QuizHow to host a quiz in a WhatsApp group
A quiz is one of the easiest ways to wake up a quiet group. You need a quizmaster, a few rounds of questions and clear rules. This page explains how to run a fair, lively quiz in a WhatsApp group, a classroom, an office or a family gathering.
Before the quiz
- Pick a time. Announce the day and time one day before. Evenings after 8 pm work well for family and friends groups.
- Choose three or four rounds. Thirty to forty questions take about 30 minutes. Mix topics so everybody has a round they are good at. Start with an easy round.
- Decide: teams or solo. In a small group, everyone plays alone. In a big group, make teams of three or four and let each team reply through one captain.
- Share the rules in one short message. A ready rules message is given below.
Rules message you can copy
Quiz rules
1. I will post one round of 10 questions at a time.
2. Reply in ONE message, like this: 1A 2C 3B 4D ...
3. You get 3 minutes for each round. Late answers do not count.
4. No searching on the internet. Play fair, it is more fun.
5. Each right answer is 1 point. The quizmaster's answer key is final.
6. Edited messages are not counted.
During the quiz
- Post the round. On any round page, tap "Send on WhatsApp". The message has the ten questions with options A to D and no answers.
- Keep time. Three minutes for an easy round and four for a tricky one is enough. Give a one-minute warning.
- Close the round. Write "Time up" and then paste the answer key ("Copy answer key" on the round page).
- Count the points. Let players count their own score and report it, or count the first three scores yourself. Use the scoreboard to keep the totals and send them to the group after each round.
Ways to score
| Style | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Simple | 1 point for each right answer. | Any group, first quiz |
| Fastest finger | Post one question at a time. The first right reply gets the point. | Small, active groups |
| Double or nothing | In the last round a right answer is 2 points, a wrong one is minus 1. | Close contests |
| Joker round | Each team names one round in advance where its points are doubled. | Team quizzes |
If there is a tie
Keep one number question ready, where the closest answer wins. For example: "How many squares of all sizes are there on a chessboard?" (204). Number questions almost never end in a second tie.
Tips from many quiz nights
- Read the notes with the answers. A short "why" makes people remember the quiz.
- Keep it kind. Praise good guesses, and never tease a wrong answer.
- For children, use the Kids rounds and let them answer aloud on a voice or video call.
- End with the scoreboard and a small title for the winner, such as "Quiz Champion of the Week". Fix the next quiz date at once, while everyone is still excited.