Poll cards are designed for gathering input, not assessing knowledge. Unlike quiz cards (which have correct answers), polls capture what learners think, feel, or prefer. This guide explains how to create effective polls, choose between standard and anonymous options, and interpret your results.
Table of Contents
What Poll Cards Do (And When to Use Them)
Poll cards capture learner input through multiple-choice questions where there are no right or wrong answers. They're perfect for understanding your learners' perspectives, preferences, and needs.
Common use cases:
Pulse checks - Gauge confidence levels, energy, or sentiment about a topic
Needs assessment - Identify what learners need support with or feel apprehensive about
Preference gathering - Understand learning style preferences, format preferences, or scheduling needs
Gauging readiness - Check comfort levels with new processes before rollout
Topic prioritization - Let learners vote on what to cover next in a learning path
Example poll questions:
"What's your biggest challenge in creating effective training?"
"How confident do you feel about applying this technique?"
"Which topic would you like us to cover next?"
"What support would be most helpful right now?"
Poll Cards vs. Quiz Cards: Key Differences
Many users confuse polls with quizzes. Here's the distinction:
Feature | Poll Cards | Quiz Cards |
Purpose | Gather opinions and preferences | Assess knowledge |
Answer types | No right or wrong answers | Has correct answers |
Learner feedback | None (opinion-based) | Immediate feedback on correctness |
Results display | Aggregated percentages + individual responses (if standard poll) | Individual scores and performance data |
Best for | Understanding learner perspectives, needs, sentiment | Checking comprehension, knowledge retention |
Statistics view | Shows distribution of choices | Shows correct/incorrect performance |
When to use each:
Use polls when you want to understand what learners think or prefer
Use quizzes when you want to verify what learners know
Creating a Poll Card
Step 1: Add a Poll Card to Your Course
Open your course in the 7taps editor
Click the + Add card button
Select Poll from the card type menu
Choose your poll type (this cannot be changed later—see next section)
Step 2: Choose Your Poll Type
When you add a poll card, you'll see two options:
Standard Poll
You'll be able to view individual learner responses
Shows aggregated percentages AND individual response patterns
Useful when you want to track individual learner journeys through your course
Anonymous Poll
You won't see individual learner responses
Shows only aggregated percentages
Provides complete anonymity—no way to connect responses to individuals
⚠️ Important: You cannot change the poll type after creation. Choose carefully based on whether you need individual response tracking or complete anonymity.
Step 3: Write Your Poll Question
Enter your poll question in the text field. Keep it clear and concise.
Tips for good poll questions:
Be specific and focused on one topic
Use neutral language (avoid leading questions)
Keep it brief—remember, this is microlearning
Make sure the question can be answered by the options you provide
Step 4: Add Your Poll Options
Enter your first option in the "Enter an option" field
Click + Add option to add more choices
You can add up to 5 options maximum
Tips for poll options:
Keep options short and scannable
Make sure options are mutually exclusive
Consider adding an "Other" option for unexpected responses
Arrange options in logical order (alphabetical, scale order, etc.)
Step 5: Configure Settings
Click the ⚙️ Settings icon to access poll settings.
Required field toggle:
Enabled (default): Learners cannot skip this card and must answer to continue
Disabled: Learners can skip the poll and continue through the course
Choosing Between Standard and Anonymous Polls
This is the most important decision when creating a poll, and you cannot change it later.
Choose Standard Polls When:
You want to understand individual learner patterns and journeys
You're tracking progression or changes in perspective over time
You need to correlate poll responses with other course data
You want to follow up with specific learners based on their responses
Identity isn't sensitive for the question being asked
Example: "Which of these leadership techniques have you tried this week?" (You might want to follow up with individuals who haven't tried any)
Choose Anonymous Polls When:
You need completely honest feedback without fear of identification
The topic is sensitive (concerns, fears, criticism)
You want to prevent any possibility of connecting responses to individuals
Aggregate data alone is sufficient for your purposes
Example: "Do you feel supported by your manager?" (Complete anonymity encourages honest answers)
Important Note About Identity Mapping
Even with standard polls, identity visibility depends on how you share your course:
Email/SMS/Slack/Teams/WhatsApp sharing: Responses map to known identities (names, email addresses)
Link/QR code sharing WITH SSO enabled: Responses map to authenticated user identities
Link/QR code sharing WITHOUT SSO: Shows "Anonymous learner 1, 2, 3" etc., but you can still track individual response patterns
Learn more about sharing methods and identity mapping: Share via Link/QR Code
Why choose anonymous polls even with link sharing? Because with standard polls and link sharing, someone could piece together identity by analyzing other responses in the course (like open-ended form submissions). Anonymous polls ensure zero traceability.
Poll Settings & Options
Required Field Setting
Located in the card settings (⚙️ icon):
When enabled (toggle ON):
Learners must select an option to proceed
Ensures you get responses from everyone who reaches this card
Recommended for critical decision points or essential feedback
When disabled (toggle OFF):
Learners can skip the poll entirely
Useful for optional feedback or bonus questions
May result in lower response rates
Remember: Even with "Required field" disabled, if a learner does answer, their response is captured in Statistics.
How Poll Responses Appear in Statistics
All poll responses are captured in real-time and visible in your Statistics tab.
For Standard Polls
You'll see:
Aggregated percentages for each option
Total number of respondents
Individual learner responses (click "Show learners" to drill down)
Export capability to download detailed response data
Example view:
When you click "Show learners," you'll see either:
Actual names/emails (if shared via email/SMS/direct channels or with SSO)
"Anonymous learner 1, 2, 3" labels (if shared via link/QR without SSO)
For Anonymous Polls
You'll see:
Aggregated percentages for each option
Total number of respondents
No individual tracking (no "Show learners" option)
Aggregate data only in exports
Exporting Poll Data
All poll responses are exportable
Standard polls include individual response mapping (names or anonymous learner IDs)
Anonymous polls include only aggregated percentages
Data exports update in real-time as responses come in
Best Practices for Effective Polls
Writing Poll Questions
✅ Do:
Ask one clear question per poll
Use simple, direct language
Keep questions neutral and unbiased
Make questions relevant to the course content
Consider what you'll do with the data
❌ Don't:
Ask leading questions that suggest a "right" answer
Use jargon or technical terms without context
Ask compound questions (two questions in one)
Make questions so broad that options can't capture all responses
Designing Poll Options
✅ Do:
Keep options brief and scannable
Make options mutually exclusive (no overlap)
Arrange in logical order (scales, alphabetical, frequency)
Include an "Other" or "Not applicable" when appropriate
Limit to 5 options maximum for best mobile experience
❌ Don't:
Create overlapping options (e.g., "1-5 years" and "3-7 years")
Use overly similar options that confuse learners
Create unbalanced scales (three positive, one negative option)
Exceed 5 options—this is microlearning, keep it focused
Strategic Placement
Early in course: Use polls to gauge prior knowledge or set expectations
Mid-course: Check understanding or preferences to adjust remaining content
End of course: Gather feedback on experience or next steps
After You Publish
⚠️ Be cautious about editing: You can edit poll questions and options after learners have started responding, but changes appear immediately and may confuse existing responses or create mismatches with earlier selections.
If you must edit:
Make changes early before many responses accumulate
Keep edits minor (fixing typos, not changing meaning)
Consider creating a new poll card instead of major edits
Export existing data before making significant changes
Common Questions
Q: Can learners see poll results?
Yes, learners can see the distribution of answers from previous responses but not how any individual responded. After a learner submits their answer, they'll see visual progress bars and percentages showing how all learners have responded to each option. This applies to both standard and anonymous polls—learners never see who selected what, only the aggregate distribution.
Can I add background images to poll cards?
Yes! On paid tiers, you can customize poll cards with background images to make them more visually engaging.
Image options available:
Upload your own images or GIFs - Custom visuals that match your brand
Giphy Library - Fun gifs and images
Unsplash library - Professional stock photography
Shutterstock library - Premium stock images
Recommended image dimensions: 720px x 1200px for optimal display across devices.
Customization controls:
Add/Change image - Select or upload your background
Overlay toggle - Add a dark overlay to improve text readability over busy images
White text toggle - Switch text color to white for better contrast
Remove - Clear the background image
Tips for effective poll backgrounds:
Choose images that relate to your poll topic without distracting from the question
Use the overlay feature if your image makes text hard to read
Test on mobile devices to ensure readability
Keep accessibility in mind—ensure sufficient contrast between text and background
Q: Can learners change their poll answers?
No, once a learner selects an option, their response is submitted and cannot be changed.
Q: How many poll options can I include?
Maximum of 5 options. This keeps polls scannable and appropriate for microlearning.
Q: Are there character limits for poll text?
No hard limits, but excessive text breaks the card design. Keep questions and options brief—this is microlearning. If you find yourself writing paragraphs, consider using a different card type or breaking content into multiple cards.
Q: Can I randomize the order of poll options?
No, options appear in the order you enter them. Arrange them thoughtfully (alphabetical, scale order, frequency, etc.).
Q: When should I make a poll required vs. optional?
Make it required when the response is critical for course flow, when you need data from all learners, or when the question sets up subsequent content
Make it optional when it's bonus feedback, when low response rate is acceptable, or when the question might not apply to everyone
Q: How does SSO affect poll responses?
SSO (Single Sign-On) for Learners enables identity mapping for link/QR shared courses. With SSO enabled, even link-shared standard polls can map back to authenticated user identities. Learn more in our SSO documentation. (Note: Link to SSO article when available)
Q: Should I use polls or form cards for feedback?
Use polls when you want structured, multiple-choice responses that are easy to aggregate
Use form cards when you want open-ended, written responses or need more detailed feedback
Consider using both: a poll for quick sentiment, followed by an optional form for elaboration
Q: Can I export individual poll responses?
Yes, for standard polls. Export data includes individual response mapping (either to learner names/emails or to anonymous learner IDs, depending on sharing method). Anonymous polls only export aggregated percentages.
Q: What's the difference between making a poll "anonymous" vs. sharing via link/QR?
Anonymous poll type = No individual tracking possible, regardless of sharing method
Link/QR sharing = May still track individual patterns (as "Anonymous learner 1, 2, 3") with standard polls, and could potentially be cross-referenced with other course responses
For complete anonymity, choose both anonymous poll type AND link sharing
Need Help?
Can't find what you're looking for? Contact our support team—we're here to help you create effective polls that gather the insights you need.
Related articles:
Creating Quiz Cards (for knowledge assessment)