Pre-Training Survey Template

Prepare for an upcoming training session by asking learners about their starting experience, confidence, and goals. This pre-training survey helps trainers adjust the examples, pace, and support before the session begins.

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People can arrive at the same course with different starting points. Someone may understand a task but feel unsure doing it, while another may be eager to learn but have little time to practice. Ask about those needs separately.

When to use this pre-training survey

Use this template for participants already preparing for a named training session. It supports session planning, rather than a company-wide decision about which training to offer. SurveyLegend helps collect the practical context that trainers need before finalizing the session.

Still deciding what training to offer? Use a training needs assessment first.

7 questions for your pre-training survey

Use these seven questions as a starting point. Every field is optional. Choose one answer where choices are listed and leave irrelevant text fields blank.

Respondent introduction:
Think about the training session and target task described above. These answers will help the trainer prepare; they are not a test of your job performance. You may skip any question.

Try the survey

A little feedback. A clearer picture.

Explore this 7-question example at your own pace. Every question is optional.

SurveyLegend demo Question 1 of 7

Pre-Training Survey

01 How often have you performed the target task during the past three months?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

02 How confident are you that you could complete the target task without help today?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

03 How interested are you in learning more about this task?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

04 What would you most like to be able to do after the session?

Share your answer, or skip this question.

05 Which part of the task is most difficult for you right now?

Share your answer, or skip this question.

06 What is most likely to limit your opportunity to practice after training?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

07 What example would make the training more relevant to your work?

Share your answer, or skip this question.

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How to customize your pre-training survey

Describe the target task in everyday language and avoid testing several skills in one confidence question. Ask early enough to change the session. If you repeat a confidence question after training, preserve the wording and response scale; add an actual task assessment if you need evidence of learning.

Before sharing, try the questionnaire with a few intended respondents and clarify anything they interpret differently.

For examples of separating skills that need different answers, see SurveyLegend's guidance on avoiding double-barreled questions .

Printable pre-training survey template

Use this printable pre-training survey template at a pre-session briefing or when learners prefer to prepare offline. It gives people who prefer paper or are less comfortable online another way to respond. Include the same context, questions, and answer choices as the online version. Tell respondents where to return it and who will review it. Paper answers need separate review or manual entry; they are not automatically added to online responses.

Download Pre-Training Survey Template (PDF)

AI prompt for your pre-training survey

Plan training around the starting points your learners actually report.

The prompt below includes all seven questions and their response settings. Copy this prompt into an AI assistant to draft the questions. Review the draft, then build and customize the survey in SurveyLegend before sharing.

Copy the prompt into an AI assistant to draft the questions, then build your survey in SurveyLegend.

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How to use the answers

Use experience and confidence to plan support, and read goals to choose examples. Review motivation separately from ability: interest is not a skills test. Identify practice barriers you can address with managers or organizers. A later increase in self-reported confidence does not, by itself, show that performance improved.

A training-motivation thesis found that relationships varied across training outcomes and recommended measuring motivation before training when several outcomes matter. This template therefore asks about motivation and confidence separately, before the session.

Frequently asked questions

Is this a training needs assessment?

It prepares a specific upcoming session. A broader needs assessment helps decide which skills or courses the organization should prioritize.

Should learners take it before or after training?

Before training, while the trainer can still adapt the session. Use a separate evaluation afterward for feedback on delivery and outcomes.

Does confidence measure competence?

No. Confidence is a learner's judgment. Use a relevant task or knowledge assessment when you need evidence of competence.

SurveyLegend's guide to employee knowledge assessments explains options for a separate knowledge or practical skills check.