80+ Examples of True or False Questions (+ Free Template)

True or false questions are the fastest way to test knowledge, screen respondents, or spark engagement — you just present a statement and let people judge it. Here are 80+ ready-to-use examples, the rules for writing good ones, and how to launch a true/false quiz free with SurveyMars.

What Is a True or False Question?

A true or false question (also called a dichotomous or binary question) presents a statement and asks the respondent to mark it as true or false. It is the simplest closed-ended question type: there are exactly two possible answers, they are mutually exclusive, and there is no "maybe."

Because they're so quick to answer and trivial to score, true/false questions appear everywhere: classroom quizzes, compliance training, pre-screening surveys, trivia games, and even medical intake forms. The trade-off is depth — a binary can't capture nuance — but for fast checks at scale, nothing beats it.

Why researchers and educators keep reaching for them:

1. Speed

Respondents answer in a tap; you score in bulk. Ideal for high-volume quizzes and front-line screening.

2. Clean data

Two codes (T/F) are perfect for charts, pass rates, and cross-tabs with no fuzzy interpretation.

3. Low friction

Minimal cognitive load means higher completion rates than long-form or essay questions.

True/False vs. Yes/No vs. Agree/Disagree

All three are dichotomous, but they measure different things. Picking the right one is the first writing decision:

Quick rule: if you're judging a fact, use True/False. If you're asking about a behavior, use Yes/No. If you're probing an attitude, use Agree/Disagree. Mixing them up is the most common beginner mistake.

7 Rules for Good True or False Questions

A bad true/false question tests reading comprehension, not knowledge. Follow these seven rules to build fair, diagnostic items:

1. One concept per statement

Test a single idea. "Bananas are a good source of potassium" is clean; "A healthy breakfast is always the most important meal and must be cooked" crams two ideas and an absolute.

2. Avoid absolute qualifiers

"Always," "never," "all," "none" are red flags test-takers learn to flip to False. Use them only when literally true.

3. Make false statements plausible

Swap one key fact for a believable but wrong one ("A tomato is a root vegetable"). Obvious falsehoods don't assess real understanding.

4. Balance & randomize

Aim for a ~50/50 True/False split and shuffle order. A T-F-T-F pattern trains people to guess.

5. No double negatives

"It is not inaccurate to say strategy is unimportant" tests grammar, not knowledge. State things plainly.

6. One time frame

Specify context: "Refrigerated leftovers are safe to eat for up to four days" beats the ambiguous "Leftovers are safe to eat for a long time."

7. Test understanding, not trivia traps

The goal is to assess knowledge, not to catch people in linguistic tricks. Clear > clever.

Well-written items cut the 50% guessing rate, give you a real signal, and keep respondents from feeling tricked — protecting completion and trust.

80+ True or False Questions by Category

Copy, adapt, or use these as a starting bank. Each shows the statement, the correct answer, and a one-line why. The 80+ items below span seven categories so you can mix knowledge checks, screening, and trivia in one quiz.

Part1: Education & General-Knowledge Trivia

1. "Photosynthesis occurs in plant cells."

True

It's the core process by which plants convert light into energy.

2. "Water boils at 50°C (122°F) at sea level."

False

The boiling point at sea level is 100°C; 50°C is far too low.

3. "Octopuses have three hearts."

True

Two pump blood to the gills, one to the body.

4. "Sharks are mammals."

False

Sharks are fish (cartilaginous), not mammals.

5. "Lightning can be hotter than the surface of the sun."

True

A lightning channel can reach ~30,000 K, hotter than the sun's ~5,500 K surface.

6. "Bats are blind."

False

Most bats see fine; many also use echolocation.

7. "Sound travels faster in water than in air."

True

Denser media transmit sound quicker — ~1,480 m/s in water vs ~343 m/s in air.

8. "The human body has four lungs."

False

Humans have two lungs, with five lobes total.

9. "Gold is a good conductor of electricity."

True

Like most metals, gold conducts electricity efficiently.

10. "The chemical formula for water is H₂O."

True

Two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom.

11. "The speed of light is faster than the speed of sound."

True

Light travels ~300,000 km/s; sound only ~343 m/s in air.

12. "A decade consists of 100 years."

False

A decade is 10 years; 100 years is a century.

13. "Earth is the third planet from the Sun."

True

Mercury, Venus, then Earth.

14. "DNA stands for 'Deoxyribonucleic acid'."

True

The molecule carrying genetic instructions.

15. "A pentagon has six sides."

False

A pentagon has five sides; six is a hexagon.

16. "The human heart has four chambers."

True

Two atria and two ventricles.

17. "Sound cannot travel through a vacuum."

True

Without a medium, there is nothing to carry the wave.

18. "The Great Wall of China is visible from space with the naked eye."

False

It's too narrow and blends with terrain; not visible unaided from orbit.

Part2: Science & Nature

19. "All metals are magnetic."

False

Only ferromagnetic metals like iron are strongly magnetic.

20. "The aurora borealis is caused by solar particles hitting Earth's atmosphere."

True

Charged particles excite atmospheric gases, producing light.

21. "A rainbow forms from reflection, refraction, and dispersion of light in water droplets."

True

These three effects split white light into a spectrum.

22. "Plate tectonics explains the movement of Earth's lithosphere."

True

Tectonic plates shift on the mantle, building mountains and quakes.

23. "Atoms are the smallest unit of matter and cannot be divided."

False

Atoms contain protons, neutrons, and electrons; they can be split.

24. "The ozone layer protects life by absorbing most ultraviolet radiation."

True

Ozone absorbs UV-B and UV-C wavelengths.

25. "Volcanoes only occur on land."

False

Many volcanoes form on the ocean floor along mid-ocean ridges.

26. "A calorie is a unit of energy."

True

Specifically, the energy to raise 1 g of water by 1°C.

27. "Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and also the hottest."

False

Mercury is closest, but Venus is hottest due to its thick atmosphere.

28. "Entropy in a closed system tends to increase over time."

True

The second law of thermodynamics.

29. "All reptiles are cold-blooded (ectothermic)."

True

Reptiles regulate heat externally, unlike birds and mammals.

30. "A year on Mercury is shorter than a year on Earth."

True

Mercury orbits the Sun in just ~88 Earth days.

Part3: Daily Life, Shopping & Consumer Habits

31. "Drinking a glass of water before meals can help with portion control."

True

Some studies link pre-meal water to eating slightly less.

32. "Generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs."

True

Regulators require them to be therapeutically equivalent.

33. "Buying in bulk is always cheaper than buying smaller packs."

False

Only cheaper when the per-unit price is actually lower.

34. "All 'natural' food products are automatically healthy."

False

'Natural' is loosely regulated and says little about nutrition.

35. "Keeping receipts helps with budgeting and making returns."

True

They document spending and prove purchases.

36. "A product labeled 'light' or 'lite' always has far fewer calories."

False

The term may refer to color, texture, or taste, not calories.

37. "Turning off lights when leaving a room reduces electricity use."

True

Fewer lit bulbs draw less power.

38. "Organic food is always grown without any pesticides."

False

Organic farming permits certain natural pesticides.

39. "Using a shopping list reduces impulse purchases."

True

A list keeps you focused on what you planned to buy.

40. "Frozen vegetables are less nutritious than fresh ones."

False

Frozen at peak ripeness, they're often comparable or better.

41. "Unplugging devices when not in use can lower your power bill."

True

Standby (vampire) power still draws current.

42. "Expiration dates on food always mean it is unsafe to eat after that day."

False

'Best by' marks quality, not a hard safety cutoff.

43. "Walking instead of driving for short trips saves fuel and money."

True

Short trips are the least efficient for cars.

44. "A higher price always means higher quality."

False

Price reflects branding and margins, not just quality.

Part4. Health & Wellness Screening

45. "You should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds."

True

Matched to the CDC guidance for effective hand hygiene.

46. "Antibiotics are effective against viral infections like the common cold."

False

Antibiotics target bacteria, not viruses.

47. "Sleeping 7+ hours supports immune function."

True

Sleep is linked to immune regulation.

48. "Drinking enough water helps regulate body temperature."

True

Hydration supports thermoregulation and sweating.

49. "Vaccines work by training the immune system to recognize pathogens."

True

They prime the body to respond faster next time.

50. "Sunscreen is only necessary on sunny days at the beach."

False

UV exposure occurs year-round, even through clouds.

51. "Regular physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease."

True

Exercise strengthens cardiovascular health.

52. "Caffeine is a stimulant that can affect sleep."

True

It blocks adenosine, delaying sleep onset.

53. "Eating breakfast is required by law in most countries."

False

It's a personal health choice, not a legal mandate.

54. "Flossing helps prevent gum disease."

True

It removes interdental plaque brushing misses.

55. "A fever is always a sign of a bacterial infection."

False

Viral infections, heat, and inflammation also raise temperature.

56. "Moderate exercise can improve mental health."

True

It releases endorphins and lowers stress hormones.

Part5. Technology & Digital Literacy

57. "Cookies are small files websites use to remember user activity."

True

They store preferences and session state.

58. "HTTPS encrypts data sent between a browser and a website."

True

It protects data in transit from interception.

59. "A strong password should include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols."

True

Complexity makes brute-force attacks harder.

60. "Two-factor authentication improves account security."

True

It adds a second proof of identity beyond the password.

61. "All public Wi-Fi networks are completely safe to use."

False

Open networks can be spoofed or monitored.

62. "The cloud refers to physical servers accessed over the internet."

True

Cloud services run on remote data-center hardware.

63. "Phishing attacks often impersonate trusted organizations."

True

They bait users with fake but familiar senders.

64. "Deleting a file from a shared drive always deletes it for everyone."

False

Permissions and version history can keep copies.

65. "A VPN can help protect your privacy on public networks."

True

It tunnels traffic through an encrypted connection.

66. "Open-source software is always free of charge to use."

False

Open-source licenses allow charging; free-of-charge is common but not guaranteed.

67. "JavaScript is a programming language that runs in web browsers."

True

It powers interactive client-side behavior.

68. "A data breach only affects companies, never individuals."

False

Leaked personal data puts individuals at risk of fraud.

Part6. History & Geography

69. "The Roman Empire fell in the 5th century CE."

True

Conventionally dated to 476 CE in the West.

70. "The Nile is the longest river in the world."

True

It stretches roughly 6,650 km through northeastern Africa.

71. "World War II ended in 1945."

True

Victory in Europe (May) and over Japan (September) that year.

72. "Australia is both a country and a continent."

True

It's the only nation that occupies an entire continent.

73. "The Great Pyramid of Giza was built in the 20th century."

False

It dates to ~2560 BCE, during the Old Kingdom.

74. "Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level."

True

Its summit reaches ~8,849 m.

75. "The Renaissance began in Italy."

True

Florence was its early center in the 14th century.

76. "The United States declared independence in 1776."

True

The Declaration was adopted on July 4, 1776.

77. "The Sahara is the largest hot desert in the world."

True

Antarctica is larger overall but is a cold desert.

78. "The Industrial Revolution started in 18th-century Britain."

True

Mechanization of textile production led the way.

79. "The Mona Lisa was painted by Vincent van Gogh."

False

It was painted by Leonardo da Vinci.

80. "The Pacific Ocean is the largest ocean on Earth."

True

It covers about a third of the planet's surface.

Part7. Fun & Icebreaker Trivia

81. "Bananas are berries, but strawberries are not."

True

Botanically, bananas qualify as berries; strawberries do not.

82. "Honey never spoils."

True

Its low moisture and acidity resist microbes indefinitely.

83. "A single cloud can weigh more than a million pounds."

True

Water mass in a cumulus can exceed 1M lbs.

84. "Pineapples take about two years to grow."

True

From planting to harvest is roughly 18-24 months.

85. "A group of flamingos is called a 'flamboyance'."

True

One of the more delightful collective nouns.

86. "Diamonds are made of compressed coal."

False

Diamonds form from carbon under deep crustal heat/pressure, not coal.

87. "A snail can sleep for up to three years."

True

In hibernation/aestivation, some species dorm for years.

88. "Octopuses have blue blood."

True

Copper-based hemocyanin makes their blood blue.

89. "Wombat poop is cube-shaped."

True

Cubic droppings mark territory without rolling away.

90. "Cows have best friends and get stressed when separated."

True

Studies show social bonds in cattle herds.

91. "The shortest war in history lasted less than an hour."

True

The Anglo-Zanzibar War of 1896 lasted ~38 minutes.

92. "Humans use only 10% of their brains."

False

Brain imaging shows virtually all regions are active.

6 Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Trick questions

Deliberately ambiguous statements frustrate respondents and distort scores. Fair > clever.

2. Forced binary on nuance

Don't ask "How much did you like the album?" as Yes/No. Use a rating scale for gradable attitudes.

3. No 50/50 balance

If 80% of answers are True, people game it. Balance and randomize.

4. Vague time frames

"Exercise keeps you fit" is too vague to judge without a frame; pin the context — e.g., "Walking 30 minutes a day supports heart health."

5. Using them for high-stakes grading alone

~50% guess rate means they shouldn't carry the whole grade. Pair with other item types.

6. Ignoring mobile

Most quizzes are taken on phones. Test tap targets and readability before launch.

Create a True/False Quiz in Minutes

Good true/false questions start with a tool that makes building, scoring, and sharing effortless. That's SurveyMars — a free, AI-powered survey platform built for quizzes, surveys, and assessments. Here's the workflow:

1. Open the True/False template

Start from our pre-built True or False Quiz Template so the format, scoring, and layout are ready.

2. Let AI draft statements

Describe your topic; SurveyMars's AI generates true/false statements and plausible false variants in seconds.

3. Add answer keys & explanations

Mark each item True or False and write a short "why" so respondents learn from every answer.

4. Use 10+ quiz question types

Mix true/false with multiple-choice, checkboxes, and written when you need depth beyond the binary.

5. Brand & branch

Add your logo, and use skip logic to route respondents based on their answers.

6. Collect unlimited responses

Free forever, no credit card. Bigger samples mean more reliable pass rates and segment breakdowns.

7. View instant charts

See correct/incorrect rates and per-question insights the moment responses come in.

Why it works

Template + AI drafting + instant scoring = a polished quiz live in minutes, not hours.

FAQs

Q1: What is a true or false question?

A1: A true or false question (also called a dichotomous or binary question) presents a statement and asks the respondent to mark it as true or false. It is the simplest closed-ended format: exactly two mutually exclusive answers, no middle ground. The same two-option logic covers Yes/No, Agree/Disagree, and Correct/Incorrect variants.

Q2: What are some examples of true or false questions?

A2: Knowledge-check examples: 'Photosynthesis occurs in plant cells.' (True) and 'Water boils at 50°C at sea level.' (False). Daily-life examples: 'Generic medications contain the same active ingredients as brand-name drugs.' (True) and 'A higher price always means higher quality.' (False). Trivia examples: 'Octopuses have three hearts.' (True) and 'Sharks are mammals.' (False).

Q3: How do you write a good true or false question?

A3: Follow six rules: (1) test one concept per statement; (2) avoid absolute words like 'always' and 'never' unless genuinely accurate; (3) make false statements plausible by swapping one key fact; (4) balance true and false 50/50 and randomize order; (5) avoid double negatives; (6) specify a single, current time frame. The goal is to assess knowledge, not to trick the reader.

Q4: What is the difference between true/false and yes/no questions?

A4: Both are dichotomous (two-option) questions, but they test different things. True/False asks whether a factual statement is correct — best for knowledge and quizzes. Yes/No asks about behavior, status, or intent — best for screening and surveys (e.g., 'Do you own a car?'). Agree/Disagree sits between them for attitudes. Pick the format that matches what you're measuring.

Q5: When should you NOT use true or false questions?

A5: Avoid them for complex or nuanced topics where a forced binary misrepresents opinion, and avoid them when you need depth, ranking, or open feedback. They also carry a high guessing rate (~50%), so don't use them alone for high-stakes grading. Pair them with multiple-choice, rating scales, or open text when nuance matters.

Q6: Can SurveyMars help me create a true or false quiz?

Yes. SurveyMars is a free, AI-powered survey platform that you can launch a quiz in minutes. Use AI to draft statements, add answer keys and explanations, collect unlimited responses, and view instant charts. No credit card required — Get started now.