So you want to write a Quiz?
All you need to remember is:
a successful quiz must always engage its participants if it is to survive. Therefore, as you prepare a quiz, always keep in mind:
Format
How long, Marking scheme, Prizes, Rounds, Team size, etc. Questions
Difficulty, Subjects. Oh yes, and be prepared…
Before:
Format
Length.
Before you begin to compile your quiz, be sure you know just how long you have to deliver it. Many pub quizzes are held over an evening. Ideally, your quiz should consist of between 30 and 100 questions. Use fewer questions and your punters will wonder why they bothered to turn up. Likewise, an excessively long quiz may bore the participants. Remember, too, that you’ll need to allow for at least one break for refreshments, etc. Rounds.
Once you know how many questions you’re going to include, you need to think about delivery. A popular method is to divide the quiz into rounds of equal length but different subjects. Variants to this approach include: Table Rounds (e.g. the Picture Quiz), Wipeout Rounds (Commonly held towards the end of the quiz. Contestants do not have to answer the questions but if they do there are penalties for wrong answers), Rollover Rounds where teams answer question(s) for an additional (cash/beer) prize which if not won then rolls over to the next quiz, Music and Connections rounds. Marking Schemes.
Decide how each question is to be weighted and communicate it clearly. The main benefit of marking the quiz yourself is consistency in marking however this is both time-consuming and allowances must be made in the preparation of the quiz. For less serious quizzes the best policy is probably to let teams swap papers and each mark an opponent’s paper. Prizes.
Drink or cash prizes are usual. Typically, though, an entry fee is charged and distributed as cash prizes at the end. This fee is normally applied per person as not to deter small groups. Be aware that a high cash prize will attract ‘Professionals.’ Team.
Given that the maximum number of teams able to take part will be limited only by the size of the venue, only team size need be considered. It is usual to limit the team to 4 or 5 people but bear in mind that although larger groups are more likely to win more often, any prize they do win will have to ‘stretch’ further! Questions
It’s important to note at this point that the name of the game here is to have as many teams as possible write down the correct answer to each of the questions that you ask. The point differential between teams should never arise through the use of misleading or unfair questions. It’s always best to include questions according to the following criteria:
Challenging.
A good question should exercise the grey matter. If it’s too easy, people will get bored and stop coming to your quiz. Note in this context challenge does not mean difficult and you still want people to answer your questions rather than leave blanks or give up. Interesting.
You want people to be sufficiently interested in the answer to a question, even when they have answered it incorrectly themselves. This is especially important in the case of factual questions. Popular subject.
A good question will get everyone talking about it. Pick subjects that everyone knows something about - questions on board games are an excellent example of this. Guessable.
Everyone should be able to make at least an informed guess. Avoid questions to which only a handful of people on the planet are able to attempt an answer. Variety.
Draw your questions from a variety of (popular) subjects and avoid very specialist questions at all costs. Source your questions as widely as possible. Include anagrams or dingbats as an alternative to still more factual questions; better still alternate. If you are devising a question completely from scratch how you phrase your question becomes important: does it lead to the answer that you have in mind? Is it cumbersome? Try to get the question so that it rolls off the tip of your tongue.
During:
Communication is the Key!!!
Remember the Quiz Master is always right!
Look after your voice. Speak from the diaphragm not your throat. If possible use amplification.
Analyse the impact of your questions using your eyes and ears. You don’t want to see too many confused expressions or hear prolonged periods of silence. An elevation in noise levels usually indicates that most teams have answered the question but may also conceal boredom with the quiz in general. Have some spare questions to hand so that you can change track if needs be.
After:
Get to know the audience better: try to get feedback regarding your quiz. Practice really does make perfect!
bravenet.com