Reading Interest Survey Template

Find out what teen readers actually want to pick up next. This reading interest survey template covers genres, formats, finding books and the obstacles that keep a promising title on the shelf.

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Find out what teen readers actually want to pick up next. This reading interest survey template covers genres, formats, finding books and the obstacles that keep a promising title on the shelf.

A useful reading list starts with readers. SurveyLegend lets a school librarian or reading-group leader adapt seven short questions about leisure reading, without asking for a student's name or assuming everyone reads the same way.

When to use this template

Use this questionnaire before buying books or planning a teen reading group. Ask about books chosen freely rather than grade-level achievement. For wider interests beyond reading, explore the student interest template. To assess an academic library's access and support, use the academic library survey.

7 questions for your reading interest survey

Think about books, comics and stories you choose in your own time. Skip any question you would rather not answer. This is about preferences, not a reading test.

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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

Reading Interest Survey

01 Which kind of reading have you chosen recently, if any?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

02 Which kind of story or topic would you like more of?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

03 How do you usually find something you might enjoy reading?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

04 Which format would you choose for your next read?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

05 What most often makes it hard to start or finish a book?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

06 When would you be most interested in sharing a book recommendation?

Choose one answer, or skip this question.

07 What title, character or subject should the reading group or library consider next?

Share your answer, or skip this question.

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Customize your reading interest survey

Replace genre and format options with locally available materials. Keep the “I have not chosen anything recently” route visible and avoid grading an individual reader. For minors, use the institution's consent and privacy process; report only grouped preferences.

Printable reading interest survey

The printable version should include exactly these seven optional questions and space for an open suggestion. Offer paper access when digital participation would exclude a reader, and enter responses only under the school's privacy rules.

First page of the printable Reading Interest Survey Template with questions and answer spaces
Download Reading Interest Survey Template (PDF)

Create your reading interest survey with AI

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

Compare preferred topics with current holdings and borrowing access, then check whether students who struggle to find a copy need a better route to materials. Treat a popular genre as a planning signal, not evidence of improved literacy or a verdict on any student.

In a study of reading interests among ninth- through twelfth-graders at one Arizona high school, Hale and Crowe wrote, “the results cannot be over-generalized”. Their longitudinal questionnaire distinguished required from pleasure reading and asked about genres. That supports asking what students choose for themselves while keeping results local. Source: Hale and Crowe (2001) . The seven SurveyLegend questions above are original and are not a validated measure of reading motivation.

Frequently asked questions

Who should answer a reading interest survey?

Invite the teen readers whose choices the program will serve. State the purpose and obtain any necessary school consent before collecting responses.

Is this a reading assessment?

No. The questions ask about voluntary preferences and access, not reading ability or achievement.

How often should we ask?

Ask before a relevant acquisition or program decision, then revisit when the reading group or available materials change.