DIRECTIONS: Study each type of question and make 2 EXAMPLES for each type.

TYPES OF QUESTION:

A. Display Questions
These are designed to elicit learners’ prior knowledge and to check comprehension. They often focus on the form
or meaning of language structures and items, and the teacher already knows the answer.

a. What does emphatic mean?

b. When do we use a printer?
c. What comes after the letter B?

B. Referential Questions
These require the learner to provide information, give an opinion, explain or clarify. They often focus on content
rather than language, require ‘follow-up’ or ‘probe’ questions, and the answer is not necessarily known by the
teacher.

a. What do you think about this?

b. Have you ever wondered where our souls go after we die?
c. If you had the chance to change your past, what would be different?

C. Open-Ended/Divergent Questions
These are ideal for developing skills such as inferring, predicting, verifying and summarizing, as well as eliciting
more language. Open-ended questions that probe and elicit expanded thinking and processing of information are
useful for involving students in deeper learning. Divergent questions have multiple possible answers and encourage
students to be creative or express insight. If working in groups, students have the opportunity to learn from a
variety of perspectives.

a. What are the possibilities?

b. What different strategies could be used to solve this problem?
c. What predictions might you make about the future of this?

D. Closed/Convergent Questions
These have more narrowly defined correct answers which can be recalled from memory and require little reflection
or originality. Closed questions are common in conventional tests. Closed-ended questions such as those requiring
a Yes/No response, or one answer from a few possible options (multiple choice) may be useful for quickly checking
comprehension. Convergent questions have one acceptable right answer; students are required to regurgitate a
certain response based on conventional wisdom.

a. What one word would best describe this topic?

b. What is the common theme here?
c. What happened as a result of those actions?

E. Low Risk Questions

These have no right or wrong answer. Examples include asking for students’ opinions about something, or simply
asking what comes into their heads when you introduce an idea or concept. These types of questions are most
effective in initiating discussion.

a. What are your thoughts about climate change?

b. How do you see yourself in the future?
c. How will you describe yourself?