Updated on 12 November 2026 by Nicolas Finet, CEO of Sortlist. We have rewritten this guide to be ready to use: the best post-event survey questions for attendees, sponsors and speakers, how to word and order them, when to send the survey and how to analyse and act on results. The earlier version was a long list of questions; we organised them by purpose and added timing and analysis guidance.
A post-event survey is a short questionnaire sent to attendees (and sponsors, speakers and staff) soon after an event to learn what worked, what did not and whether people would come back. Guidance from UK and international event sources is consistent: send it within 24 hours, keep it short (a few questions to about 20 at most, with 3 to 7 completing in under two minutes), make it mobile-friendly and ask at least one open-ended question.
Key takeaways
- Send within 24 hours while the experience is fresh; short surveys get more responses.
- Core questions: overall satisfaction, relevance and usefulness, likelihood to recommend (NPS), best and worst parts, how they heard about it and intent to return.
- Ask the NPS question first: some survey guidance notes scores can drop if it appears later in a long survey.
- Follow rating questions with an open "why", since a score alone does not explain the reason.
- Close the loop: share what you learned and what you will change, and report results to sponsors within about two weeks.
Questions for attendees
| Purpose | Example question | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Overall satisfaction | "Overall, how satisfied were you with the event?" | 1 to 5 scale |
| Relevance and usefulness | "Was the content relevant and useful to your work?" | 1 to 5 scale plus comment |
| Net promoter score | "How likely are you to recommend this event to a friend or colleague?" | 0 to 10 scale |
| Expectations | "Did the event meet your expectations? Why or why not?" | Yes or no plus open text |
| Best part | "What did you enjoy most?" | Open text or multiple choice |
| Improvements | "What one thing would you change?" | Open text |
| Specific elements | "Rate the venue, speakers, catering, networking, registration and event app" | Matrix of 1 to 5 scales |
| Future attendance | "How likely are you to attend next year?" | 1 to 5 scale |
| Discovery | "How did you hear about this event?" | Multiple choice |
| Topics | "Which topics would you like us to cover next time?" | Multiple choice plus other |
Questions for sponsors, exhibitors and speakers
- Sponsors and exhibitors: "Did you meet your objectives?", "How would you rate the quality of leads?", "How satisfied were you with support and logistics?", "Would you sponsor again, and what would increase the value?" See event sponsorship.
- Speakers: "Was the briefing clear?", "How was the technical support?", "What would improve the speaker experience?"
- Staff and volunteers: "What slowed you down?", "What would make operations smoother?"
Question design tips
- Keep it short. Aim for under two minutes. Survey guidance varies from 3 to 7 questions up to a maximum of around 20.
- Start with the most important question (often NPS or overall satisfaction).
- Mix scales and open text. Use scales for comparison and open questions for reasons.
- Avoid leading or double-barrelled questions. "Were the speakers and food excellent?" asks two things at once.
- Use consistent scales so you can compare year to year.
- Offer anonymity where honest feedback matters.
- Test on mobile because most people answer on phones.
Sortlist editorial note: if you only ask people to rate things from 1 to 5, you will learn that something was a 3 but not why. Always ask one "what is the main reason for your score?" question.
Sortlist editorial team
Sample short survey (under two minutes)
- How likely are you to recommend this event to a colleague? (0 to 10)
- What is the main reason for your score? (open text)
- How relevant was the content to your work? (1 to 5)
- Which session or activity was most valuable? (multiple choice plus other)
- How would you rate networking opportunities? (1 to 5)
- What one thing should we change next time? (open text)
- Would you like to be contacted about next year's event? (yes or no, with consent wording)
Sample sponsor survey
| Question | Why ask |
|---|---|
| How many qualified conversations did you have? | Measures lead quality, not just scans |
| Which package elements delivered most value? | Shapes next year's packages |
| How would you rate our communication before the event? | Highlights logistics issues |
| What would make you more likely to renew? | Opens the renewal conversation |
Increasing response rates
- Show the first question in the email so recipients can start with one click.
- Tell people how long it takes ("two minutes") and how their answers will be used.
- Send from a named person, not a no-reply address.
- Send one reminder to non-responders after a few days.
- Collect quick feedback on site with QR codes while the event is still running.
- Share a "you said, we did" summary after the event so people see that feedback has an effect.
When and how to send
- Timing: within 24 hours, with a reminder after two to three days.
- Channel: email with a link or QR code, plus event app notifications and on-site tablets for in-the-moment feedback.
- Incentives: a prize draw or access to recordings can boost response, but state terms clearly and comply with promotion rules.
- Data protection: explain how you will use responses; if you link answers to individuals, follow UK GDPR.
Analysing results
| Step | What to do |
|---|---|
| Calculate headline scores | Average satisfaction, NPS (promoters minus detractors), return intent |
| Segment | Compare by attendee type, first-timers versus returners, ticket type |
| Code open comments | Group into themes such as venue, content, networking, queues |
| Prioritise | Choose three to five improvements with the most impact and feasibility |
| Report | Share a summary with the team, sponsors and attendees |
| Track year on year | Keep the same core questions |
NPS tells you that sentiment exists but not why, and timing, channel and question order can skew scores, so pair it with follow-up questions. For wider measures see event marketing metrics.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions should a post-event survey have?
As few as you can: three to seven for a two-minute survey, rarely more than 20.
When should I send it?
Within 24 hours of the event.
What is a good response rate?
It varies by event type; I found no UK benchmark, so track your own and improve with shorter surveys and reminders.
Should I include NPS?
Yes, as one measure, but follow it with an open "why" question.
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Sources: Eventbrite UK, increase event survey response, Tapsy, event feedback best practices, Tapsy, event NPS surveys, inEvent, ways to raise attendee survey response. Most guidance comes from event-software vendors.
