Try the example, then check the result.
Download the fictional material and follow the steps below. The video uses English illustrative diagrams; it does not present a live app recording. Product controls may vary by version.
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Watch the complete lesson.
The video uses English illustrative diagrams; it does not present a live app recording. English captions. Product menus may differ in your account.
This guide builds a fictional three-route help form. A required Multiple choice answer should show exactly one matching section and then Submit form. The key failure to catch is a destination section continuing into the next unrelated section. Use the form blueprint and route check while you build and preview. The companion video's panels are illustrative diagrams, not a live Google Forms recording. The three routes were also checked in a private, unpublished practice Form.
Plan the routes
The opening question is What kind of help do you need? Its three choices are Spreadsheet, Email, and General. The form has three destination sections with those matching names. Each section has one fictional detail question and ends at Submit form. The route matrix lists all three expected paths.
| Answer | Destination section | After that section |
|---|---|---|
| Spreadsheet | Spreadsheet help | Submit form |
| Email help | Submit form | |
| General | General help | Submit form |
Swipe or scroll sideways to see every table column →
Build in a disposable form
- Create a blank Google Form. Add the opening question as Multiple choice and turn Required on. Google's branching help lists Multiple choice and Dropdown for Go to section based on answer. This exercise uses a required single-answer choice so each respondent selects one route.
- Use Add section to create Spreadsheet help, Email help, and General help. Put one fictional Paragraph question in each, as shown in the blueprint. Do not ask for real names, emails, or customer details in this exercise.
- At the bottom of Spreadsheet help and Email help, set the next action to Submit form. In the current editor, the final General help section has no next-section dropdown; it ends at Submit automatically. Verify that ending in Preview. These controls prevent a respondent from reaching an unrelated section after answering.
- Return to the opening question. Open its More menu and choose Go to section based on answer. Map each choice to the matching named section. Read the selected destination for every choice. No option should remain on Continue to next section.
Preview each route
Open Preview, choose Spreadsheet, and check that Spreadsheet help appears and then Submit form. Return to the opening page and repeat for Email and General, comparing each path with the route check. Merely reaching the right first section is insufficient; also verify that no unrelated section follows. In an unpublished practice Form, Preview may show a disabled Submit button; that still lets you inspect the route without sending a response.
| If you see this | Check this control |
|---|---|
| The wrong first section | The matching answer's destination dropdown in the opening question. |
| The right section followed by another topic | The dropdown at the bottom of the destination section; set it to Submit form. |
| No branching menu | Change the opening question to Multiple choice or Dropdown and ensure sections exist. |
| A path that cannot continue | Check required fields in the current section before judging the branch. |
Swipe or scroll sideways to see every table column →
When all three paths pass, review responder access and the current Publish control before sharing. Google's help documents publication before others respond. Options can differ between personal and Workspace accounts. This exercise needs no live respondents.
FAQ
Should I use Checkboxes for this exercise? No. Respondents could select several categories, while this route matrix expects exactly one. Use the required Multiple choice question and check its More menu for the branching command.
Why did a respondent see two topic sections? A destination section probably continues to the next section. Check the dropdown at that section's bottom and choose Submit form.
Does a correct first branch mean the whole form works? No. Preview every answer and its ending separately.
Sources and visual note
Google's branching instructions, form-editing instructions, and publication instructions were reviewed on 9 October 2026. A private fictional Form was built in the signed-in account and remained unpublished. Preview confirmed that each of Spreadsheet, Email, and General shows only its matching section and a disabled Submit endpoint; no response was sent. The video uses labeled English illustrative diagrams, not app recordings. Viewers should still run all three Preview checks on their own form before sharing it.
Practice downloads.
The exercise files contain invented information. Save a local copy before editing.