If your evaluation or quiz isn’t giving you crystal-clear insights, it’s not the prospects — it’s the questions.
Most people ask questions that are too shallow, too obvious, or too easy to game.
At Evallo, we believe great questions don’t just collect data — they uncover truths.
This guide will show you how to ask high-quality, high-signal questions that make your evaluation feel like a lightbulb moment for your audience — and give you useful data for your business.
What Makes a Great Question
A good question gets someone to pause and think.
A great question reveals something they didn’t even realize about themselves.
Let’s break down the 5 rules of a great diagnostic question:
Rule 1: Ask About Behavior, Not Beliefs
People often say what they think they do, not what they actually do.
Why it matters: People overestimate their best days and underestimate their habits. Asking about beliefs or self-perception leads to biased, feel-good answers. But asking about what they do in specific situations gives you real, actionable data.
| Belief Based (Weak) | Behavior-Based (Better) |
| “Do you consider yourself focused at work?” | “What do you usually check first when you’re working?” |
| “Are you productive with your time?” | “Which task do you usually avoid the longest?” |
The second question gives you a real signal — it shows you how they work, not how they wish they did.
Asking about beliefs is like asking someone if they eat healthy.
Asking about behavior is like checking their fridge.
Rule 2: Use Choices That Classify
A good question gives you one piece of data.
A great one separates your audience into useful types.
Each answer should tell you something distinct about the person.
If all answers mean the same thing, you’re wasting your question. If every answer leads to the same next step, you’re not segmenting. Each answer should help you understand the user’s profile, mindset, or readiness level.
| Weak Question | Better Question |
| “Do you like your job?” | “What’s the most energizing part of your job?” |
Now you’re learning about their motivation type, not just mood.
Each of these answers reveals where someone is in their journey. That means you can recommend the right tool, resource, or product for where they are now.
Your options shouldn’t be 4 versions of “yes.”
They should be like signs on a highway — helping people figure out where they are, and where to go next.
Rule 3: Frame Questions Around Defaults
You want to know what they do when no one is watching.
People love to talk about what they want to be.
But who they really are shows up in defaults — what they do under pressure, by habit, or without thinking.
Don’t ask about ideal behavior. Ask what they usually default to — especially when stressed, stuck, or busy.
Example:
| Weak Question | Better Question |
| “How do you handle tight deadlines?” (aspirational) | “When a deadline moves up by 48 hours, what’s your first move?” |
Better: “When a deadline moves up by 48 hours, what’s your first move?”
- Cancel meetings and reprioritize
- Start working immediately, no questions
- Talk to stakeholders to buy time
- Panic, then open ChatGPT
This gives insight into mindset, maturity, and self-awareness.
Now you’re seeing default instincts – and those are more reliable predictors than goals or values.
Remember: Asking about goals is like asking someone their favorite vacation destination. Asking about defaults is like asking where they go when they’re burned out on a Sunday afternoon.
Rule 4: Make People Feel Seen
People respond to emotional resonance. They don’t remember how clever your tech is — they remember when you made them feel understood. When a question hits close to home, you earn trust and truth. Great questions feel like you’ve been in their shoes. The best feedback you can get is: “Wow… that’s exactly me.”
Example:
| Weak Question | Better Question |
| “What’s your main work strength?” | “When do you feel most useful at work?” |
Better: “When do you feel most useful at work?”
- When I bring clarity to a messy situation
- When I help a teammate get unstuck
- When I spot the problem before others do
- When I make sure things actually get done
This doesn’t just get you good data — it makes the quiz feel insightful, even personal. That’s how you build a brand people love.
A powerful quiz should feel like holding up a mirror — not a magnifying glass.
Rule 5: Don’t Judge — Segment
Avoid asking questions that feel like a test. You’re not here to grade people. You’re here to guide them.
Why this matters? If a question feels like a test, people will either lie or disengage.
Instead of this: “Are you a beginner or expert at AI?”
Try: “When using AI tools, which best describes you?”
- I’m just getting started
- I’ve tried a few things but not consistently
- I use them in specific parts of my work
- I’ve built full workflows using AI
This feels less intimidating and gives you more useful segmentation data.
Bonus: 3 Proven Question Frameworks You Can Use
Behavioral — “What do you do when…?”
Trade-off — “Would you rather…?” (forces clarity of values)
Scenario-based — “Imagine this happens. What would you do?”
These three types will make your evaluations feel smarter — like a coach, not a survey.
What Great Questions Get You
Smarter segmentation (so you can tailor follow-ups)
More accurate data (so you can qualify leads or learners)
Emotional connection (so people trust your brand)
Increased conversions (because good quizzes create clarity)
TL;DR: Better Questions = Better Business Outcomes
Every evaluation is a conversation. You can either ask like a clipboard-holding intern… or like a world-class mentor.
The best part? You don’t need to be a psychologist.
You just need to ask questions that:
- Focus on behavior
- Classify with clarity
- Feel relatable
- Offer insight in return
And with Evallo, building that kind of experience is just a few clicks away.
