# Categorize questions

> Students sort items into two to five groups you define, such as nouns and verbs. Marked automatically, with partial credit for each item sorted.

URL: https://learnworkly.com/help/question-types/categorize · Updated 2026-11-11

A **Categorize** question asks students to sort items into groups. Use it for parts of speech, living and non-living things, odd and even numbers, or any classification task.

## Add a Categorize question

1. **Choose the type** In the editor, click **Add a question or content** and choose **Categorize**.
2. **Write the question** Type it in **Type your question…**, for example "Sort the words: noun or verb".
3. **Name the categories** Under **Categories**, name each group. Use **Add category** for more: 2 to 5 categories.
4. **Add the items** Under **Items**, type each item and pick its category from the list next to it. Use **Add item** for more: 2 to 20 items.
5. **Set the points** New questions are worth 2 points. Change it in the points box.

*[Screenshot: The Categorize editor with the question "Sort the words: noun or verb", the categories Noun and Verb, and the items table, happiness, city, run, think and write, each with its category selected]*

## What students see

Students see the items in a shuffled order. Under each item there is a button for every category, and they tap the one it belongs to. They can change their choice at any time while the work is open. This works the same on a phone, a tablet or a computer.

*[Screenshot: A student’s screen with the question "Sort the words: noun or verb", each word shown with a Noun button and a Verb button, some already chosen]*

## How it is marked

Categorize is marked automatically, with partial credit: each item in the right category earns its share of the points. Items left without a category count as wrong. For example, with 6 items worth 2 points, 3 items sorted correctly give 1 point.

In the live view you see where each item was placed, shown green when right and red when wrong. You can still change the score by hand.

## Ideas for your lessons

> **Ideas for your lessons:** For ESL, sort words into noun and verb, countable and uncountable, or regular and irregular verbs. In science, sort materials into conductors and insulators. In maths, sort numbers into prime and not prime.

## Frequently asked questions

**Can an item belong to two categories?**
No. Each item has exactly one correct category.

**What happens to the items if I delete a category?**
Items that were in it move to the first remaining category. Check them before you assign the activity.