Personal Identifier Question (PIQ)

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Personal Identifier Question(s) (PIQs) are set by ABC and are used as a means of audit verification. 

2025 ABC Personal Identifier Questions 

You may use either of the following questions from 1st January 2025 until 31st December 2025:

• What are the first two letters of your father's first name? For example: Stephen = ST.

  • Note: Respondents may be given the option not to provide an answer, but in our experience, an answer being provided is more reliable for verification purposes.

OR

• What are the first three characters of the last Secondary/High School you attended? For example: John Colet School = JOH.

2024 ABC Personal Identifier Questions

You may use either of the following questions up until 31st December 2024:

• What is the last digit of your mother's year of birth (0-9)? For example: Mother born 1948 = 8  or born 1970 = 0.

  • As noted below, respondents may be given the option not to provide an answer, but in our experience, an answer being provided is more reliable for verification purposes.

OR

• What are the first three letters of your eldest sibling's first name? For example: Of your brothers and sisters, your eldest sibling's name is David = DAV.

  •  ‘No siblings’ or ‘prefer not to answer’ are acceptable responses, noting we’d expect the same response if checked at audit.

More information on PIQs

The PIQ is used as a means of audit verification for telephone and electronic registrations (e.g. via internet or e-mail) for controlled free circulation, free requested delivered copies or event attendees.

If used to support your claim it must be asked, the answer recorded and the information retained for audit, for telephone and electronic requests (e.g. via internet or e-mail), source documents used to support non-requested controlled circulation obtained by these means or for telephone/internet event registrations.

If the respondent does not provide an answer to the PIQ, this can be recorded as a valid answer for ABC purposes. However if instances of these are high, this could lead to the need for further testing at audit (or in some cases an inability to verify the claim fully) should respondents provide an answer, having previously not done so. We therefore recommend that the description and presentation of the PIQ is designed to encourage a response.

Please see the relevant Reporting Standards for more information.

For more information or if you have any queries on the Personal Identifier Questions or rules generally please contact us.