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Why Did I Get Disqualified From a Survey?

Overview​

Getting disqualified from surveys is frustrating, but it's a normal part of taking online surveys. Understanding why it happens can help you improve your qualification rate and earn more XP.

Why Disqualifications Happen​

1. You Don't Match the Target Demographic​

Market researchers need specific types of respondents. If they're studying:

  • Parents of children under 5, and you don't have kids
  • People who bought a car recently, and you haven't
  • iPhone users, and you use Android

...you'll be disqualified. This isn't personal - you just don't match what they need.

2. Quotas Are Already Filled​

Surveys need balanced responses across demographics. If they need:

  • 50 males and 50 females
  • And 50 males already completed it

...all additional males will be disqualified, even if they otherwise qualify.

Tip: Try surveys during off-peak hours (early morning, late night) when fewer people are competing.

3. Your Answers Were Inconsistent​

Surveys include consistency checks. If you say:

  • You're 25 years old on one question
  • You graduated college in 1990 on another

...the system flags this as inconsistent and disqualifies you.

4. You Completed It Too Fast (Speeding)​

Surveys have expected completion times. If a 15-minute survey is completed in 2 minutes, the system assumes you didn't read the questions carefully.

5. You Failed Attention Checks​

Many surveys include "trap" questions like:

  • "Select 'Strongly Agree' to confirm you're reading this"
  • "What color is the sky? (Select blue)"

Missing these results in disqualification.

6. Technical Issues​

Sometimes disqualifications happen due to:

  • Browser/cookie issues
  • VPN or proxy detection
  • Session timeouts
  • Technical errors

These aren't your fault but still count as disqualifications.

How to Improve Your Qualification Rate​

Be Honest and Consistent​

The most important rule: always answer truthfully.

  • Use the same information across all surveys
  • If you said you're 32 last week, you're still 32 this week
  • Don't try to guess what answers they want

Keep Your Profile Updated​

Many survey routers use your profile to pre-match you with surveys. Make sure:

  • Your age, location, and employment are accurate
  • You update after major life changes (new job, moved, etc.)
  • All profile fields are completed

Don't Rush​

Take surveys at a reasonable pace:

  • Read each question fully
  • Consider your answer before selecting
  • If a survey says "10 minutes," spend close to 10 minutes
  • Speeding through leads to disqualifications AND chargebacks

Watch for Attention Checks​

Stay alert throughout the survey:

  • Read every question, even if it seems repetitive
  • Look for instructions embedded in questions
  • Don't select random answers when you're tired

Time Your Survey Activity​

Survey availability varies throughout the day:

  • Peak times: Afternoons and evenings have more competition
  • Off-peak: Early morning and late night often have better qualification rates
  • Weekends: Can be hit or miss

Use the Right Survey Provider​

Different survey routers have different qualification rates. If you're getting disqualified often on one platform, try another:

Partial Credit for Disqualifications​

Some survey providers offer compensation even when you're disqualified:

inBrain.ai Partial Credits​

  • Offers partial XP for disqualifications
  • Limited to 6 partial credits per 24 hours
  • Great option if you experience frequent disqualifications

Other Providers​

Most other providers don't offer disqualification compensation, but this may change over time.

What Disqualification Looks Like​

When disqualified, you'll typically see:

  • "Sorry, you don't qualify for this survey"
  • "This survey is no longer available"
  • "Thank you, but we're looking for a different audience"
  • Redirect back to the survey router

You usually won't know exactly why you were disqualified - the reason isn't shared.

Disqualifications vs. Chargebacks​

Disqualification: You're screened out early, no XP earned, no XP lost.

Chargeback: You complete a survey, earn XP, but it's later removed because the researcher rejected your responses.

Chargebacks are worse - you lose XP you already earned. See How to Avoid Chargebacks for prevention tips.

Realistic Expectations​

Even experienced survey takers experience disqualifications:

User TypeExpected Qualification Rate
New users20-40%
Experienced users40-60%
Well-matched demographics50-70%

If you're qualifying for more than half the surveys you start, you're doing well.

When to Contact Support​

Disqualifications are normal and usually don't require support. However, contact support if:

  • You're disqualified from EVERY survey for days
  • You completed a survey fully but didn't receive credit
  • You suspect a technical issue is causing problems

For missing credits after completion, see Why Haven't I Received My XP?.

Summary​

Survey disqualifications are:

  • Normal and expected
  • Not personal
  • Often due to quotas and demographics
  • Sometimes improvable with better habits

Focus on quality over quantity, stay honest and consistent, and try different survey providers to find the best fit for your profile.

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