Use [skip to exit] logic to send a respondent directly to the exit based on their answer(s). Responses provided up to the point of exit are included in your data, and the respondent counts toward your total number of completes.

In This Article

• When to Use [skip to exit]
• How to Use [skip to exit]
• Skip to Exit Logic vs. Terminate Logic

When to Use [skip to exit]

If your survey follows a typical funnel approach—general questions first, increasingly specific questions later—you may reach a point where certain questions no longer apply to all respondents. Use [skip to exit] to fast-track those respondents out of the survey when their response indicates the remaining questions won't apply to them. You can also achieve this using [show if], [hide if], [group] logic, and variables.

Another use for [skip to exit] is exiting respondents who aren't paying attention or answering thoughtfully—for example, by placing the logic on distractor, trap, or "red herring" answer options.

⚠️ Note: This logic is not a replacement for screening questions, which pre-screen respondents before the survey begins. Respondents exited anywhere in the survey outside of prequalification questions still count toward your total completes—they're logged as having completed the survey.

How to Use [skip to exit]

The following examples are based on a hypothetical survey of dessert-eating habits. At this point in the survey, all remaining questions are about ice cream, so respondents who indicate they "never" consume ice cream can safely be exited.

Within Question Text

Place [skip to exit] within the text of the question that will trigger the skip—not after it. [skip to] logic processes after the question has been answered.

Q15. How often do you eat ice cream? [skip to exit if Q15A1]
 A1. never
 A2. a few times per year
 A3. a few times per month
 A4. more than once per week

Within Answer Text

Alternatively, place the logic command within the specific answer option that will end the respondent's survey experience.

Q15. How often do you eat ice cream?
 A1. never [skip to exit]
 A2. a few times per year
 A3. a few times per month
 A4. more than once per week

Multiple Response Combinations

This example uses answers from two questions to determine whether to exit the respondent. Because the logic is placed on Q16A1, it only fires if the respondent selects "I do not enjoy eating ice cream" and previously indicated they "never" eat ice cream.

Q15. How often do you eat ice cream?
 A1. never
 A2. a few times per year
 A3. a few times per month
 A4. more than once per week

Q16. Do you enjoy ice cream?
 A1. I do not enjoy eating ice cream. [skip to exit if Q15A1]
 A2. I am indifferent to eating ice cream.
 A3. I enjoy eating ice cream.

💡 Tip: Logic only activates when the answer it's placed on is selected. Logic on unselected answers is not processed.

As a slightly different approach, the example below exits the respondent if they indicated they "never" eat ice cream and are either "indifferent to" or "do not enjoy" ice cream. This version controls survey flow based on what the respondent didn't select, rather than what they did.

Q15. How often do you eat ice cream?
 A1. never
 A2. a few times per year
 A3. a few times per month
 A4. more than once per week

Q16. Do you enjoy ice cream? [skip to exit if Q15A1 and not Q16A3]
 A1. I do not enjoy eating ice cream.
 A2. I am indifferent to eating ice cream.
 A3. I enjoy eating ice cream.

Remember: [skip to] logic should be placed ahead of where you want it to execute, because it's processed after the question is answered. For this reason—unlike most other logic syntax—it can include conditions based on answers within the same question it's placed on.

Skip to Exit Logic vs. Terminate Logic

[skip to exit] and Terminate Logic both end a respondent's survey early, but they behave very differently—and mixing them up can throw off your completes count.

💡 Tip: If your goal is to disqualify a respondent based on screening criteria, use Terminate Logic instead—see How to Use Terminate Logic.

Related Articles

• How to Use Terminate Logic
• How to Use Group Logic
• aytm Logic Reference Guide