Sometimes you start a survey and get screened out early. This is a normal part of how surveys work, and it doesn't mean anything is wrong with your account.
What does "screened out" mean?
Being screened out means your answers to a survey's first questions didn't match the people it's looking for. Surveys often look for a specific type of respondent, for example people of a certain age, location or occupation, or with particular habits or opinions. Screening questions at the start check whether you're a match.
Why did I get screened out?
Your answers to the screening questions didn't match the survey's criteria, so the survey ended early. This can happen even if you qualified for a similar survey before, because each survey has its own requirements.
Does getting screened out affect my account?
No. A screen-out isn't a penalty and doesn't affect your account or your standing on TopSurveys.
Will I still earn anything?
Sometimes. Some surveys pay a small reward when you're screened out, and others don't. It depends on the survey and its terms.
How to get screened out less often
Most screen-outs come down to demographics, which you can't change. Some happen because of how questions are answered, and you can avoid those:
- Don't rush. Take your time to read each question.
- Be honest. Give accurate answers about yourself and your opinions.
- Avoid VPNs and proxies. They hide your real location and can flag your session as suspicious.
- Use a stable connection. Public Wi-Fi can cause problems too, since a shared connection may look unreliable to survey partners.
- Answer every question. Choosing "I don't want to answer this question" will usually screen you out.
- Be detailed. For free-text questions, write a unique, thorough answer.
- Keep it clean and original. Offensive, copied or low-effort answers will get you screened out.
Questions about a screen-out?
Contact TopSurveys Support at [email protected] or through the contact form if you have questions about a screen-out or think there was a problem with a survey.