When preparing any set of questions for use in the MQL, attention is drawn to Rule 2 of the Merseyside Quiz Leagues, which states that
MQL operates a non-discriminatory policy with respect to age, gender, disability, race or nationality, ethnic origin, creed, colour, social status and sexual orientation.
NOTES FOR THE GUIDANCE OF WRITERS OF QUESTION SETS: LEAGUe SETS
To assist teams in the production of sets of questions, the following guidance is given.
Each season each team is required by Rule 10c to provide at least one set of questions and answers or a list of 70 questions and answers as directed by a League’s Secretary: a set consists of eight rounds of eight questions each round, plus a minimum of five spare questions at the end.
A writer should therefore ensure that the questions
• are accurate,
Ensure that the spelling, grammar and formatting makes the quiz understandable and fit for use throughout the MQL and, if necessary, elsewhere.
• are correct,
Ensure that each question is phrased in such a way as to yield only one correct answer that will not become out of date and that the answer is checked against a reputable source so that it is correct.
• have breadth,
Ensure that the distribution of topics is such that
o there is not a disproportionate number of questions on one subject
o subjects are shared evenly between the teams
o subjects are shared evenly between the players.
• reflect the fact that there could be up to 3 attempts at a question and so the answer should not get significantly easier, the more attempts that are made.
Once play tested and, if necessary, amended, this set is delivered to the League Secretary together with the scores and/or scoresheets. The questions are then scrutinised by a Vetting Procedure for correctness of answers and general suitability. Among other things they will check that the set is
• balanced
Ensure that when played by a number of teams, the final score does not significantly favour one team. If this balance is achieved by pairs of questions on a similar subject, then one answer should not “lead” to the answer of the other. Pairs, if used, should be thoughtfully placed so as to not help the team asked the second question.
• accessible
Ensure that when played by a number of teams, the aggregate score lies within an acceptable range. This range should be between 65 and 95 using the usual scoring method.
The League Secretary then forwards the questions to a Question Distributor of the MQL for distribution to the various teams.
To facilitate the Vetting Procedure and to improve the standard of sets, the following should be read carefully and borne in mind.
1. Set papers in good time. If left to the last minute they are often found to contain errors, and this inevitably leads to an imbalance.
2. Produce the questions electronically, use font Calibri 11, and create each round of questions as a three column by eight row table in Microsoft Word (the template is available on the MQL website) ensuring that page breaks only occur between rounds and submit them via email. If the set is to be distributed electronically, include a cover page so that the first questions are not immediately visible to the person opening the file.
3. You are asked to produce a set that is balanced in its severity. This doesn’t mean that you have to produce pairs of questions on the same topic. Admittedly, it is possibly easier to achieve a balance this way, but with some care and thought, it is not the only way of doing it. When it is not done well, the answer to the second question of a pair can often be predicted or worse, it is the wrong answer to the first question.
4. Play the questions as a friendly between two comparable teams, during this exercise comments and constructive criticism should be encouraged, and the set should be amended accordingly. Remember that the order of answering changes at half-time.
5. Questions containing YES/NO answers must not be used
6. Avoid questions with long-winded answers. Questions with one-word answers are usually the most suitable.
7. Do not use trick questions.
8. Do not set questions involving mental arithmetic or spelling.
9. Do not copy sets directly from published quiz books, or old sets.
10. Don’t construct your sets feeling obliged to include so called ‘easy’ questions. You are writing for a clientele who are interested in quizzes, not the general public. (If you join a football team, they don’t give you free shots at goal just because you are a beginner!)
11. Unless otherwise specified, any question written for use in the MQL should have a unique answer. In the case of a proper noun that has undergone a change of name, it should be made clear which is required.
12. Pay close attention to the phrasing of questions to ensure that there is only one possible answer. For example, there are a number of equally correct answers to the question Where are the Karakorums? but there is only one possible answer to the question, Of which mountain range are the Karakorums a part?. The question What is the name of the capital and largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu? The answer has been Chennai for nearly thirty years, yet some writers will say that Madras is acceptable. With just a little thought the alternative answer can be eliminated. For example,
Since 1996 what has been the name of the capital and largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu?
13. Questions requiring multi-part answers must not be set. In questions involving the meaning of abbreviations, select one of the words as the answer.
14. Questions involving innovations brought about by Act of Parliament need consideration, as often the Act is passed in a year before it is implemented. The question should make clear which is required.
15. Questions involving awards also need consideration, as sometimes the award is made in the year after the achievement or production. The question should make clear which is required.
16. Once written, assess how many of your questions could have been written 3 years ago or 10 years ago or 35 years ago! Consider amendments if too many of them perhaps reflect your own ‘comfort zone’? (Could some of those 1980s or 1990s TV, music, film, sport questions be replaced with more modern references?)
17. The most important question is to ask yourself “Would I enjoy playing a match on this set?” If not, then amend it.
MQL continue to rely on the sensitivity and common sense of the writing and vetting teams. Therefore,
• It is advisable to avoid reference to events that involved destruction or loss of life due to criminal or unlawful activities.
• It is appreciated that such events may become the subject of a question because what is considered to be a respectable length of time, has passed. However, even then, they should not be phrased in a salacious manner.
• Although wary of putting an actual figure on the time allowed before a topic is deemed usable in a quiz, living memory is suggested as a guideline.
• If referring to accidents or “acts of God”, questions should be sensitive and not sensationalise.
• Political deaths and assassinations tend to become regarded quite soon as historical and as such should not cause a problem unless perhaps the event had also included the loss of innocent lives.
As part of the MQL’s responsibilities, we need to
• demonstrate that we have taken appropriate actions at the writing stage.
This will be covered by our Rules and Guidelines.
• demonstrate that we have taken appropriate actions at the submission stage.
Each League should read a set as soon as it is submitted, solely to identify any Problem Questions so that immediate feedback can be given from that League’s Committee to the writers.
• demonstrate that we have taken appropriate actions at the vetting stage.
Leagues should include instructions to its vetting and trial groups to be on the lookout for Problem Questions. Again, if identified then the writers are informed.
And also
• Persons invited to write for MQL-wide competitions should be directed to the Rules and Guidance.
• Sets prepared for the MCC/Plate, Feeny, Rendon, Presidents Trophy, President’s Shield and Area Mimir should be submitted to setting League for checking.
• Sets prepared for the Merseyside Mimir could be checked, if necessary, by designated members of the MQL Council.
The bottom line is that regardless of how much you might wish to ask a question about a particular fact, if you think that there is any chance that it could cause a problem, then ask a different question!
August 2025
A template for an 8 Round set can be downloaded here.
NOTES FOR THE GUIDANCE OF QUESTION setters: KNOCK-OUT SETS
All of the above Guidance should be followed but a set now consists of ten rounds of eight questions each round, plus a minimum of five spare questions at the end. There should also be a tie breaker question that can be asked to both teams. This should yield a numerical answer, such that the team nearest can be easily judged (e.g. a number or a year). Teams will be able to confer and write down their answer.
August 2025
A template for a 10 Round Knock Out set can be downloaded here.
NOTES FOR THE GUIDANCE OF QUESTION setters: MIMIR SETS
A Mimir set consists of 5 rounds of 12 questions. In each round each of the 4 players will be asked a set of 3 questions. Questions should be diverse in nature and as far as can be judged, the Local area sets should be of the same standard as a typical league set, while the MQL sets may be just a little more difficult. There should also be two sets of 3 tie breaker questions that can be asked to competitors who finish on equal numbers of points. These are designed to be asked in turn to the tied competitors. In addition a final tie breaker should also be set. This should yield a numerical answer, such that the player nearest can be easily judged (e.g. a number or a year). Players will be asked to write down their answer.
Each area is responsible for producing at least TWO Mimir style sets each season. One for the Local Area heats and one for the MQL heats (this includes the Final).
A setter should therefore make certain that the questions
Ensure that the spelling, grammar and formatting makes the quiz understandable and fit for use in the Mimir Competition.
Ensure that each question is phrased in such a way as to yield only one correct answer that will not become out of date and that the answer is checked against a reputable source so that it is correct.
Ensure that the distribution of topics is such that
-
- there is not a disproportionate number of questions on one subject
- subjects are shared evenly between the players
- Remember to reflect the fact that there could be up to 4 attempts at a question and so the answer should not get significantly easier, the more attempts that are made.
The temptation to share subjects evenly between the players can sometimes lead to 4 questions on a very narrow topic such that if one person is very familiar with the topic it gives them a significant advantage. For example, 4 questions on Opera might be acceptable, 4 questions on Puccini operas would probably be too narrow and 4 questions on Turandot unacceptable!!
Ensure that when tested by a number of quiz league players, the majority of the questions are answered
The following guidelines must be read carefully and borne in mind.
- Set papers in good time. If left to the last minute they are often found to contain errors and this inevitably leads to problems.
- Produce the questions electronically, using the template that can be downloaded from the MQL site’s Mimir page and submitted via email.
- Questions should be evenly balanced with regard to severity.
- Play the questions as a friendly between a number of players, during this exercise comments and constructive criticism should be encouraged and the set should be amended accordingly.
- Questions containing YES/NO answers must not be used
- Avoid questions with long-winded answers. Questions with one word answers are usually the most suitable.
- Do not use trick questions.
- Do not set questions involving mental arithmetic or spelling.
- Avoid setting more than one question that has the same answer.
- Do not copy sets directly from published quiz books, or old sets.
- Questions requiring multi-part answers must not be set. In questions involving the meaning of abbreviations, select one of the words as the answer.
- Questions involving innovations brought about by Act of Parliament need consideration, as often the Act is passed in a year before it is implemented. The question should make clear which is required.
- Questions involving awards also need to be precise, as sometimes the award is made in the year after the achievement or production. The question should make clear which is required.
- Pay close attention to the phrasing of questions to ensure that there is only one possible answer. For example, there are a number of equally correct answers to the question Where are the Karakorums? but there is only one possible answer to the question, Of which mountain range are the Karakorums a part?. The question What is the name of the capital and largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu? The answer has been Chennai for nearly thirty years, yet some writers will say that Madras is acceptable. With just a little thought the alternative answer can be eliminated. For example, Since 1996 what has been the name of the capital and largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu?
- Once written, assess how many of your questions could have been written 3 years ago or 10 years ago or 35 years ago! Consider amendments if too many of them perhaps reflect your own ‘comfort zone’? (Could some of those 1980s or 1990s TV, music, film, sport questions be replaced with more modern references?)
- The most important question is to ask yourself “Would I enjoy playing a match on this set?” If not, then amend it.
MQL continue to rely on the sensitivity and common sense of the writing and vetting teams. Therefore,
• It is advisable to avoid reference to events that involved destruction or loss of life due to criminal or unlawful activities.
• It is appreciated that such events may become the subject of a question because what is considered to be a respectable length of time, has passed. However, even then, they should not be phrased in a salacious manner.
• Although wary of putting an actual figure on the time allowed before a topic is deemed usable in a quiz, living memory is suggested as a guideline.
• If referring to accidents or “acts of God”, questions should be sensitive and not sensationalise.
• Political deaths and assassinations tend to become regarded quite soon as historical and as such should not cause a problem unless perhaps the event had also included the loss of innocent lives.
Sets prepared for the Merseyside Mimir could be checked, if necessary, by designated members of the MQL Council.
The bottom line is that regardless of how much you might wish to ask a question about a particular fact, if you think that there is any chance that it could cause a problem, then ask a different question!
August 2025
A template for a Mimir set can be downloaded here.