Exam Templates

Create reusable exam blueprints to save time when building exams with consistent structure and formatting.

Overview

Exam Templates define the structure of an exam -- sections, question counts, marks allocation, time limits, and pattern type -- without specifying the actual questions. When you create a new exam, you can pick a template to pre-fill the configuration, then simply add your questions. Testify provides system templates for common exam patterns (CBSE, ICSE, JEE, NEET, etc.) and lets you create your own custom templates.

Types of Templates

System Templates

System templates are pre-built by Testify administrators and available to all users. These cover standard exam patterns:

• CBSE Board Pattern -- Sections A through E with varying mark weights
• ICSE Pattern -- Structured sections with compulsory and optional questions
• JEE Main -- Physics, Chemistry, Math sections with MCQ and numerical types
• NEET -- Biology-heavy pattern with negative marking
• Unit Test -- Simple 30-minute format
• Mid-Term -- Balanced 90-minute format

Tip: System templates cannot be edited or deleted by regular users. Only Super Admins can modify system templates.

Custom Templates

Templates you create yourself. These are visible to you and shared with members of your organization.

Organization Templates

Templates created by any member of your organization. When you create a template while logged in to an organization, it is automatically shared with all organization members.

Browsing Available Templates

1. Open Exam Templates

   • Navigate to "Exams" in the sidebar
   • Click "Templates" tab

   

2. View the Template List

   • Templates are grouped: system templates appear first, then your custom templates
   • Each template card shows:
     • Name and description
     • Board (e.g., CBSE, ICSE) if specified
     • Grade if specified
     • Pattern type (e.g., board_exam, competitive, custom)
     • Created date

3. Filter Templates

   • Use the Board dropdown to filter by education board
   • Use the Pattern Type dropdown to filter by exam style

4. View Template Details

   • Click on a template to see its full configuration
   • The detail view shows sections, question distribution, marks per section, and any special rules

   

Creating a Custom Template

Build your own template from scratch.

1. Click "Create Template"

   • From the Templates tab, click the "+ Create Template" button

2. Enter Basic Information

   • Template Name (required): A descriptive name, e.g., "Physics Unit Test - 30 marks"
   • Description: Explain what this template is for
   • Board: Select the education board (optional)
   • Grade: Select the target grade (optional)
   • Pattern Type: Choose from:
     • board_exam -- Standard board exam pattern
     • competitive -- Competitive exam style (JEE, NEET)
     • custom -- Freeform structure

   

3. Define the Configuration

   • The configuration (config_json) specifies the exam structure:
     • Sections: Name, question count, marks per question
     • Total marks: Sum of all section marks
     • Duration: Time limit in minutes
     • Negative marking: Whether incorrect answers are penalized
     • Question types per section: MCQ, subjective, numerical, etc.

4. Save the Template

   • Click "Save Template"
   • The template appears in your template list immediately
   • Organization members can see it too (if you belong to an organization)

Tip: Start with a system template as inspiration. View its configuration, then create your own with modifications.

Saving an Existing Exam as a Template

If you have built an exam with a good structure, you can save that structure as a reusable template.

1. Open the Exam

   • Go to "Exams" and open the exam you want to use as a blueprint

2. Click "Save as Template"

   • In the exam builder toolbar, click "Save as Template"

3. Enter Template Details

   • Name: Give the template a meaningful name
   • Description: Describe when to use this template
   • The section structure, marks, and settings are pre-filled from the exam

4. Save

   • Click "Save"
   • The template is now available in your template library

   

Using a Template to Create an Exam

Apply a template when creating a new exam to pre-fill the structure.

1. Start Creating an Exam

   • Click "+ New Exam" from the Exams page

2. Select a Template

   • In the exam creation wizard, look for the "Use Template" option
   • Browse or search for the template you want
   • Click "Apply" next to the template

   

3. Review Pre-filled Structure

   • The exam builder populates with:
     • Section names and order
     • Question count targets per section
     • Marks allocation
     • Duration and other settings
   • The actual questions are not filled in -- you add those yourself

4. Add Questions

   • For each section, add questions from your question bank or generate new ones with AI
   • The template serves as a guide for how many questions of each type to add

5. Finalize and Save

   • Review the complete exam
   • Click "Save" or "Publish"

Tip: Using templates ensures consistency across multiple exams (e.g., all unit tests in your department follow the same structure).

Editing a Template

Update a template you created.

1. Open Template Details

   • Click on the template in the template list

2. Click "Edit"

   • Click the "Edit" button

3. Modify Fields

   • Update the name, description, board, grade, pattern type, or configuration
   • All fields except the name are optional

4. Save Changes

   • Click "Save"

Tip: You can only edit templates you created. System templates and templates created by other users cannot be modified (unless you are a Super Admin).

Deleting a Template

Remove a template you no longer need.

1. Open Template Details

   • Click on the template in the template list

2. Click "Delete"

   • Click the "Delete" button
   • Confirm the deletion in the dialog

3. Restrictions

   • You can only delete templates you created
   • System templates cannot be deleted by regular users
   • Deleting a template does not affect exams previously created from it

Template Configuration Reference

The template configuration defines the exam structure. Here is a breakdown of common configuration fields:

Sections

Field	Description
name	Section name (e.g., "Section A")
question_count	Number of questions in this section
marks_per_question	Marks assigned per question
question_type	Type of questions (MCQ, subjective, etc.)
is_optional	Whether students can skip this section

Exam Settings

Field	Description
total_marks	Total marks for the entire exam
duration_minutes	Time limit
negative_marking	Deduction for wrong answers (e.g., -0.25)
passing_percentage	Minimum percentage to pass

Best Practices

Naming Conventions

• Include the subject, exam type, and marks: "Physics Unit Test - 30 Marks"
• Add grade level if the template is grade-specific: "Grade 12 Chemistry Mid-Term"

Organization-Wide Standards

• Create standard templates for your school or coaching institute
• Share them with all teachers via the organization
• Update centrally when exam patterns change

Version Control

• When a board updates its exam pattern, create a new template rather than editing the old one
• Name it with the year: "CBSE 2026 Pattern"

Common Issues

Cannot Edit a Template

• You can only edit templates you created
• System templates require Super Admin access to edit

Template Not Visible to Colleagues

• Ensure you are logged in to the same organization
• Templates are shared automatically within an organization

Configuration Not Applying Correctly

• Verify the JSON configuration is well-formed
• Check that section names and question counts match your expectations

Sharing Templates Across Teachers

Templates you create are automatically shared with your organization.

How Sharing Works

1. When you create a template while logged in to an organization, the organization_id is stored on the template
2. Any teacher in the same organization can see and use your template
3. Other teachers cannot edit or delete your template -- only you (the creator) can
4. System templates are visible to all users regardless of organization

Recommended Workflow for Schools

1. Department Head creates standard templates for each exam type
2. All teachers in the department can browse and apply those templates
3. Teachers can also create personal templates for their specific needs
4. Review templates at the start of each academic year and update as needed

Template Patterns Reference

Common pattern types and their typical configurations:

Board Exam (board_exam)

• Multiple sections with increasing difficulty
• Section A: Objective (MCQ, True/False) -- 20 marks
• Section B: Short Answer -- 30 marks
• Section C: Long Answer -- 30 marks
• Section D: Case-Based -- 20 marks
• Total: 80-100 marks, 180 minutes

Competitive Exam (competitive)

• Single section or subject-wise sections
• All MCQ with negative marking (-0.25 per wrong answer)
• Time pressure: 60-90 questions in 60-180 minutes
• No section-level optionality

Custom (custom)

• Freeform structure defined by the teacher
• Any combination of question types
• Flexible mark allocation and timing

Next Steps

• Building Exams - Create exams using your templates
• Offline Exams - Use templates for print-ready papers
• Assignments - Assign template-based exams to students

Need Help?

Contact support at support@edukali.ai