---
title: "Testcase answers that follow another question or the sample record"
description: "Let a testcase question repeat the answer of an earlier question, and keep the sample record of a test run consistent with what the testcase answers."
url: https://www.surveytester.com/academy/en/project-details/testcase-answers-from-questions-and-sample/
language: en
type: how-to
audiences: ["Survey Testers", "Project Managers"]
published: 2026-10-15
updated: 2026-10-15
tags: ["testcase", "answer", "source question", "consistency", "sample", "sample fields", "url parameter", "screenout"]
---

# Testcase answers that follow another question or the sample record

_Project Details · SurveyTester Academy_

A testcase describes one respondent. Real respondents are consistent: someone who says 34 at the age question
picks "25-34" at the age group, and a sample record that says the respondent is 34 should not meet a testcase
that answers 66. Two testcase options keep that consistency for you.

## Use the answer of another question

Next to the answer modes *definition*, *random*, *remove* and *keep*, a testcase question can be set to **Use
the answer of another question**: in the test run it repeats what the chosen source question was answered,
instead of carrying its own definition. Available for single, multiple, text and numeric questions.

The mapping also works across question types:

| Source answered | Target question | Answer given |
| --- | --- | --- |
| a number (age 34) | single choice with age ranges | the range that contains 34 |
| a range ("25-34") | numeric | a number inside the range |
| a category | single or multiple choice | the category with the same value or the same label |
| a text | text | the same text |

When the source question has no answer yet in the run, the target gets a random answer and the run is marked
with a warning, so the testcase never leaves a question empty.

![Placeholder: screenshot of a testcase question with the answer mode "Use the answer of another question" selected and the source question picker](https://www.surveytester.com/academy/_img/project-details/testcase-answers-from-questions-and-sample/en/testcase-source-question.png "w=40rem | A testcase question that follows an earlier one")

## Keep the sample record consistent with the testcase

When a [sample field](https://www.surveytester.com/academy/en/test-surveys/using-sample-with-a-project) is connected to a question and the testcase
defines that question, the test run takes a free sample record whose value matches the definition. If no such
record is left, the connected value of the reserved record is rewritten to match; the uploaded record is kept,
such records are marked in Sample Management, and a reset restores them.

Every testcase question connected to a sample field shows the switch **Keep the URL parameter consistent with
this answer**. Switch it off to test the contradiction on purpose - for example whether the survey forces a
screenout when the URL says 66 and the answer is 34.

## Step by step

1. Open the testcase and the question that should follow another one.
2. Choose **Use the answer of another question** and pick the source question. The mode is saved once a source
   is chosen.
3. For questions connected to a sample field, decide per question whether the sample record must match the
   answer (default on) or whether the contradiction is the point of the test.
4. Run the testcase; the test run steps show the answers given, and a warning marks a source that had no answer.

## Notes

- Grid, yes/no and date questions cannot be sources or targets yet; they keep their own definition.
- Duplicating a testcase or saving it as a template carries both settings along.
- A conditional testcase answer (see [Conditional testcase answers](https://www.surveytester.com/academy/en/project-details/conditional-testcase-answers))
  can be combined: the condition decides which column applies, the column may follow another question.

## Key takeaway

Consistency is part of a realistic test: let related questions share one answer and let the sample record
agree with it, except when you deliberately test what happens if they disagree.