# Matching questions

> Write pairs such as words and definitions; students match each item to its partner, with partial credit for every correct pair.

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

A **Matching** question is a list of pairs. Students see the left sides in your order and choose the matching right side for each one from a shuffled list. Every correct pair earns its share of the points.

Use it for words and definitions, countries and capitals, terms and examples, questions and answers, or English words and their translations.

## Add a matching question

1. **Choose the type** In the editor, click **Add question** and choose **Matching**. It starts with three empty pairs and 2 points.
2. **Write the question** Type the instruction in **Type your question…**, for example "Match each country to its capital."
3. **Write the pairs** Under **Pairs**, type the item in **Left side** and its partner in **Its match**, such as France → Paris. Click **Add pair** for more (up to 10), or the bin to remove one (at least 2 stay).
4. **Set the points and extras** Type the points in the **points** box. Add skills and open **Hint and explanation** if you want them.

*[Screenshot: The matching editor with four pairs: France → Paris, Spain → Madrid, Italy → Rome and Japan → Tokyo]*

## What students see

Students see each left side with a **Choose…** menu next to it. The menu lists all the right sides in a shuffled order. A right side already chosen for another item shows a tick, so students can see what they have used. This works by tap on a phone and with the keyboard on a computer.

*[Screenshot: A student’s phone showing France, Spain, Italy and Japan, each with a Choose… menu to pick the capital]*

## How it is marked

Matching is always marked automatically, with partial credit: the points are split across the pairs. In a 2-point question with 4 pairs, each correct pair is worth 0.5. Pairs left empty count as wrong.

In the live view you see each left side with the student’s choice next to it, in green when right and red when wrong. You can still change the score.

## Keep the right sides distinct

> **Keep the right sides distinct:** A choice is checked by its text, so make every right side different. For ESL vocabulary, match words to short definitions ("reluctant" → "not willing to do something") or phrasal verbs to their meaning ("put off" → "postpone"). In maths, match equations to the description of their graph.

## Frequently asked questions

**Can I add more right sides than left sides, as distractors?**
No. Every right side belongs to a pair. For distractors, use a **Multiple choice** question instead.

**Do students see the pairs in the same order each time?**
The left sides stay in your order. The right sides are shuffled, and the shuffle never leaves them all in the original order.