In this article we cover:
- What is a matching poll
- Matching poll options
- Things to keep in mind when creating matching polls
- How to create a matching poll
- Scoring
- Best practices for mathing polls
Matching polls (or often referred to as Mix & Match/ Matching pairs) allow you to pair one list of items with another. Participants typically connect items using a drag-and-drop interface or drop-down menus.
These polls work particularly well when you want students to connect theory to practical application, reinforce key terminology, definitions or compare related concepts. It is ideal for knowledge checks, memory recall & revision sessions and anything that benefits from pairing two lists.
In a business context, matching polls are especially effective for: business strategy workshops, leadership development sessions, MBA, safety/compliance checks, product training & corporate onboarding.
Matching Options
You can create the following types of matching polls:
- Text to text – match text items to text items
- Text + image to text – match text and images to text items
- Image to text – match images to text items
You can use Vevox AI to generate choice options. By default, it provides 4 choices in a text to text format. Manually add images if you want.
Things to keep in mind when creating a matching poll
- You can match up to 15 items.
- Images can only be added to the first list (you can also add an image to the question title, but we recommend using images in the choices for clearer displays).
- There is no limit on text length, but keep it short and clear for the best participant experience, and avoid making participants scroll to see all options.
- Test your poll to see how it will display in Present view and in the participant app.
How to Create a Matching Poll
In the Polls section, select + Add Content.
Select Matching as the poll type.
If needed, click the image icon in the first list to upload an image from your library or desktop. (Free accounts do not have access to this feature.)
Enter a Question title. This is the instruction or question participants respond to. You can apply rich text formatting such as bold, italics, underline, or paragraph breaks.
Enter the item for the first list (these are the prompts or items participants will match from).
Enter the correct answer for the items below - this will be the second list (these are the responses participants will match to).
It is optional to include an explanation of the correct answer.
Click Save.
When the matching poll is opened in Present view, Vevox automatically shuffles the answer list.
After participants vote and the poll closes, they will see the most common responses. They can also click on their own responses to review what they voted for.
Scoring
- Each Matching poll can be scored individually.
- By default, Matching polls use standard scoring. This means participants receive 1 point only if all matches are correct. If any match is incorrect, no points are awarded.
- Participants who do not respond will receive 0 points for that poll.
- If you have a Pro plan or above, you can enable Advanced scoring. This allows you to:
- Adjust the number of points awarded.
- Apply partial scoring for partially correct matches.
Read more about Advanced scoring here.
Best practices for matching polls
| Look out for | How to Avoid It |
| Lists that are too long | While you can match up to 15 items, shorter lists (4–8 items) are usually clearer and more engaging. |
| Overly long text | Large blocks of text make matching difficult on smaller devices. Keep descriptions concise and clear. |
| Ambiguous pairings | Ensure each item has one clear match. Multiple plausible answers can frustrate participants. |
| Mixing difficulty levels unintentionally | If the poll is an energiser, avoid making it too technical. For assessments, make sure the challenge is appropriate. |