to take the respondent to a different question. In the example shown, if a respondent answers "True" to the statement "I own a car", they will be taken to questions about their car. If they answer "False", they will be taken to the next question asking why they don't have a car.

  7. Select the checkbox under Ends Survey? beside an answer to make the survey end if a respondent selects that answer. In the example shown, if a respondent says they are not human, their survey will end.

  8. Click Save.

    When branching is used, survey questions are presented one at a time, each on a separate page (i.e. page breaks are inserted between every question). This is shown by a blue line between each question on the Properties tab, under the Survey Questions section. Questions with branching enabled will appear bold and you will not be able to add and edit the questions.

If you do not select the checkbox beside Prevent moving backwards through pages, your respondents will receive a warning that they have unanswered questions and they will be able to go back to those questions that they skipped due to your question branching rules.


While this resource is accessible worldwide, McGill University is on land which has served and continues to serve as a site of meeting and exchange amongst Indigenous peoples, including the Haudenosaunee and Anishinabeg nations. Teaching and Learning Services acknowledges and thanks the diverse Indigenous peoples whose footsteps mark this territory on which peoples of the world now gather. This land acknowledgment is shared as a starting point to provide context for further learning and action.

TLS-logo_rgb_horizontal_EN.png

McLennan Library Building 3415 McTavish Street Suite MS-12(ground level), Montreal, Quebec H3A 0C8 | Tel.: 514-398-6648 | Fax: 514-398-8465 | Email: tls@mcgill.ca


JavaScript errors detected

Please note, these errors can depend on your browser setup.

If this problem persists, please contact our support.