The Trouble With Static Question Banks

Introduction: A Familiar Scene at Quran Competitions

For the past decade, I have had the privilege — and the challenge — of being involved in Quran competitions in various forms. I have sat on the judges’ panel, coached teams, and, more than once, found myself responsible for the smooth running of the event’s logistics. Some years, everything flowed almost effortlessly. Other years, unexpected hitches reminded me just how nuanced this world can be. One concern that keeps returning, no matter the context, is the use of static question banks.

On the surface, having a set bank of questions for testing memorisation, tajweed, or understanding feels practical. You collate high-quality questions, then draw from them each year. But, as I have observed (and sometimes struggled through), static question banks come with a hidden set of problems. In this post, I want to dissect these issues honestly, sharing what I’ve learnt ‘on the ground’ and suggesting some practical ways forward. Whether you’re an organiser, judge, or teacher, I hope these insights help you reflect on — and, if needed, refine — how your competition approaches question design.

Understanding Static Question Banks

Before diving into the challenges, let’s clarify what we mean. A static question bank is, simply put, a fixed set of prepared questions from which examiners or judges select during the event. The questions may be categorised by juz’, surah, or topic, but their core content rarely changes from year to year. This approach is popular because it is concrete, easy to manage, and at first glance, ‘fair.’ But as with many things in education, simplicity can sometimes open the door to unintended problems.

The Problems We See in Practice

1. Memorisation of Questions — Not the Quran

Year after year, I have seen a worrying pattern emerge when static banks are used. Competitors — especially those who advance through several levels or competitions — start to recall not just the Quran, but the specific questions they’ve encountered before. Whispers spread among contestants about “which ayah they usually choose from Surah Al-Baqarah” or “what the standard prompt for Juz’ Amma is.”

• Pattern recognition: Seasoned students or their teachers begin to ‘game’ the test, turning preparation into an exercise in identifying likely questions, rather than deepening their grasp of the text’s entirety.
• Disadvantage for newcomers: Those who are new and unfamiliar with the usual set find themselves at a disadvantage, not because their memorisation is weaker, but because their expectations are different.

Ask any long-term coach and they’ll confirm: over time, the desire to achieve leads many teams to spend significant effort on past questions, sometimes at the expense of broader understanding. This is the opposite of what these competitions are supposed to nurture.

2. Leaks and Unfair Advantages

In tightly-knit communities — and the circles involved in most Quran competitions are small and interconnected — word travels fast. It doesn’t take long before a static bank ends up being ‘leaked’, even unintentionally.

• Sharing among friends or siblings: A student who participates one year as a junior may informally pass on questions to an older sibling or friend.
• Access by teachers: Some teachers accumulate lists of previous questions over years. While not unethical in itself, when the bank never changes, this knowledge becomes a shortcut.

Though organisers often work hard to keep question lists confidential, complete secrecy is almost impossible if the same questions are recycled over and over. This undermines the principle of fairness — a cornerstone of any respectable competition.

3. Stagnation and Reduced Challenge

As the years pass and static question banks remain unchanged, I have observed a gradual drop in the level of challenge posed to competitors.

• Questions lose their edge: Students train for the test, not for mastery. “Favourite” ayat or surahs for questioning become over-familiar. The sense of accomplishing something demanding fades.
• No incentive for creativity: For judges, using a static bank can create a routine, even monotony. There is little room for adapting to the abilities or needs of the present cohort.

A competition that becomes too predictable loses its excitement. More importantly, it ceases to stretch students to the full richness of the Quran.

4. Diminished Educational Value

Our goal, ultimately, is not just to test, but to inspire deeper engagement with the Quran. When competitions become exercises in pattern-spotting or test-taking strategy, something vital is lost.

• Lost focus on deeper learning: Discussion after the event becomes about “which questions came up?” rather than “what did you learn?” or “how has your tajweed improved?”
• Discouragement for weaker students: Those who struggle to anticipate the recycled questions may feel their efforts are unrewarded, affecting motivation and inclusivity.

Over the years, some of the most heartening progress I have seen in students occurred in the run-up to competitions with more dynamic, unpredictable formats — where every portion of the Quran deserved their attention.

Why Do We Stay With Static Banks?

With all these limitations apparent, organisers might wonder: why have we stuck with static question banks for so long? I believe there are a few practical reasons.

• Time pressures: Creating new questions for each event takes considerable time and expertise, especially if all judges are volunteers.
• Consistency: It feels “safe” to reuse established questions. There is a fear that new questions may introduce ambiguity, errors, or inconsistency.
• Tradition: In many communities, this is the way it’s always been done, and changing the process seems daunting.

As someone who has helped draft and coordinate question sets, I have great sympathy with these concerns. Nevertheless, the consequences of not addressing them mount up over time.

Making the Shift: Practical Suggestions

Moving beyond static banks does not have to mean chaos or endless extra work. Based on my experience, here are some approaches — incremental and manageable — that can help:

• Rotate and Refresh Regularly:
  • Each year, update a third or half of your question bank. Retire the most well-known questions and introduce new ones.
• Use Dynamic Selection Tools:
  • Simple tools (even a spreadsheet with a randomiser) can help select ayat or surahs on the spot, so that students have to be genuinely prepared across the syllabus.
• Involve Teachers and Judges in Drafting:
  • Encourage a pool of teachers and judges to contribute new question ideas. This not only spreads the workload but draws on wider expertise.
• Have Clarity in Marking:
  • If the worry is about marking consistency, develop clear marking rubrics and guidelines that can be applied no matter which ayah is chosen.
• Share Feedback and Evolve:
  • After each event, ask both competitors and judges for feedback on question selection, fairness, and challenges. Use this to guide future improvements.

In one national event I helped organise, we gradually introduced a rule where half the questions would be drawn at random from the Quran in front of the competitor. The difference was palpable: whispering about questions dropped off, students came better prepared across the board, and even the judges felt newly engaged.

Final Reflections: Keeping Our Purpose In Sight

Looking back, the years when competitions provided vibrant, transformative experiences were never the ones with the easiest logistics. They were when students, teachers, and judges alike were stretched, energised, and actively engaged in the process. Static question banks, although convenient, too often sap that energy.

It’s easy to lose sight of the ultimate purpose amidst deadlines and logistical demands. But we owe it to our students — and to the Quran itself — to uphold a model that is fair, dynamic, and rewarding at every level.

If you’re involved in designing or running Quran competitions, I hope these notes — gathered from many late nights, anxious organisers’ meetings, and inspiring student performances — help you reflect and, where needed, adjust. The challenge is real, but the rewards, Alhamdulillah, are even greater.

If you need help with your Quran competition platform or marking tools, email info@qurancompetitions.tech.