Best for
- Terms and definitions
- Cases and diagnoses
- Causes and effects
Capabilities
- Pairs items from two lists
- Automatic marking per match
- Assess several connections in one question
Considerations
- Add extra options so the last match is not a giveaway
- Keep each list consistent in type and length
What is a matching question?
A matching question shows two lists and asks the candidate to connect each item in the first list with the correct item in the second. It assesses several related pieces of knowledge in a single question.
When to use it
Use matching questions for vocabulary, definitions, symbols, people and events, or any content where knowledge is about relationships between items. They are also useful in clinical and professional exams for matching scenarios to the right response.
How Synap marks it
Matching questions are auto marked. Each pair is checked against the correct match, so results are available immediately and marking is consistent for every candidate.
Authoring tips
Include more answer options than prompts so candidates cannot complete the last match by elimination. Keep both lists on a single theme so every option is plausible for every prompt.
Matching is one of 29 question types in Synap's exam authoring software, alongside reusable question banks, bulk import and flexible marking.