Know who’s got it before you move on
Ask a hinge question, see every student’s answer and reasoning in seconds, and get a clear next step: move on, recap or reteach.
What did the 1967 referendum change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples?
- A It gave them the right to vote 36%
- B It granted them citizenship 14%
- C It let the Commonwealth make laws for them 43%
- D It ended the White Australia Policy 7%
43% chose the right answer. Add a worked example, pair students up, then ask again.
How it works
New hinge question
What happens to the mass when a gas is given off?
- AThe mass is lost with the gas misconception
- BThe total mass stays the same ✓
- CThe mass increases misconception
46% chose the right answer. 11 students think the gas takes the mass with it.
Every answer tells you more than right or wrong
The Barton scale
Move on, recap or reteach, at a glance
Potential guesses
Spot a right answer that was a guess
Learn moreLow-effort answers
Spot explanations with nothing in them
Learn morePasted answers
See when an answer was pasted in
Learn more“I helped about eight kids re-engage with their learning because I knew instantly what they needed help on.”
Alex Quick Year 5/6 Teacher, Penola Primary School Frequently asked questions
Still have questions? Contact us →
What is a hinge question?
A hinge question is a short multiple-choice question you ask at the point in a lesson where you need to decide whether to move on. Each wrong option is a common misconception, so the option a student picks tells you what they are thinking, not just whether they are right. It is quick for students to answer and quick for you to read.
How is this different from a quiz app?
A quiz app tells you who got the answer right. Nurture Signal also asks every student to explain their reasoning, then turns the class’s answers into a recommended next step: move on, recap and check again, or reteach. The point is to decide what to teach next, not to score the class.
Is checking for understanding included in the Standard plan?
Yes. Hinge questions, live results and the Move on, Recap or Reteach recommendation are on every Nurture Signal account. Premium adds AI reasoning insights, which summarise the common themes in students’ explanations, and flags answers that look like guesses. Premium is set up for you or your school by the Nurture team.
Can the class see who answered what?
Only if you choose to show it. If you put results on the board, Presenter view has an anonymous mode that hides who answered what, names are never shown next to reasoning, and on a Live Quiz you can keep results hidden until you reveal the answer.
How many hinge questions should I use in a lesson?
Two or three is a good place to start: one after each subtopic you teach. Prepare them before the lesson, then open each one when you reach that point. Students who are still answering finish their current question before the next one appears.
