Google Deprecates Practice Problem Structured Data in Search
Google is removing support for practice problem structured data in January 2026 as part of efforts to simplify Search. The change affects Search Console reports, the Rich Results Test, and structured data documentation.
Google announced it will remove support for practice problem structured data from its search results beginning in January 2026. The change is part of an ongoing effort to simplify Google Search results and focus on features that deliver the most value to users and website owners, according to Search Advocate John Mueller.
Simplifying the Search Experience
In its statement, Google explained the rationale behind the deprecation:
“We’re constantly working to simplify the search results page, so that it’s quick and easy to find the information and websites you’re looking for,” the company said. “As part of this effort, we regularly evaluate all of our existing features to make sure they’re still useful, both for people searching on Google and for website owners.”
Google added that features not widely used or offering limited value are being phased out as part of broader updates to improve the efficiency of search results.
What’s Changing
Practice Problem Structured Data: The practice problem markup, designed to display educational questions and answers directly in search results, will no longer be supported. Google has added a deprecation notice to its developer documentation.
This means the structured data will be removed from:
- Search Console rich result reports
- The Rich Results Test tool
- The list of Search appearance filters
The Search Console API will continue to recognize the practice problem type temporarily, but it too will be phased out.
Dataset Structured Data: Google clarified that Dataset structured data is only used by Dataset Search, not standard Google Search results. The company has therefore removed the deprecation banner from the Dataset documentation.
Book Actions: The Book actions structured data remains supported, as Google confirmed the markup continues to be used for relevant features in Search.
Why It Matters
Google’s move reflects a broader shift toward streamlining Search’s underlying infrastructure and interface. While the practice problem feature was introduced to enhance educational search experiences, it appears to have seen limited adoption among publishers and users.
Deprecating low-usage structured data types reduces maintenance overhead for both Google and web developers while improving Search’s speed and consistency.
Looking Ahead
Google recommends that website owners who currently implement practice problem structured data remove or ignore the markup. Developers should monitor Google’s documentation changelog for future updates on supported formats and feature deprecations.
