28 Pre Course Survey Questions to Improve Training Outcomes

Prior Knowledge & Skill-Level Survey (Subject-Matter Survey)

Why and When to Use

Gauging your learners’ baseline skills is like measuring flour before baking; if the scoop is off, the whole cake can collapse in the oven.

You want to know if your students are brand new, secret experts hiding in the crowd, or somewhere in the mysterious middle.

Pre course survey questions that target this area help you avoid boring advanced learners or dragging beginners through a confusing maze.

On top of that, you give everyone a better chance to start in the right place.

• You save everyone’s time by skipping repeated “Day One” basics.

• You can group students by ability, tailoring tasks and feedback for each level.

• Plus, you quickly spot which concepts need extra coverage from the start.

• These subject matter survey tools are cornerstones for adaptive learning, fair placement, and making every lesson count.

Learning who has done what gives your course a smoother takeoff.

Here’s the thing: if you want to write a customized pre training survey for distance or remote learning, questions like these help you avoid the dreaded “I’ve done this before!” complaints.

5 Sample Questions

Using targeted questions lets you map out experience levels before you ever start teaching.

1. How would you rate your current proficiency in core subject?

2. Which of the following concepts have you previously studied? (checkbox list)

3. Describe a project where you applied [subject] skills.

4. How recently did you last practice these skills?

5. What challenges have you faced when learning this topic before?

Empirical research shows that administering pre-instruction questions (pretests) before teaching significantly improves students’ retention and comprehension across educational levels. Research Review, Educational Psychology Review

Learning Preferences & Accessibility Survey

Why and When to Use

Figuring out how you learn best can feel like waving a magic wand over your remote learning experience.

Courses are no longer “one-size-fits-all,” so when you share your preferred formats (videos, podcasts), accessibility needs (screen readers, captions), and real-life schedule, you help your instructor avoid a total mismatch.

These pre training survey questions are essential for building real equity in distance learning and online education.

• You send the message that everyone truly belongs here, not just people with noise-canceling headphones or wide-open afternoons.

• You help your instructor find out early if you need captioning, extra time, or simply learn best with podcasts while you jog.

• Plus, it becomes the quickest path to happier, more productive learning, with far fewer “I can’t keep up because…” emails piling up.

Building this into your pre training questionnaire template gives every learner, including you, a strong running start.

5 Sample Questions

1. Which content format helps you learn best? (videos, readings, live demos, podcasts)

2. Do you require any accessibility accommodations (captioning, screen-reader friendly content, etc.)?

3. What time zone will you participate from?

4. How many live sessions per week fit your schedule?

5. Rate your comfort level with independent asynchronous learning (1,5).

Technology Readiness & Remote Learning Environment Survey

Why and When to Use

Checking your learners’ tech setups quietly saves your remote and distance learning from preventable chaos.

You do not want to co-host a session with “unstable internet,” or realize mid-lesson that someone is joining on a phone from a park bench, so these pre training survey questions flag avoidable tech headaches before your Zoom room ever fills up.

• You discover hardware gaps (no webcams, obsolete browsers, etc.) before they turn into full-blown emergencies.

• You see who is poised for digital greatness, and who needs some onboarding support before class kicks off.

• Plus, it is much better to ask “Can you install Zoom?” now than ten minutes before you start presenting, unless you enjoy live technical suspense.

On top of that, with remote and distance learning growing fast, these pre training survey questions are now non-negotiable in your toolkit.

5 Sample Questions

Ask these specific questions to understand your learners’ tech reality before class begins.

1. What device will you primarily use for this course? (desktop, laptop, tablet, phone)

2. Do you have reliable high-speed internet (≥ ___ Mbps)?

3. Rate your familiarity with our virtual classroom platform (1,5).

4. Which of these tools can you install if required? (Zoom, Slack, Git, etc.)

5. Describe any potential obstacles to attending live sessions.

Here is the thing, higher technology readiness among students significantly enhances teaching presence in blended learning environments, improving instructional effectiveness. Source

Engagement & Motivation Triggers Survey

Why and When to Use

Unlocking what fires people up helps you keep your learners energized from start to finish.

When you ask pre-training survey questions about motivation, you get practical insights you can actually use to keep everyone showing up, posting, and cheering each other on.

Maybe it is badges, “Great job!” shoutouts, or knowing that teamwork will boost their grade a notch, and your survey helps you spot which levers matter most.

• You avoid the dreaded mid-course ghost towns.

• You customize rewards, feedback, and pacing based on real motivators.

• Plus, little things like letting someone shine on a leaderboard (or, for introverts, in a quiet email) foster connection.

Here is the thing: gamification, rewards, and social dynamics all get easier when you let learners tell you what keeps them engaged before the course even starts.

5 Sample Questions

Use these sample questions to quickly map what actually motivates your learners.

1. What motivates you more: badges, certificates, or real-world project feedback?

2. How likely are you to participate in discussion forums (1,5)?

3. Would peer-to-peer study groups increase your commitment?

4. What portion of the grade should be allocated to group work to keep you engaged?

5. Select the recognition methods that resonate with you (public leaderboard, private email, etc.).

Logistics & Administrative Details Survey

Why and When to Use

Getting the logistics right is as vital as picking a great playlist for your road trip.

You handle the nuts and bolts like names, schedules, compliance, and dietary needs so your “learning plan” actually feels like a plan.

These pre training survey questions help you make sure everyone is clear on expectations, rules, and their own details right from the start.

• You neatly avoid no-shows, awkward mispronunciations, and last-minute flurries about session timings.

• Corporate courses need compliance info, and universities crave clear contacts and emergency data.

• Plus, handling this now means you free up more time for learning later.

Tucking these questions into your pre training questionnaire (or even as a separate class survey) is simple, and your students will quietly thank you with fewer surprises.

5 Sample Questions

1. Preferred name and pronunciation?

2. Which of the following weekly time blocks are impossible for you to attend?

3. Do you need travel approval or manager sign-off before course start?

4. Dietary restrictions (for on-site sessions)?

5. Emergency contact information?

Best Practices: Dos and Don’ts for Pre-Course Surveys

A well-designed pre survey is your secret superpower.

Here’s the thing, you also need to keep “survey fatigue” far, far away.

• Align every question to a real decision you need to make, and skip anything that feels like fluff.

• Keep surveys quick! If it takes longer than 10 minutes, trim mercilessly.

• Pilot test your survey first, because future you will absolutely thank present you.

• Reassure privacy clearly and explain how answers will help, not hurt, your learners.

• Use branching logic so advanced learners skip what is not relevant, while newbies get more detail where they need it.

• Always close the loop and summarize insights with your class so no one is left wondering, “Why did I bother?”

On top of that, never collect sensitive info unless it is truly necessary and always with clear consent.

Open-ended questions are great, but use them sparingly, unless your learners are budding novelists with spare time and fast typing skills.

By following these tips, your pre training survey becomes one of the sharpest arrows in your course-design quiver.

You are now ready to mix and match six types of pre training survey questions with confidence.

You are now ready to mix and match these six types of pre training survey questions for any course, remote or in-person.

Plus, when you adapt these sample questions into your own pre training questionnaire template, you get smoother onboarding, personalized teaching, and measurable success in one neat package.

Want to save time? Download a free editable pre-course survey checklist or Google Form (if you spot one on our site) and tweak away so your next course practically thanks you itself.

Pre-Course Survey Best Practices , Dos and Don’ts

Every survey can be a gift or a groan, depending on how you package it.

You want pre training survey questions that are packed with insight and power, so you focus on quality and action every time, not on stuffing in as many questions as possible.

Here’s the thing: A bloated, overlong survey will turn even your most eager learners into world-class skippers.

But a clear, mobile-friendly form that mixes open-ended and multiple-choice questions shows real respect for your audience and rewards you with stellar data, like a tiny research lab in their pocket.

• Do ask only actionable questions; skip the “nice to know” fluff

• Do mix closed and open-ended items for deeper insights

• Do pilot test your pre training questionnaire template with a real, enthusiastic learner

• Do make sure every question works smoothly on mobile devices

• Do respect privacy rules (GDPR/CCPA style) and ask for explicit consent

• Do use smart logic to skip irrelevant questions; less is more

• Don’t bury learners under 20+ questions (unless your course is six months long!)

On top of that, make it easy, friendly, and confidential wherever possible.

Provide an anonymous option if the topic is sensitive, and always keep learners’ data secure, because the right pre training survey questions do more than inform your course; they create a strong first impression and an environment learners actually want to return to.

No matter your training goals or learner profile, your perfect pre-course survey becomes your magic decoder ring.

Plus, when you ask right, listen well, and tweak your course each time, learners feel heard and your courses turn into their hidden gem, the kind of start they quietly rave about to others.

That is why every great class, in any format, really begins before the first lesson with pre training survey questions that truly matter.