An Open-Ended Question is a question which cannot be answered with a simple Yes or No answer and one which requires more thought.

Open-Ended vs Closed Questions

In teaching, an Open-Ended question will elicit a more complex and longer answer. For example, you might be talking about a movie with your class. You could ask them:

And a student might reply with a Yes or a No which, in terms of allowing them to practice their English, is not helpful at all.

On the other hand, if you ask them an Open-Ended question they need to construct a fuller and more complex reply:

To which a student might reply:

or

Classroom Use

Sometimes shy students can find open-ended questions quite daunting so you may want to lead into them with closed questions. Get the student used to speaking and thinking about the subject and then use and open-ended question to allow them to speak freely.

For example:

In other words, feel free to use closed questions to introduce the subject but leave room for an open-ended question so the student can actually say something substantial if they wish and use English more.

Open-Ended questions are a useful tool in the practice of concept checking when you make sure your students have understood something well.