Student Feedback Survey Questions Every Course Creator Should Ask
Discover the best student feedback questions for your online course. Learn how to design powerful, conversational surveys that drive engagement and completion.
The Power of the Right Questions
The quality of your feedback depends entirely on the questions you ask.
Most online instructors fall into a common trap: sending out surveys that ask things like "Did you like the course?" or "Was the instructor good?"
The result? Shallow, polite responses — not the kind of insights that actually help you improve.
Good questions lead to honest, detailed feedback that tells you why something worked or didn't. And better insights mean happier students, stronger reviews, and higher course completion rates.
AI tools like Reki can even transform your list of questions into natural, two-way conversations that feel more like a coaching chat than a form — so students actually enjoy giving feedback. Learn how in our step-by-step Reki tutorial.
In this guide, you'll get:
- Proven question templates for every stage of your course
- Principles for writing great feedback prompts
- Tips for choosing and analyzing your data
- Real examples you can copy and use today
Why Your Survey Questions Matter More Than You Think
The right question can uncover the hidden reason behind student frustration, confusion, or delight. The wrong one can bury it.
Most surveys collect data that looks good in a spreadsheet but says nothing useful — because they rely on closed-ended, one-word answers.
| ❌ Generic Question | ✅ Effective Question |
|---|---|
| "Did you like the course?" | "What did you find most valuable about this course — and why?" |
| "Was the instructor helpful?" | "How did the instructor's feedback impact your learning experience?" |
Open-ended, empathetic questions invite reflection. They make students feel safe to share the truth.
Mini fact:
According to SurveyMonkey, open-response questions written in a personal tone receive up to twice the completion rate of formal or impersonal wording.
Your question design directly determines the quality of insight you'll receive — and the changes you'll be able to make next.
7 Principles of Great Student Feedback Questions
Every effective survey question shares these traits:
Be specific
Target one clear idea — "What did you find confusing in Module 2?" is better than "How was Module 2?"
Be neutral
Avoid bias like "How great was this section?" Let students feel free to disagree.
Be open-ended
Encourage explanation, not checkbox answers.
Be conversational
Use natural phrasing — "What part tripped you up?" works better than "Please describe difficulties encountered."
Be empathetic
Frame around experience, not judgment: "What could make this easier?" instead of "Why didn't you finish?"
Be concise
Long questions feel like essays. One sentence max per thought.
Be purposeful
Every question should connect to a clear goal — clarity, satisfaction, motivation, or retention.
Reki advantage:
Reki automatically rephrases your survey questions into a warm, conversational tone — keeping all seven best practices built in by default.
Best Student Feedback Questions by Survey Type
Here are ready-to-use question sets tailored for each stage of the student journey.
1. Onboarding Feedback Questions
Understand new students' goals, expectations, and early impressions
Ask these within the first 24–48 hours:
- "What motivated you to enroll in this course?"
- "What are you hoping to achieve by completing it?"
- "What concerns or challenges do you have before starting?"
- "How confident do you feel about the course topic right now?"
- "Is there anything that might stop you from finishing?"
Tip: Use onboarding responses to personalize support and measure changes in confidence over time.
2. Mid-Course Check-In Questions
Spot confusion or loss of motivation before it leads to dropout
Ask these around the 50% mark:
- "What's been most helpful so far?"
- "What's been confusing or unclear?"
- "Have you hit any roadblocks or motivation dips?"
- "What could make the next modules easier to follow?"
- "How are you finding the pacing so far?"
Reki insight:
Mid-course check-ins in Reki feel like a friendly mentor chat — not an evaluation. That conversational tone leads to richer, more genuine responses.
3. Module or Lesson Feedback Questions
Gather specific, actionable insights about each section
Ask these right after a major module or lesson:
- "What was the most valuable takeaway from this module?"
- "Which part felt too fast or too detailed?"
- "Was there anything missing that would make this clearer?"
- "If you could change one thing in this module, what would it be?"
- "How confident do you feel applying what you learned?"
Pro tip: Module-level feedback helps you fix pacing and content clarity before your next cohort.
4. Exit or Completion Feedback Questions
Understand what kept students motivated — and what could have made it even better
Ask these at course completion (or upon exit):
- "What was your biggest win from completing this course?"
- "Was there a point where you almost stopped? Why?"
- "What would have made your experience even better?"
- "Would you recommend this course to others? Why or why not?"
- "What's the next step you'd like to take after this course?"
Reki advantage:
Reki's chat-based format makes exit surveys feel relaxed, helping students open up more about their honest experiences.
5. Instructor Feedback Questions
Assess clarity, teaching style, and communication
Ask at the end of each module or course:
- "Did the instructor explain concepts clearly?"
- "What could the instructor do to improve your learning experience?"
- "Was feedback and communication timely?"
- "Did you feel supported throughout the course?"
- "How approachable did the instructor feel?"
This type of feedback helps refine the delivery of your course — not just the content.
6. Course Improvement & Future Planning Questions
Gather ideas for updates, new modules, or next steps
Ask once students finish or in follow-up surveys:
- "What topics would you like to see added in future updates?"
- "If you could design a new module, what would it cover?"
- "Would you be interested in an advanced version of this course?"
- "What other challenges are you currently facing in this area?"
- "How likely are you to take another course from this instructor?"
This data is gold for creating sequels, advanced tracks, or spin-off courses.
How to Choose the Right Questions for Your Goal
Don't overwhelm students — focus on quality over quantity. Each survey should have a clear purpose.
Steps:
- Identify your main goal: clarity, satisfaction, completion, or engagement.
- Pick 3–5 core questions related to that goal.
- Add one follow-up question that asks why or how.
- Keep the tone consistent and friendly.
| Goal | Example Question | Follow-Up |
|---|---|---|
| Improve clarity | "Which part was most confusing?" | "What would have made it clearer?" |
| Boost engagement | "What's been your biggest motivation challenge?" | "What could help you stay on track?" |
| Enhance satisfaction | "What did you enjoy most about this course?" | "What made that part stand out?" |
| Reduce dropouts | "Was there a point where you lost momentum?" | "What could have helped you push through?" |
Reki advantage:
Reki automates these follow-ups dynamically — so you can keep surveys short without losing depth.
Turning Good Questions into Great Conversations
A well-written question is powerful. But a conversation turns it into insight.
When students can explain themselves naturally, they reveal details that static forms can't capture — context, emotion, and nuance.
Increase response rates
Students engage more when surveys feel natural
Reduce survey fatigue
Conversations feel effortless, not like work
Build stronger relationships
Students feel heard and valued
Reki in action:
Reki takes your written questions and turns them into chat-like interactions.
This approach makes feedback feel personal, natural, and human — exactly the kind of dialogue that drives improvement.
Key Takeaways
- Great feedback starts with great questions
- Use open-ended, conversational phrasing for richer responses
- Keep surveys short and focused — 3 to 5 key questions
- Choose questions that align with your course goals
- Use AI tools like Reki to turn questions into natural conversations that boost engagement
Ready to make your feedback feel human?
Build your first conversational survey in Reki — it only takes a few minutes to start gathering insights your students actually want to give.
Start Creating Questions