What Questions Are Asked on a Polygraph: Types, Examples and What You Cannot Ask

The main fear before a lie detector test is uncertainty. What exactly will they ask? Can you refuse to answer? May the examiner ask any question at all? And what if you simply do not remember something? Movies, for example, show sudden and provocative questions. The news sometimes reports illegal wording in employment screenings. However, the real procedure works very differently. Moreover, it follows strict and repeatedly tested rules.

These rules are worth knowing in advance. After all, most of the anxiety comes from not understanding the procedure. Therefore, below we will cover several things in order. First, how polygraph questions are worded. Second, the three types of questions used in any method. Third, which topics are banned on ethical and legal grounds. In addition, which specific wordings apply in each field. So this article will help both those who plan to take a test and those who want to order a check for someone else.

The main rule: all questions are agreed in advance

What the pre-test interview is

Any professional procedure begins with a pre-test interview. It is a separate stage that lasts 20–90 minutes. It comes before the test itself. Moreover, it is often more important than the recording moment. First, the examiner gets to know the examinee. Then they explain the procedure and how the device works. Next, they record baseline physiological readings in a calm state. Above all, they go through the full list of questions with the client. So no question is heard for the first time during recording. This is an absolute rule. Breaking it makes any result unreliable.

Why questions are agreed

This is not a formality or a courtesy. In fact, agreeing on questions serves several technical functions. Without them, the method simply does not work.

Informed consent. The examinee knows exactly what they agree to. Therefore, they can refuse any unacceptable topic before recording begins.

Correct wording. The examiner takes into account the examinee's vocabulary and understanding of terms. This matters especially when the test is not in a native language.

A stable state. This may be the most important point. Knowing what comes next removes the background stress of uncertainty. Otherwise, that stress would distort the baseline readings. As a result, interpreting the charts would become impossible.

Why "surprise questions" do not work

The idea of "catching someone off guard" contradicts how the polygraph works. After all, the device records a physiological reaction to a stress stimulus. Suppose that stimulus is a sudden, shocking question. Then a reaction will appear in any person. At the same time, it does not matter whether they tell the truth or lie. Because of this, the polygraph records surprise or offence. However, it does not record the lie itself. So the examiner gets data that cannot be interpreted correctly.

That is exactly why validated methods work differently. CQT, CIT and R/I rely on repeated presentation of known questions. Each series is repeated several times. Only this way can a reaction to a significant stimulus be separated from general tension.

The right to correct wording

During the pre-test interview, the examinee may correct the wording. For example, they can ask to clarify terms or exclude certain topics. If a question sounds ambiguous, the examiner must rephrase it. If the examinee does not understand a word, the specialist picks a clear synonym. And if a topic falls outside the task, it is removed from the list. So this is a normal working procedure, not a "concession". It builds trust between the expert and the client before recording begins.

Three types of questions: the basis of any professional method

The topic of testing can be anything. However, all questions in a professional chart fall into three families. Their ratio and order depend on the method. At the same time, no test works without these three families. So understanding this classification removes all mystery from the procedure. In addition, it helps you speak with the expert about the test structure.

Neutral questions

These are questions whose answers are obvious in advance. In addition, they are unrelated to the topic under study. For example:

• "Are you in Kyiv right now?"
• "Is today Wednesday?"
• "Is your name Alexander?"
• "Is the light in the room on?"
• "Are you over 18?"

Their purpose is to set a baseline level of readings. After all, the examinee answers truthfully without tension. Against this baseline, the examiner assesses deviations on significant questions. That is exactly why neutral questions are deliberately dull. However, it can also go differently. Sometimes a neutral question causes a strong reaction. Then this signals an unstable background state. So the expert must postpone the test or adjust the method.

Relevant questions

This is the most important group in any test. In fact, the whole procedure is carried out for it. Such questions contain direct wording about the topic. For example:

• "Did you cheat on your wife?"
• "Did you take money from the cash register?"
• "Do you know who leaked the client base to a competitor?"

The answers to them are the result of the test. After all, the main conclusion rests on the reaction to these questions. Therefore, wording relevant questions is delicate work. The question must be as specific as possible. At the same time, it cannot be too narrow. Otherwise, the examinee will technically dodge the answer. So good wording leaves no loophole for a "technical truth". That is exactly why experienced examiners discuss one action in two or three wordings.

Control questions

This is the hardest category for an outside observer. A control question concerns a typical minor offence. Most people have committed it at some point. However, they do not want to admit it. For example:

• "Have you ever deceived someone who trusted you?"
• "Have you ever taken something that was not yours?"
• "Have you ever lied to avoid trouble?"

The logic here is not obvious, but it is methodically sound. Consider an example. A truthful person answers "no" to the relevant question about the cash register. However, they tense up more on the control question. After all, almost everyone has taken something at some point. Therefore, denying that fact is harder. But a liar behaves the opposite way. They really did steal the money yesterday. Therefore, their peak tension is on the relevant question. So comparing these two reactions gives the main conclusion.

One caveat matters too. Control questions are used in the CQT method. However, the CIT method does not use them. There, a different logic works, based on presenting alternatives. Therefore, the examiner chooses the method based on the task.

A summary comparison of the three question types

Type	Purpose	Example	Expected reaction
Neutral	Set the baseline	"Is today Wednesday?"	Minimal
Control	A "benchmark" reaction to a typical offence	"Have you ever taken something not yours?"	In a truthful person — higher than on the relevant one
Relevant	A direct question about the topic	"Did you take the money on March 12?"	In a liar — higher than on the control one

Professional rules of wording

Professional methods place several strict limits on wording. Breaking them makes the result unreliable. At the same time, it does not matter what the charts show. These rules come from decades of practice. In addition, many studies confirm them. Therefore, modern polygraphy treats them almost as dogma.

1. Only a closed "yes or no" form. No open questions or extended answers. After all, each question is a stimulus. It must trigger one reaction of a certain length.
2. One fact — one question. Combining two topics is banned. For example, "Did you know about the theft and help hide it?" is incorrect. After all, a person may know but not help. Therefore, each action is tested separately.
3. Specific and unambiguous. A question must have only one interpretation. For example, "Did you do something bad?" is a poor option. After all, the notion of "bad" is subjective. But "Did you take money from the safe?" is correct.
4. Present or past tense. The polygraph works with facts, not intentions. Therefore, "Will you lie in the future?" is not allowed. Instead, "Did you lie during the past year?" is correct.
5. A clear language. The test is run in a native or fluent language. In Ukraine that is Ukrainian, Russian, English or Spanish. At the same time, all terms are checked for clarity in advance.

These five rules are not merely "best practices". In fact, they are technical requirements of the method itself. Breaking them makes the record of reactions uninterpretable. Moreover, even perfectly calibrated equipment does not save it. Therefore, no certified specialist steps outside these limits. So if the list contains a rule-breaking wording, it is a reason to talk before recording.

What is asked in different fields: examples by test type

Below are sample wordings of relevant questions. They are grouped by broad thematic areas. However, this is not a ready-made script. Rather, it is a way to understand the general nature of tests. After all, the final wording is always individual. It is shaped during the pre-test interview for the specific situation.

Marital fidelity testing

This is the most frequent request in Ukraine and the diaspora — marital fidelity testing. The topic is painful. Therefore, the wording requires special tact. After all, even a correct question can hurt without preparation. Typical relevant wordings are as follows:

• "Did you have an intimate relationship with another person after marriage?"
• "Did you hide contacts with a specific person from your spouse?"
• "Did you use dating apps during the marriage?"
• "Were you intimate with the named person in the stated period?"
• "Did you fund an outsider's personal expenses from the shared budget?"

The final wording depends on the client's request. For example, it may be general fidelity, a specific episode or a full check.

Pre-employment screening

Personnel screening is the most "standardized" area. After all, the wordings here are uniform. They apply to every candidate with minimal changes. Therefore, results are easy to compare across mass screening. The standard set of questions is as follows:

• "Did you provide accurate data about your previous job in your CV?"
• "Did you hide past dismissals 'for cause'?"
• "Have you had legal problems not shown in your form?"
• "Do you use narcotic substances?"
• "Do you have outstanding obligations not disclosed to the employer?"
• "Do you keep contacts with the employer's competitors?"

In large companies, screening is done regularly. For example, at hiring, at access upgrades or on suspicion.

Internal corporate investigation

An internal official investigation is the most "investigative" field. Here, work with questions is close to operational practice. Therefore, the questions are specific. In addition, they are tied to an event, date and object.

• "Did you take money from the register between [date] and [date]?"
• "Did you pass the client base to third parties?"
• "Do you know who withdrew funds from the company account?"
• "Did you receive rewards from suppliers for procurement decisions?"
• "Did you use corporate property for personal purposes without permission?"

A simple relationship applies here. The more precise the claim, the more precise the list.

Pre-marital testing

This is a growing category of requests. Clients aged 25–35 are especially active. After all, for them transparency before the wedding has become the norm. Details are on the service page lie detector test before entering into marriage. Typical wordings are as follows:

• "Do you have hidden financial obligations — loans, debts, alimony?"
• "Do you have children from previous relationships you did not disclose?"
• "Are you hiding serious illnesses that could affect family life?"
• "Do you have a criminal record unknown to your partner?"
• "Do you keep intimate contact with a previous partner?"

Testing a teenager

This is a delicate category that requires separate ethical preparation. Testing is done only with the teenager's written consent. In addition, parents take part in shaping the questions. As a rule, the age threshold starts at 14. Details are on the service page a lie detector for testing a teen.

• "Have you used narcotic substances in the last 6 months?"
• "Did you hide contacts with certain people from your parents?"
• "Did you take money from the family budget without permission?"
• "Did you have contacts you did not tell your parents about?"
• "Did you know about bullying at school and stay silent?"

The main goal of such testing is not punishment. In fact, it is restoring family trust through objective facts.

Forensic psychophysiological testing

Forensic psychophysiological testing is the most responsible field. Here, questions are worded at the request of a lawyer or investigator. In addition, the topic is tied to a specific event in the case.

• "Were you at [place] at the moment of [event]?"
• "Did you commit the actions described in the indictment?"
• "Do you know who exactly committed these actions?"
• "Do you have information about the location of [object/person]?"

The conclusion for such a test is issued as an official document. So it can be attached to the case file as a private expert opinion.

What is banned to ask: ethical and legal limits

Not every question can be asked on a polygraph. This is not a theoretical limit but a working rule. It is set by the ethics code and national laws. Therefore, a certified specialist will refuse a banned wording. Moreover, this happens even after the contract and deposit.

The full list of bans

In short, the list of bans looks like this:

• Political views and party affiliation. This is an absolute taboo in commercial and HR polygraphy. After all, such questions violate freedom of thought. It is protected by the Constitution of Ukraine and the European Convention. Exceptions are possible only in special state contexts.
• Religious beliefs. Religious identity is a private matter. Therefore, it cannot be the subject of a test. Only specific actions may be checked, but not the beliefs themselves.
• Sexual orientation and private life outside the topic. This is allowed only if directly tied to the ordered topic. For example, in fidelity testing or a forensic exam. But in HR screening such questions are banned.
• Membership in unions and public organizations. In screening, such questions are a form of labor discrimination. Therefore, they violate the law of most countries, including Ukraine.
• Questions that provoke self-incrimination. The examiner may not push toward an "accidental" confession outside the topic. So a client's attempt to widen the topic is grounds for refusal.
• Open provocative judgments. For example, "Are you an honest person at all?" or "Are you a bad father?". Such questions appeal to self-esteem, not facts. Therefore, a physiological answer to them cannot be interpreted.
• Discriminatory questions on protected grounds. These are age, sex, ethnicity, citizenship, health outside the topic, and marital status. Discrimination in hiring on these grounds is banned.

How the final list of questions is formed

Every situation has a huge space of wordings. They can be direct or indirect, broad or narrow. However, the examiner's task is different. They do not have to ask every possible question. Instead, they select 8–14 relevant wordings. These must cover the topic precisely. In addition, they must not duplicate one another.

Often the specialist first drafts 30–40 options. Then they narrow the list to a working one. For this, they apply four criteria. These are clarity, a link to facts, no ambiguity and no overlaps. So this work is half analytical and half creative. This is exactly where the "device operator" differs from a real expert.

The examinee's rights: refusal, not knowing, pauses

The right to refuse and stop the test

Refusing to answer is an unconditional right of the examinee. It is set by the ethics code and the data protection law. Before the session, the person signs an informed consent. It states the right to stop the test at any time. Moreover, this is without explanation and without consequences. Therefore, any pressure to continue is a gross violation. So it is grounds for a complaint to the association and a lawsuit.

Refusing a specific question

There is a nuance here. Technically, the examinee can stay silent. Then this is recorded as "no answer". However, there is an important point. If this happens during the test, a gap appears in the data. It affects the ability to draw a conclusion on the topic. Therefore, "uncomfortable" questions are better discussed in advance. For example, they can be excluded or rephrased. So this is a matter not so much of rights as of practical value.

What if I do not know or remember

This is a normal and common situation. The examiner must take it into account. Therefore, correct methods avoid questions about exact memory. For example, about dates or the order of minor events. However, it can also go differently. Sometimes a question still requires a "yes/no". Then the examinee answers "no" with a "do not know" note. On the chart, this gives a distinctive pattern. After all, a "do not know" reaction differs from "I know but hide it". And the skill to tell them apart is part of basic training.

How many questions are asked per session

This depends on the method and topic. Consider a standard CQT session. It includes 3–4 control and 3–4 relevant questions in a series. In addition, 2–3 neutral ones are added. The series itself is repeated 3–5 times for reliability. Therefore, a session may include 30–60 questions. However, only 10–15 of them are unique wordings. At the same time, the recording usually lasts 60–120 minutes. But the CIT method works differently. Here, series of alternative questions are presented. A significant reaction appears only to the "familiar" one. Therefore, the total number of presentations is larger — up to 100–150 per session.

Common myths about polygraph questions

Many myths have gathered around the polygraph over the decades. Five of them concern the questions. Moreover, they appear so often that they deserve a point-by-point debunking.

Myth 1: "The examiner will ask any question"

This is not true. The examiner works within the agreed topic. In addition, each question is discussed in advance. Suppose an unagreed question is heard during recording. Then the examinee may refuse and stop the session. After all, this is set in the signed consent.

Myth 2: "The polygraph will expose all past sins"

This is not true. The polygraph checks only agreed topics. For example, the topic is theft in the office. Then questions about cheating or student years are not asked. After all, they are unrelated to the case. So the polygraph is a tool for targeted fact-checking, not a "biography detector".

Myth 3: "If I am nervous, the polygraph will decide I am lying"

This is not true. The method is built precisely against this. It tells general nervousness apart from a reaction to a significant question. That is exactly why three categories of questions are compared. With general nervousness, the reaction rises evenly. But with a lie, it rises selectively — on the relevant ones.

Myth 4: "You can beat the polygraph by controlling your breathing"

This is greatly exaggerated. After all, the polygraph records 5–8 independent channels:

• chest breathing;
• abdominal breathing;
• galvanic skin response;
• pulse;
• blood pressure;
• blood volume;
• tremor.

Consciously controlling one channel changes the others. The examiner recognizes these compensatory changes. So the very attempt at countermeasures becomes a diagnostic sign.

Myth 5: "The polygraph always asks tricky questions"

This is not true. The most effective questions are direct and unambiguous. But tricky questions only complicate interpretation. Therefore, experienced specialists avoid them.

The key things to remember

From the whole article, the main points are enough. They come down to five principles. They work for any professional procedure:

1. All questions are agreed in advance. So "surprise" questions do not exist in practice — that is a movie device.
2. Only a "yes or no" format. After all, a long answer nullifies the physiological reaction.
3. Three types of questions. Neutral set the baseline, control give a benchmark, relevant work on the topic.
4. Strict bans. Politics, religion, discrimination and provocation lie outside what is allowed.
5. The right to stop and correct. Therefore, the examinee may stop the test and adjust the wording at any time.

Understanding these principles removes most of the anxiety. After all, the polygraph is not an "interrogation". In fact, it is a structured study with transparent rules. Therefore, the better you understand the rules, the calmer the session. In addition, the more accurate the result. And this is not charity but a professional necessity. After all, only a calm person gives a clear physiological picture.

Frequently asked questions about polygraph questions