What Questions Can You Ask in a Private Lie Detector Test?

What the Polygraph Actually Measures

A polygraph instrument does not detect lies directly. Instead, it measures physiological responses — changes in blood pressure, respiration rate, skin conductivity (galvanic skin response), and peripheral blood flow — that occur when a person answers questions [1]Verified Fundamentals of Polygraph Practice
Confirms polygraph testing procedures, question construction principles, and validated testing formats (CQT, DLT, CIT). The fundamental premise is that deceptive answers trigger measurable autonomic nervous system responses that differ from truthful ones. To learn more about the underlying science, see our guide on how a polygraph works.

Because the entire examination hinges on measuring these subtle physiological shifts, the questions themselves must be carefully engineered. A poorly worded question can produce ambiguous physiological data, making the examiner's job of scoring the charts nearly impossible. This is why you cannot simply hand a polygraph examiner a list of conversational questions and expect reliable results. Norman Ansley, one of the most prolific contributors to the polygraph profession, published definitive guidelines on question formulation in the journal Polygraph in 1998 (Volume 27, Issue 3), emphasizing that question wording directly impacts test validity [2]Verified Question Formulation
Confirms specific guidelines for polygraph question formulation including relevant questions, comparison questions, irrelevant questions, and wording of guilty knowledge tests. His guidelines address relevant questions, probable lie comparison questions, irrelevant questions, and the wording of peak-of-tension and guilty-knowledge tests [2]Verified Question Formulation
Confirms specific guidelines for polygraph question formulation including relevant questions, comparison questions, irrelevant questions, and wording of guilty knowledge tests.

Validated Testing Formats

The science behind modern polygraph testing has evolved significantly over the past century. Today's validated testing formats — such as the Comparison Question Technique (CQT), the Directed Lie Test (DLT), and the Concealed Information Test (CIT) — all employ specific question structures refined through extensive laboratory and field research [1]Verified Fundamentals of Polygraph Practice
Confirms polygraph testing procedures, question construction principles, and validated testing formats (CQT, DLT, CIT). The textbook Fundamentals of Polygraph Practice by Donald J. Krapohl and Pamela K. Shaw (2015) provides a comprehensive description of these evidence-based practices and their question construction principles [3]Verified Fundamentals of Polygraph Practice (Textbook)
Confirms maximum of 4 relevant questions per exam, yes/no requirement, single-issue formats being most accurate, and comprehensive question design rules.

The APA's landmark 2011 meta-analytic survey examined 38 studies involving 3,723 examinations and found that event-specific (single-issue) diagnostic testing produced an aggregated decision accuracy of 89%, with a confidence interval of 83% to 95% [4]Verified Meta-Analytic Survey of Criterion Accuracy of Validated Polygraph Techniques
Confirms 89% accuracy for single-issue tests (CI 83%-95%), 85% for multi-issue (CI 77%-93%), and 87% overall (CI 80%-94%) across 38 studies and 3,723 examinations. Multi-issue tests produced an aggregated decision accuracy of 85%, with a confidence interval of 77% to 93% [4]Verified Meta-Analytic Survey of Criterion Accuracy of Validated Polygraph Techniques
Confirms 89% accuracy for single-issue tests (CI 83%-95%), 85% for multi-issue (CI 77%-93%), and 87% overall (CI 80%-94%) across 38 studies and 3,723 examinations. The combined accuracy across all validated techniques was 87%, with a confidence interval of 80% to 94% [4]Verified Meta-Analytic Survey of Criterion Accuracy of Validated Polygraph Techniques
Confirms 89% accuracy for single-issue tests (CI 83%-95%), 85% for multi-issue (CI 77%-93%), and 87% overall (CI 80%-94%) across 38 studies and 3,723 examinations. Understanding this is important: the fewer and more focused your questions, the more accurate the results.

Research on comparison questions has been particularly valuable. A landmark 1997 study by Steven W. Horowitz, John C. Kircher, Charles Robert Honts, and David C. Raskin using 120 participants demonstrated that comparison questions produced different physiological patterns for innocent versus guilty subjects, providing empirical support for the CQT rationale [5]Verified The Role of Comparison Questions in Physiological Detection of Deception
Confirms mock crime study with 120 participants showing comparison questions produce different physiological patterns for innocent vs. guilty subjects. To learn more about comparison questions and how they function within these testing formats, see our expert guide to comparison questions in polygraph testing.

Irrelevant Questions (Neutral Questions)

Irrelevant questions are simple, factual questions that should produce no emotional or physiological response whatsoever. Examples include "Is today Tuesday?" or "Are you sitting in a chair?" These questions serve as a physiological baseline, allowing the examiner to observe what your normal, relaxed physiological patterns look like when you answer a question carrying no emotional weight [1]Verified Fundamentals of Polygraph Practice
Confirms polygraph testing procedures, question construction principles, and validated testing formats (CQT, DLT, CIT). The data from these questions provides the foundation against which all other responses are measured.

For a complete walkthrough of how the examination proceeds through each phase — including the role of baseline-setting questions — read our polygraph testing procedure: a complete four-phase breakdown.

Comparison Questions (Control Questions)

Comparison questions are broader in nature and designed to elicit a mild deceptive or uncomfortable response from virtually anyone. They often address common human behaviors that most people have engaged in but might be reluctant to admit — for instance, "Before the age of 25, did you ever tell a lie to someone who trusted you?" These questions are deliberately vague and cover a wide time span [1]Verified Fundamentals of Polygraph Practice
Confirms polygraph testing procedures, question construction principles, and validated testing formats (CQT, DLT, CIT).

The physiological response generated by comparison questions serves as a benchmark. If the examinee's response to a relevant question is significantly stronger than their response to a comparison question, this is interpreted as an indication of deception on the relevant issue.

Research has consistently refined our understanding of comparison questions. A field study by Avital Ginton (2017), published in the Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling (Vol. 14), compared different types of comparison questions in real criminal investigations and provided evidence for the practical effectiveness of both exclusive and non-exclusive comparison questions in operational settings [6]Verified Examining Different Types of Comparison Questions in a Field Study of CQT Polygraph Technique
Confirms field study evidence for the practical effectiveness of both exclusive and non-exclusive comparison questions in real criminal investigations. Similarly, a 1999 Israeli field study by Tuvya T. Amsel compared exclusive versus non-exclusive comparison question formats in 230 verified Zone Comparison Test field examinations and found both formats produced comparable accuracy rates [7]Verified Exclusive or Nonexclusive Comparison Questions: A Comparative Field Study
Confirms Israeli field study with 230 verified examinations finding that both exclusive and non-exclusive comparison question formats produced comparable accuracy rates.

An important procedural refinement was demonstrated by Charles Robert Honts in 1999, who found that between-chart discussion of comparison questions significantly improved CQT accuracy — a procedural step that became standard practice in modern CQT administration [8]Verified The Discussion of Comparison Questions Between List Repetitions Is Associated with Increased Test Accuracy
Confirms that between-chart discussion of comparison questions significantly improved CQT accuracy, becoming standard practice in modern CQT administration. A 1992 study by Honts, Raskin, and Kircher, published in Forensic Reports (Vol. 5, pp. 265–272), also dispelled the widely held belief that "yes" answers to control questions reduce test accuracy, finding no significant accuracy difference [9]Verified Effectiveness of Control Questions Answered 'Yes': Dispelling a Polygraph Myth
Confirms no significant accuracy difference between yes and no answers to control questions, dispelling a widely held examiner belief.

Relevant Questions

Relevant questions directly address the matter under investigation — the questions you, as the client, care about. In an infidelity test, a relevant question might be: "Since we've been married, have you had sexual intercourse with anyone other than your spouse?" In a theft investigation, it might be: "Did you take the missing $5,000 from the company safe?"

These questions must be specific, unambiguous, and answerable with yes or no. They form the core of the examination and are the questions the examiner scores and reports on. The directed-lie comparison question format, studied by Lawrence N. Driscoll, Charles Robert Honts, and D. Jones in 1987 and published in the Journal of Police Science and Administration (Vol. 15, pp. 46–50), was shown to produce fewer false positives while maintaining detection of deception — supporting its widespread adoption in modern practice [10]Verified Directed Lie Comparison Questions in Polygraph Testing
Confirms DLC produced fewer false positives while maintaining detection of deception, supporting its adoption as standard practice. More recent research by Honts and Reavy (2015), published in Physiology and Behavior, suggests that directed-lie formats may be more robust and offer advantages in standardization [11]Verified Directed Lie Comparison Questions and Countermeasure Resistance
Confirms that directed-lie comparison questions have equivalent validity with probable-lie CQT and may offer advantages in standardization.

If you want to understand the full testing process, our guide on what happens during a private lie detector test provides a comprehensive walkthrough.

The 2-to-4 Question Rule

This is one of the most common questions people have when considering a private polygraph. According to APA standards and the authoritative textbook Fundamentals of Polygraph Practice (Krapohl & Shaw, 2015), examiners generally use between two and four relevant questions about the test issue, along with a small number of other questions included for technical reasons, for a total of about 10 to 12 test questions per chart series [3]Verified Fundamentals of Polygraph Practice (Textbook)
Confirms maximum of 4 relevant questions per exam, yes/no requirement, single-issue formats being most accurate, and comprehensive question design rules. Single-issue formats — featuring one relevant question — are the most accurate, and four relevant questions is generally considered the maximum [3]Verified Fundamentals of Polygraph Practice (Textbook)
Confirms maximum of 4 relevant questions per exam, yes/no requirement, single-issue formats being most accurate, and comprehensive question design rules.

The reason for limiting relevant questions is scientific, not commercial. Each relevant question must be embedded within a carefully structured sequence of irrelevant and comparison questions. The examiner needs enough baseline and comparison data surrounding each relevant question to make a valid scoring determination. Norman Ansley's guidelines on question formulation reinforce this principle, recommending single-issue test formats for the highest accuracy [2]Verified Question Formulation
Confirms specific guidelines for polygraph question formulation including relevant questions, comparison questions, irrelevant questions, and wording of guilty knowledge tests.

Why More Questions Reduce Accuracy

In a specific-issue test, the single relevant question is presented across multiple chart repetitions, providing a large data sample for analysis. In a multi-issue test, each relevant question is presented fewer times, providing the examiner with substantially less information per question. The smaller the sample, the less reliable the results. Fatigue and habituation prevent the examiner from asking the questions more often.

Research by James Allan Matte (2011), published in European Polygraph, found that 62.9% of confirmed deceptive cases showed higher scores in subsequent charts, supporting differential habituation theory — where deceptive examinees maintain or increase responsivity to relevant questions while potentially habituating to comparison questions [12]Verified Effect of Habituation to Least Threatening Zone Questions on the Most Threatening Zone Comparison Questions
Confirms 62.9% of confirmed deceptive cases showed higher scores in subsequent charts, supporting differential habituation theory. This underscores why test design must carefully balance the number of questions presented.

The APA's meta-analysis confirmed this finding: event-specific single-issue testing produced 89% accuracy, while multi-issue testing produced 85% accuracy [4]Verified Meta-Analytic Survey of Criterion Accuracy of Validated Polygraph Techniques
Confirms 89% accuracy for single-issue tests (CI 83%-95%), 85% for multi-issue (CI 77%-93%), and 87% overall (CI 80%-94%) across 38 studies and 3,723 examinations. The professional consensus is clear: fewer, more focused questions yield better results.

Additional research by Donald J. Krapohl (2020), published in European Polygraph, demonstrated that the optimal minimum difference for scoring electrodermal responses against the stronger of two comparison questions was 30%, further refining how examiners evaluate the physiological data collected during each question presentation [13]Verified Electrodermal Response Ratios: Scoring Against the Stronger of Two Comparison Questions in Search of an Optimal Minimum Threshold
Confirms the optimal minimum difference for scoring electrodermal responses against the stronger of two comparison questions was 30%.

Addressing Multiple Issues in One Session

If you have more than four issues to address, a skilled examiner can run multiple chart series within a single appointment. Each series is essentially a separate mini-test with its own set of relevant, comparison, and irrelevant questions. In an extended session of two to two-and-a-half hours, an examiner might run two or even three separate series, potentially addressing six to twelve relevant questions across the entire appointment.

It is also worth noting that many clients discover during the pre-test interview that several concerns can be consolidated into a single, well-crafted question. What initially seems like five separate questions might be effectively reduced to two or three without losing any investigative value. Your professional polygraph examiner will help identify these consolidation opportunities.

For examinees, understanding the complete testing procedure can also help set expectations for your session. If you're feeling anxious about the process, our guide on whether you should be nervous about your polygraph test offers helpful reassurance.

Six Essential Criteria for Effective Questions

Not every question is suitable for polygraph testing. Norman Ansley's foundational work on question formulation, published in the journal Polygraph, established principles that remain central to modern practice [2]Verified Question Formulation
Confirms specific guidelines for polygraph question formulation including relevant questions, comparison questions, irrelevant questions, and wording of guilty knowledge tests. The topic of polygraph question formulation — balancing behavioral descriptions and mental states — has been explored in depth by researchers. For a question to produce reliable, scorable data, it must meet these specific criteria:

1. Must Be Answerable with Yes or No: Polygraph testing requires binary answers. The instrument measures the physiological response at the moment the examinee gives a definitive yes or no answer [1]Verified Fundamentals of Polygraph Practice
Confirms polygraph testing procedures, question construction principles, and validated testing formats (CQT, DLT, CIT). Open-ended questions like "What did you do last Saturday?" cannot be used.

2. Must Address a Single Issue: Compound questions — those that ask about two or more things simultaneously — are forbidden. "Did you steal money and lie about it?" is actually two questions. The examinee might have done one but not the other, creating conflicting physiological responses that make the chart unscoreable [2]Verified Question Formulation
Confirms specific guidelines for polygraph question formulation including relevant questions, comparison questions, irrelevant questions, and wording of guilty knowledge tests.

3. Must Be Clear and Unambiguous: Both the examiner and examinee must share the exact same understanding of what the question means. "Have you been faithful?" is too vague. A better question: "Have you had sexual intercourse with anyone other than your spouse since January 2023?"

4. Must Have a Defined Time Frame: Questions without temporal boundaries create problems. "Have you ever taken anything that didn't belong to you?" is essentially unanswerable honestly. Defining a clear time period ("Since January 2024..." or "During your employment at ABC Company...") makes the question both fair and testable [2]Verified Question Formulation
Confirms specific guidelines for polygraph question formulation including relevant questions, comparison questions, irrelevant questions, and wording of guilty knowledge tests.

5. Must Be Factual, Not Opinion-Based: Polygraph measures responses to factual assertions, not feelings. "Do you love your partner?" is not a valid question because love is subjective. "Did you send romantic text messages to someone other than your partner between March and June 2024?" is factual and testable.

6. The Examinee Must Understand It: Technical jargon, legalese, and complex vocabulary should be avoided. The examinee must fully comprehend the question. During the pre-test interview, the examiner reviews every question and adjusts wording until both parties agree [1]Verified Fundamentals of Polygraph Practice
Confirms polygraph testing procedures, question construction principles, and validated testing formats (CQT, DLT, CIT).

Research by Vitas Saldžiūnas and Aleksandras Kovalenko (2009), published in European Polygraph, highlighted critical problems in test question construction, emphasizing that tests cannot be used in a template-based way and require extensive, individualized preparation [14]Verified Problems of Questions in Event Knowledge Tests
Confirms critical problems in EKT question construction and that tests require extensive individualized preparation rather than template-based approaches.

Infidelity and Relationship Fidelity

Infidelity is the single most common reason people book private polygraph tests. Questions in this category typically address whether a partner has engaged in physical sexual contact with another person, maintained secret romantic relationships, used dating apps or websites, or been truthful about specific interactions that raised suspicion.

Example questions: - "Since we began our relationship in 2020, have you had sexual intercourse with anyone other than me?" - "Between January and December 2024, did you send romantic or sexual messages to anyone other than your partner?" - "Have you maintained an active profile on any dating website or application since our marriage in 2021?"

For couples navigating trust challenges, our article on lie detector tests in relationships explores how testing can support trust-building and healing. You may also find valuable context in our piece about a Manhattan couple who chose a lie detector over divorce, or the polygraph test that saved a North Carolina couple's marriage. For long-distance relationships specifically, our guide on infidelity in long-distance relationships addresses unique concerns.

Theft and Financial Dishonesty

Whether involving a family member suspected of stealing, an employee accused of embezzlement, or a roommate thought to have taken personal property, theft-related questions are extremely common. Business owners frequently turn to polygraph testing when internal investigations stall.

Example questions: - "Did you take the $3,000 in cash that was reported missing from the office on September 15, 2024?" - "Have you removed any company inventory from the warehouse without authorization since you started working here?" - "Did you use your mother's credit card without her knowledge or permission between June and August 2024?"

For businesses dealing with employee theft, our article on the $5 trillion problem facing Houston companies explains how polygraph testing helps combat internal losses.

Workplace Investigations and the EPPA

For workplace theft investigations, the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (EPPA) imposes specific requirements on employers who wish to test current employees [15]Verified Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988
Confirms EPPA prohibits most private employers from using polygraph tests, with exceptions for ongoing investigations involving economic loss. The test must be part of an ongoing, specific investigation involving economic loss, and the employee must have had access to the property that is the subject of the investigation [15]Verified Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988
Confirms EPPA prohibits most private employers from using polygraph tests, with exceptions for ongoing investigations involving economic loss. The employer must also have reasonable suspicion that the employee was involved and must provide the employee with a detailed written statement before testing [15]Verified Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988
Confirms EPPA prohibits most private employers from using polygraph tests, with exceptions for ongoing investigations involving economic loss.

Government employers are exempt from EPPA, as are certain security services, employers in the drug industry, and federal contractors engaged in national security functions [15]Verified Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988
Confirms EPPA prohibits most private employers from using polygraph tests, with exceptions for ongoing investigations involving economic loss. For a deeper understanding of how the EPPA transformed workplace polygraph use, see our article on the polygraph in the 1980s: from workplace epidemic to the EPPA. Employers in specific states should also review local regulations — for example, our guide to EPPA in New Jersey covers state-specific employer rights and obligations.

False Accusations and Clearing Your Name

Private polygraph tests are frequently sought by individuals who have been falsely accused of wrongdoing and want to demonstrate their innocence. Whether the accusation involves criminal conduct, workplace misconduct, or personal betrayal, a polygraph can provide powerful evidence of truthfulness.

Example questions: - "Did you physically assault [person's name] on [specific date]?" - "Did you take money from [person's name]'s wallet on [specific date]?" - "Were you at [specific location] on the night of [specific date]?"

If you are dealing with a false accusation in the workplace, our guide on whether a polygraph can clear your name at work provides specific guidance. For family-related disputes, our article on private lie detector tests for family disputes covers common scenarios and how testing can help resolve them.

Drug Use, Substance Abuse, and Other Topics

Private polygraph tests also commonly address drug use, substance abuse, compliance with court orders or probation conditions, and other personal matters.

Example questions: - "Since January 2024, have you used any illegal drugs?" - "Have you consumed alcohol since your court-ordered sobriety date of [specific date]?" - "Have you had any contact with [specific person] since the court order was issued on [specific date]?"

For those involved in post-conviction supervision, understanding PCSOT polygraph frequency can be helpful.

Questions That Cannot Be Asked

Professional polygraph examiners will refuse to ask certain categories of questions, regardless of who is paying for the test:

Protected Characteristics: Questions about race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or political beliefs are strictly off-limits. These questions have no relevance to specific factual matters and would violate ethical standards.

Legally Privileged Communications: Questions that would require revealing attorney-client communications, medical records protected by HIPAA, or information covered by other legal privileges cannot be included.

Harassment or Intimidation: Questions designed solely to humiliate, embarrass, or punish the examinee — rather than to investigate a specific factual matter — will be rejected by any reputable examiner.

Opinions, Beliefs, and Future Intentions: "Do you plan to cheat in the future?" or "Do you believe you are a good person?" are not valid polygraph questions. The polygraph can only assess physiological responses to questions about past factual events.

Questions Outside the Examinee's Knowledge: An examinee cannot be asked about events they could not possibly know about. "Did your business partner commit fraud?" would only be valid if the examinee had direct knowledge of the alleged activity.

For a look at how some organizations have faced scrutiny for pushing question boundaries, see our coverage of the LVMPD polygraph hiring controversy.

How the Pre-Test Interview Works

The pre-test interview is the most important phase of the entire polygraph process and typically lasts 60 to 90 minutes — often longer than the actual physiological testing. During this phase, the examiner accomplishes several critical tasks:

First, the examiner discusses your concerns and the reasons for the test. You describe the situation, the specific behaviors or events you want to address, and what answers would resolve the issue for you.

Second, the examiner takes your raw concerns and transforms them into properly formatted polygraph questions — ensuring each question is binary (yes/no), single-issue, clear, time-bound, factual, and understandable to the examinee.

Third, every question is reviewed with the examinee before the test begins. The examinee must understand and agree to each question. If any question is unclear, it is revised until both parties are satisfied. There are no surprise questions.

Fourth, the examiner explains the testing process, the types of questions that will be asked (including irrelevant and comparison questions), and what the examinee can expect during the in-test phase. This transparency is essential for valid results.

For a detailed look at the entire four-phase process, see our polygraph testing procedure guide.

Examples of Properly and Poorly Formulated Questions

Understanding the difference between a good and bad polygraph question helps you prepare more effectively for your examination. Here are direct comparisons:

Bad: "Have you been faithful?" Good: "Since our marriage in June 2021, have you had sexual intercourse with anyone other than me?" Why: The good version defines the time frame, the specific behavior, and the relationship context. The bad version is vague and subjective.

Bad: "Did you steal from the company and lie about it?" Good: "Did you take the $2,500 reported missing from the cash register on March 10, 2024?" Why: The bad version is compound (two questions in one). The good version isolates a single, specific event with a clear date and amount.

Bad: "Have you ever taken drugs?" Good: "Since January 1, 2024, have you used any illegal drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, or methamphetamine?" Why: The bad version has no time limit and is impossibly broad. The good version defines the time period and clarifies which substances are in scope.

Bad: "Are you hiding something from me?" Good: "Have you had any private meetings with [specific person] between January and June 2024 that you have not told me about?" Why: The bad version is vague, subjective, and accusatory. The good version identifies a specific behavior, a specific person, and a specific time frame.

From Your Concerns to Testable Questions

Step 1: Identify Your Core Concerns — Before booking your test, list every issue you want addressed. Be as specific as possible. Include dates, names, amounts, and locations where known.

Step 2: Initial Consultation — When you contact a polygraph provider, you will typically have an initial consultation (often by phone) where you describe your situation. The examiner will give you a preliminary assessment of how many questions can be tested and whether your concerns are suitable for polygraph testing.

Step 3: Pre-Test Question Development — During the pre-test interview on examination day, the examiner works with both parties (if applicable) to develop the final question wording. This is a collaborative process — your input matters.

Step 4: Question Review with the Examinee — The examinee reviews and confirms every question. If a question is unclear or the examinee disagrees with the wording, adjustments are made. Both parties must be satisfied before testing proceeds.

Step 5: The In-Test Phase — Questions are presented in the carefully structured sequence, with irrelevant and comparison questions interspersed among the relevant questions. Multiple chart series are typically collected.

Step 6: Post-Test Discussion — After the charts are scored, the examiner discusses the results with the client and, if appropriate, with the examinee.

Why Professional Expertise Matters

A professional polygraph examiner brings years of specialized training to the question design process. Their expertise ensures that every question meets scientific standards for validity and that the overall test structure will produce scorable data.

Examiners are trained to identify compound questions that clients often bring in. A client might say, "I want to know if my partner cheated and lied about where they were last Friday night." The examiner recognizes this as two separate questions — one about sexual infidelity and one about deception regarding whereabouts — and separates them accordingly.

Examiners also bring critical knowledge about question sequencing. The order in which questions are presented, and the comparison and irrelevant questions that surround them, all affect the physiological data collected. This is not something a layperson can design effectively.

The importance of individualized question preparation was highlighted by research from Saldžiūnas and Kovalenko (2009), which demonstrated that template-based approaches to question construction are inadequate — each examination requires tailored preparation [14]Verified Problems of Questions in Event Knowledge Tests
Confirms critical problems in EKT question construction and that tests require extensive individualized preparation rather than template-based approaches. The Federal Zone Comparison Technique is one example of how structured question design contributes to consistent accuracy in professional polygraph practice.

Practical Preparation Tips

While the examiner will finalize your questions, you can significantly improve the process by preparing beforehand:

1. Write down your specific concerns in as much detail as possible, including dates, names, amounts, and locations.

2. Prioritize your concerns — if you can only ask four questions, which four matter most? Think about which answers would provide the greatest resolution or peace of mind.

3. Try to phrase your concerns as yes/no questions, even if they are rough drafts. The examiner will refine them, but starting with a yes/no structure helps.

4. Avoid emotional language. "Did that lying cheat sleep with someone else?" should become "Since [date], has [name] had sexual intercourse with anyone other than me?"

5. Consider the time frame. Open-ended time frames reduce accuracy. Narrow your questions to the most relevant period.

6. Bring any supporting documentation — texts, emails, financial records, or other evidence — to the pre-test interview. This helps the examiner understand the context and design more precise questions.

7. Be prepared for the examiner to consolidate or reframe your questions. What seems like five separate concerns may be addressable with two or three well-crafted questions.

If you are considering polygraph testing during pregnancy, our guide to polygraph testing during pregnancy addresses safety considerations and special accommodations that may be needed.