Creating Trivia Night Questions

We are delighted to introduce our series of articles on how to organise a Trivia Night. They are jam packed with everything you need to create a memorable and profitable night of fun!

Part 5 - Trivia Night Questions

How to Create Great Questions (Without Losing Your Mind)

No matter how good your MC is or how hilarious your interval games are, the heart of your trivia night is still the questions. A well-written set of questions can make or break your event — striking the perfect balance between fun, challenging, and accessible for all.

But don’t worry — you don’t need to be a quizmaster genius or spend 30 hours trawling trivia sites. With a little planning (and a few clever tools), creating trivia night questions can be surprisingly fun.

🎯 What Makes a Good Trivia Question?

A good question:

• Feels achievable (even if you’re not sure of the answer)

• Sparks conversation — “I feel like I know this!”

• Covers a range of topics and difficulty levels

• Is clearly worded (no ambiguous phrasing!)

• Doesn’t assume too much niche knowledge (unless that’s your theme)

✨ TIP: Aim for a success rate of around 70–80% — enough to challenge people without frustrating them.

🧩 Creative Themes for Trivia Rounds

Start with a standard 6–8 round format, then layer in themes to make it more fun and personal.

🎬 Pop Culture

• Movie Quotes

• Name the Sitcom

• Netflix or Not?

• Name the Celebrity Pet

• Guess the Artist from Song Lyrics

🧠 General Knowledge (with a twist)

• Backwards Round – read questions backwards (or answers in reverse order!)

• “True or False?” – everything has a yes/no answer

• Who Am I? – guess the famous figure from clues

• Fast Facts – rapid-fire round with a 10-second timer per question

🌏 Geography & Travel

• Name That Flag

• “Where in the World?” – use maps or images

• Aussie Icons – outback, beaches, towns, slang

• International Foods – match the dish to the country

🧪 School Subjects with a Twist

• Funny or visual maths

• Science in pop culture

• Spelling Bee – bonus points for silly accents

• History “Then vs Now”

🧙 Themed Rounds

Perfect for matching your event theme.

✍️ Table Worksheet Rounds (Leave Them on the Table!)

Great for in-between rounds or quiet moments.

💡 Tip: Provide one worksheet for the first half, and another after the break to keep people engaged.

📸 Visual & Identification Rounds

• Famous Faces – celebrities, historical figures, TV characters

• Guess the Landmark or Building – mix local and global icons

• Logo Match – partial logos, including local sponsors

• Zoomed-In Objects – fruit, tools, sports gear, etc.

🧩 Word & List Challenges

• A to Z Challenge – e.g. Disney characters, countries, school items

• How Many Can You Name? – PMs, AFL teams, chocolate bars

• Name That Tune (Written Lyrics) – line from song, guess artist/title

• Emoji Movie Titles – emojis spell out movie names

• Catchphrases & Taglines – match slogans to brands

🧠 Puzzle & Riddle Pages

• Anagram Challenge – scrambled names or places

• Rebus Puzzles – picture + word combos (e.g. head + light = headlight)

• Before & After – linked answers (e.g. Pretty Woman Rake)

🖨 Printing Tips

• Use A4 colour if possible — especially for visual rounds

• Include your event logo or sponsor shout-outs

• Add QR codes if linking to digital content or sponsor websites

• Provide enough pens or pencils per table

• Collect answer sheets before the break to tally scores

We’ve created a comprehensive worksheet pack — get inspired with ready-to-use examples!

💻 Using ChatGPT to Help Write Questions

Writing 60+ questions can feel daunting — but ChatGPT is your secret weapon!

✨ Examples of What to Ask:

• “Can you generate 10 general knowledge trivia questions with answers?”

• “Give me a visual trivia round based on Australian landmarks.”

• “Write 10 quiz questions for a round themed around famous pets.”

• “I’m running a Disney trivia night — give me 5 hard and 5 easy questions.”

You can even say:

“I’m writing a trivia round on TV shows from the 2000s for a school fundraiser. I want 8 questions that range in difficulty and have short answers.”

ChatGPT Can Generate:

• Questions and answers

• Bonus question ideas

• Printable score tables

• Visual descriptions for handouts or slides

✨ TIP: Always double-check answers — especially from mixed trivia sources!

🔁 Printable Rounds and DIY Ideas

Need low-prep options? These are fun and easy to print:

• A–Z Challenge – one thing per letter (animals, foods, countries)

• Match the Pairs – artists/songs, animals/habitats, characters/films

• Who Said It? – quotes from movies, teachers, or town legends

• What’s Missing? – blank out lyrics, slogans or movie titles

• Guess the Year – match events to years (with images!)

• Flags or Mascots – identify sports mascots or Aussie birds

🎤 Who Writes the Questions?

There’s no single right answer — choose what fits your resources and time.

• DIY using ChatGPT (saves $$ and keeps control)

• Delegate to the MC or quizmaster

• Split it up – each committee member does one round

• Buy a quiz pack – includes questions, answers, printables

• Hire a professional – saves time and brings built-in games and hosting

✨ Good to Know: Some hosts bring bonus games, mini competitions, and even prizes!

🎁 Wrapping Up

Trivia night questions are easier (and more fun) to create than you might think — especially when you:

✅ Use themed rounds
✅ Mix question formats
✅ Include a table worksheet
✅ Offer cheat options or bonus rounds
✅ Double-check all answers

Coming up next: How to thank your sponsors and volunteers — and keep them coming back next year!