Introduction
Learning how to do rank choice in Google Forms can take your surveys from basic to insightful. In the digital era, collecting clear and actionable feedback is essential and Google Forms is one of the best free tools available to do that. Most users are familiar with basic question types, but only a few people know that Google Forms ranked choice questions let respondents easily rank their preferences in order.
This article will guide you how to create ranked choice Google Forms question. Whether you’re designing a product survey, prioritizing features or simply asking friends about their top 3 favorite desserts, using Google Forms ranked choice questions can help you collect more insightful and organized data.
What is a Ranked Choice in Google Forms?
A ranked choice Google Forms question allows respondents to rank options by preference, such as first, second and third choice. Unlike traditional multiple-choice questions, where only one answer is selected, ranking provides a more nuanced view of what people prefer and how strongly they prefer it.
When to Use Ranked Choices in Surveys
- You need to prioritize options. For example - Rank your top 3 favorite project management tools.
- You want to analyze preferences beyond simple popularity.
- You aim to avoid vague selections in decision-making surveys.
- You’re collecting feedback from a group with diverse opinions.
How to Create a Ranked Choice Question in Google Forms
Here’s how to create a ranked choice Google Forms question using the Multiple Choice Grid feature:
Step-by-Step Instructions for Google Form Ranked Choice
- Go to your Google Form and add a new question.
- Select Multiple choice grid as the question type.
- Type your main question. For example: What are your favorite food in the Event?
- In the Rows, enter ranking positions. For example -
- First Choice
- Second Choice
- Third Choice
- In the Columns, enter the options users will rank. For example -
- Pizzas
- Tacos
- Nachos
- Burritos
- Cakes
- Turn on Require a response in each row. This ensures respondents won't miss choices, say the second choice.
- Click the three-dot menu (⋮) in the bottom-right corner and select Limit to one response per column. This ensures no option is ranked more than once.
That’s it! Your ranked question is ready to collect correct feedback.
Google form with ranked multiple choice question
What Respondents Will See
Users will see a clean, table-like interface allowing them to choose one option per rank. 
Google Form with Ranked multiple choices
If user accidentally select the same option for two, then Google Forms automatically will block the duplication. For example - ranking Tacos as both first and third.
No duplicated choice in ranked answers
This ensures accurate and fair ranking data. After respondents submit, the ranked questions will be shown in multiple columns in the linked spreadsheet. No duplicates guaranteed!
Form responses shows different columns for ranked answers
How Ranked Choices Affect Data in Google Sheets
When responses are submitted, each ranked row appears in its own column in the connected Google Sheet, making it easy to analyze trends. For example:
| Timestamp | First Choice | Second Choice | Third Choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12:54 PM | Pizza | Nachos | Tacos |
This ranked format allow you analyze responses by weight, giving a unique advantage over traditional single-select questions.
Pro Tip: You can apply scoring weights like 3 points for 1st, 2 for 2nd in Google Sheets formulas to calculate total preference scores.
Conclusion
In conclusion, if you want a smart way to collect feedbacks, then creating ranked choice questions in Google Forms is much helpful. It helps you understand user preferences in depth, prioritize what matters most and avoid unclear answers. Now that you know how to do rank choice in Google Forms, try using this feature in your next survey. A Google Form ranked choice question is quick to set up and powerful when used effectively. With this you can unlock the full potential of your data collection.
