How points work
Understanding the kahoot points calculation system is essential for hosts who want to know exactly how players are scored during a game. This guide explains how kahoot points work, how the speed formula is applied, and how you can adjust scoring settings like Accuracy mode to fit your audience.
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- What are the standard point values?
- How does the kahoot points calculation formula work?
- How do points work for other question types and settings?
- How do points work in Team experience?
- Can I disable the speed of answer point reduction?
- FAQ
What are the standard point values?
When you add or edit questions that award points, you can use the Points dropdown field to adjust the weight of the question.
By default, the standard options are:
- Single-select questions: Offer up to 1000 points when a player responds correctly.
- Multi-select questions: Offer up to 500 points per correct answer. The total maximum points possible depends on how many correct answers were selected during creation (e.g., 2000 points for 4 correct answers, or 3000 points for 6 correct answers on higher plans). Important: There is no partial credit. If a player chooses even one incorrect option alongside correct ones, they receive 0 points for the entire question.
You can easily toggle these settings to no points or double points depending on the difficulty of the question.
How does the kahoot points calculation formula work?
Points are awarded based on the speed of the answer. However, if a player responds correctly in less than 0.5 seconds, the speed reduction formula is bypassed, and they automatically receive the maximum number of points.
Points are awarded based on the speed of the answer. This is how points are calculated:
- Divide response time by the question timer. For example, a player responded 2 seconds after a 30-second question timer started. 2 divided by 30 is 0.0667.
- Divide that value by 2. For example, 0.0667 divided by 2 is 0.0333.
- Subtract that value from 1. For example, 1 minus 0.0333 is 0.9667.
- Multiply points possible by that value. For example, 1000 points possible multiplied by 0.9667 is 966.7.
- Round to the nearest whole number. For example, 966.7 is 967 points.
How do points work for other question types and settings?
While the standard speed formula applies to most questions, some specific question types and modes use different calculations:
- Slider Questions: Scoring is based on 20% speed and 80% precision. You can choose an answer margin (low, medium, high, or maximum) where all answers within the margin are awarded points. The closer a player's guess is to the correct answer, the more points they receive.
- Brainstorm: Time is not a factor for calculating points. Points are awarded based on the number of votes an idea receives. The idea with the most votes is valued at the maximum points (1000 by default), and each vote is worth a proportional amount. A player can earn up to 3000 points if they submit multiple highly-voted ideas.
- Double Points Impact on Multi-Select: If you enable Double Points on a multi-select question, players can earn up to 1000 points per correct answer. This means a question with 4 correct answers can award up to 4000 points, and 6 correct answers up to 6000 points.
- Confidence experience: If this experience is enabled, players must select a confidence level after answering. If a player submits a correct answer but fails to select a confidence level before the timer runs out, their score is gradually downgraded to the minimum (500 points).
How do points work in Team experience?
In team vs. team experience, the score of the team is the average of the individual scores of the team members, calculated using the standard formula above.
Can I disable the speed of answer point reduction?
Yes, but the method depends on how you are hosting the game.
- For Live Games: It is not possible to completely disable the speed of answer point reduction for standard live games. However, you can enable Accuracy mode, which awards points based solely on correctness rather than speed. Alternatively, you can increase the question timer duration to reduce time pressure.
- For Assigned kahoots: You can disable the question timer entirely, which removes the speed deduction. When you assign a kahoot, a pop-up window will ask you to confirm the assignment settings; simply toggle off the timer here. This works whether you are hosting from a computer or using mobile app assignments.
FAQ
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How are kahoot points calculated based on speed? Kahoot points calculation relies on a formula that divides your response time by the total question timer, halves that number, subtracts it from 1, and multiplies it by the maximum points possible. Answers submitted in under 0.5 seconds receive maximum points.
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Can I turn off the speed of answer point reduction? For live games, use Accuracy experience to award points based only on correctness. For assigned kahoots, you can toggle off the question timer entirely in the assignment settings to remove speed deductions.
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Do answer streaks give extra points in kahoot? No, having a streak of correct answers does not provide extra points.
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Can I hide the ranking display or correct answers during a live game? Currently, you cannot disable the ranking display after each question or prevent the correct answer from showing. As a workaround, you can use the Nickname generator for anonymity, or quickly press the space bar to progress the game before the podium is fully revealed.
- Can I see the points results for each question live? No, access to per-question, per-player points is only available in the game's reports after the session is completed.
8 comments
why wouldn't you make it possible to just get straight points without this timer stuff? seems crazy not to have that as an option. regret the purchase.
Hi WestHubRec! While you can't make this happen on our website, try assigning a kahoot from our mobile app and you can disable question timers from the options drop-down. Without timers, there is no point deduction for response time. Note that disabling question timers is currently only possible with assigned kahoots, not live kahoots.
you can't disable the point reduction if you host from a computer?
@winstonian3
You can disable the question timer on the web platform too, please remember that disabling the question timer is currently only possible with assigned kahoots, not live kahoots.
You can adjust the time limit in your kahoot to a longer duration, ensuring each player has ample time to respond. This approach allows you to host a live kahoot with reduced time pressure.
Is it possible not to show the ranking after each question and not to give the correct answer?
Unfortunately, at the moment, it is not possible to disable the ranking display after each question or to prevent the correct answer from being shown in Kahoot!.
As a workaround, you can ask players to use non-identifiable nicknames when entering the game. You can also enable the "Nickname generator" in the settings of a Live Game or Assignment to auto-generate random nicknames. Additionally, you can quickly progress the kahoot before the podium is revealed by pressing the space bar when hosting a live game.
is it possible to see the points results from each individual question after that question?
Hello, it is not possible to see the points results for each individual question immediately after that question during live gameplay. Access to per-question, per-player points is only available in the game's reports after the session is completed.
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