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How to Add Correct or Incorrect Answer Explanations in Microsoft Forms

Elise Williams Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to provide customized explanations or feedback messages for both correct and incorrect answers in a Microsoft Forms quiz.

How to Add Correct or Incorrect Answer Explanations in Microsoft Forms

Product: Microsoft Forms
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Creating an educational quiz or assessment where respondents need immediate explanatory feedback based on the specific answer options they select.
Observed behavior: Users need to configure the form to display customized explanatory messages alongside the automated scoring and correct answer indications.

Before you start

Ensure you are creating a 'New Quiz' rather than a standard 'New Form' in Microsoft Forms, as answer evaluation, point assignments, and choice feedback features are only available in quiz mode.

Solution 1Recommended

Add Feedback to Choice Questions in a Quiz

You can provide specific explanations for each answer option by using the feedback message icon next to individual choices.

Microsoft Forms allows quiz creators to display custom messages for selected options. This is highly effective for explaining why a specific choice is correct or incorrect directly within the quiz results.

Create or Open a Quiz

Log in to Microsoft Forms and click on 'New Quiz' (do not select 'New Form'). If you already have a quiz, click to open it.

Add a Choice Question

Click the '+ Add new' button and select 'Choice' from the available question types.

Enter Question and Options

Type out your question and the possible answer choices in the respective text boxes.

Access the Feedback Feature

Hover your mouse cursor over one of the answer options. You will see three icons appear on the right side: a trash can (delete), a speech bubble (display a message), and a checkmark (correct answer).

Type the Explanation

Click the speech bubble icon (Display a message to respondents who select this answer) and type your explanation for why that specific answer is correct or incorrect. Repeat this process for each answer option.

Add Feedback to Choice Questions in a Quiz

Feature Limitations: Microsoft Forms provides feedback per individual choice but may not support a single, bulk explanatory feedback field for the entire question regardless of the chosen answer.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a general explanation for the entire question instead of individual choices?

Microsoft Forms primarily supports adding feedback to individual choices within a 'Choice' question. For a general explanation, you might need to add a subtitle to the question or use a descriptive text block, though it won't be hidden until after submission.

Why don't I see the feedback speech bubble icon in my form?

The feedback and correct answer checkmark features are strictly available in a 'Quiz'. If you started by selecting 'New Form', these grading and evaluation features will not be visible.

Are answer explanations shown immediately to the respondent?

Yes, provided your quiz settings have 'Show results automatically' turned on. Respondents will see their scores and any custom feedback you entered immediately after they submit the quiz.

Can I add answer feedback to text-based questions?

For text questions, you can specify correct answers for automatic grading, but Microsoft Forms currently does not offer the same built-in feedback message icon for text entries as it does for multiple-choice options.

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