Create an exam type
Add a new examination requirement template in Exam Center — choose submission format, rating mode, scheduling, attempt workflow, and optional custom forms.
Creating an exam type adds a reusable examination requirement template to your institution’s catalog. Once saved, the type becomes available when configuring examination requirements on module versions, so new exams inherit a consistent submission format, rating mode, and operational settings.
Create exam types at OrgHub → Exam Center → Exam Types. Each type becomes available when configuring examination requirements on module versions.
Why it matters
Universities rarely run a single kind of assessment. A bachelor’s program might need graded written exams, pass/fail practicals, timed digital tests, oral presentations, and structured questionnaires. Creating a well-named exam type for each recurring pattern means:
- Module authors pick a known template instead of inventing settings per course.
- Graders always see the same kind of grading control for that assessment category.
- Examination offices can audit the catalog against study regulations and ECTS expectations.
- Attempt workflow (auto reattempt vs reassessment period) is decided once and applied consistently — see Attempt lifecycle.
Invest time in naming, rating-mode, and attempt-workflow choices when you create the type — edits later can cascade to linked modules and active exams (see Edit an exam type).
Before you start
Confirm the following before opening the creation sheet:
- Feature and permission — Exam Types is enabled and you can create exam types.
- Format match — Decide which assessment format you are modeling (written, oral, practical, and so on).
- Rating approach — Decide whether the assessment is Graded, Pass or fail, or Participation. For Graded types, ensure the right rating schemas exist (institution default and/or academic ruleset assignments).
- Custom forms — If the type will be Custom form, create the form first under Custom exam forms.
- Academic purpose — Match rating mode to purpose: scored summative exams usually use Graded; binary competence checks use Pass or fail; attendance-style requirements often use Participation (Participation and ungraded completion).
- Attempt policy — Decide auto reattempt vs reassessment period in line with your regulations and ruleset attempt limits. Read Attempt lifecycle before mixing workflows on the same module.
Key decisions when creating
Type (submission format)
| Choice | Choose when |
|---|---|
| File upload | Students submit documents or other files (term papers, projects, portfolios) |
| Exam | Classical timed examination |
| Digital exam | Digitally delivered timed examination |
| Presentation | Oral or performance assessment with a duration |
| Custom form | You need structured question fields rather than (or in addition to) a free-form upload |
Full catalog with domain examples: Assessment formats.
Rating mode
| Mode | Meaning | Schema needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Graded | Numeric, letter, or ECTS-style grades from a rating schema | Yes — schemas define the scale |
| Pass or fail | Binary outcome | No |
| Participation | Pass by participating | No |
Scale examples to decide Graded vs binary
| Assessment pattern | Domain scale | Suggested rating mode |
|---|---|---|
| Written Klausur for a bachelor module | German 1.0–5.0 (pass at 4.0) | Graded + value-based schema |
| Mobility transcript grade | ECTS A–F | Graded + named schema rows |
| Points-based exam converted to bands | Percentage ranges totaling 100% | Graded + percentage-based schema |
| Internship competence gate | Pass / fail | Pass or fail |
| Colloquium attendance requirement | Participation | Participation |
Duration, scheduling, and attempts
- Duration (minutes) applies to exam, digital exam, and presentation types.
- Scheduling mode — deadline-based or appointment-based — should match how that assessment is organized in your institution.
- Attempt workflow — auto reattempt or reassessment period — should stay compatible with attempt limits on academic rulesets. Full interaction: Attempt lifecycle.
- Examinee assignment mode controls responsible-user behavior for who grades or oversees examinees.
- Topic confirmation — enable when students must confirm a topic before a deadline (common for presentations and thesis-style work).
Choosing attempt workflow
| Choose auto reattempt when… | Choose reassessment period when… |
|---|---|
| Eligible students should continue onto later attempts while under ruleset limits (including passed students who may still appear under that workflow) | Policy allows at most two attempts and attempt 2 must be approval-gated |
| Failed students may retry until the ruleset failed ceiling is reached | You must not offer attempt 3+ for this assessment category |
How to create an exam type
Go to OrgHub → Exam Center → Exam Types.
Select Create. The creation sheet opens.
Enter a name (and optional English name for multilingual display). Prefer names that staff will recognize in module planning (for example “Written exam — graded” rather than a vague label).
Choose the type — file upload, exam, digital exam, presentation, or custom form.
Select the rating mode — graded, pass/fail, or participation.
For exam, digital exam, and presentation types, enter the duration in minutes.
Configure scheduling mode (deadline or appointment), attempt workflow (auto reattempt or reassessment period), and examinee assignment mode for responsible-user behavior.
For custom form types, select a linked custom exam form. Create forms first under Custom exam forms if none exist.
Optionally enable alternative assessment requests and topic-confirmation settings.
Select Add to save the exam type.
After creation
Attach the new exam type to a module version in OrgHub Database → Modules. Once linked and students are enrolled, exam instances appear in My Exams.
On the module examination requirement, you may also set whether the assessment is a final exam and a weight percentage for how it contributes within the module. Coordinate those figures with module weight and final weight on the student’s academic ruleset (weights on a ruleset version must sum to 100%).
From there, staff open the exam, grade on attempt tabs using the type’s rating mode and effective schema, and publish results — see Grade & manage an exam and Grade submissions. Confirm that ruleset limits and this type’s workflow produce the expected attempt tabs via Attempt lifecycle.
Best practices
- One template per regulatory pattern — separate types when grading scales, durations, or attempt workflows differ meaningfully.
- Name for searchability — include format and rating mode in the name so module planners can filter quickly in My Exams later (for example “Digital exam — graded — auto reattempt”).
- Create forms before custom-form types — the creation sheet needs an existing form to link.
- Align with rulesets early — if programs use different grading schemas, attempt ceilings, or rounding, set those on academic ruleset versions before exams go live.
- Enable alternative requests only when policy allows — students will see request options when this is on; handle them under My Exams.
- Document formative vs summative intent — use exam types for credit-bearing / regulated assessments; keep pure formative feedback in teaching tools unless regulations require Exam Center tracking.
Common pitfalls
- Choosing Graded without a usable rating schema for the student’s effective ruleset — graders may lack clear scale values.
- Setting Custom form without selecting a form — complete the form library first.
- Using one mega-type for every assessment — later edits become high-impact across unrelated modules.
- Ignoring attempt workflow compatibility with modules that already mix workflows — conflicts surface when editing later.
- Setting reassessment period while assuming ruleset “3 failed attempts” will create Attempt 3 tabs — the workflow still caps at two attempts with approval on attempt 2 (Attempt lifecycle).
FAQ
Can I change the rating mode after creation?
Yes — you can edit most fields later, including rating mode. If the type is already linked to modules or active exams, review the impact summary carefully before saving. See Edit an exam type.
Does creating a type immediately create exams in My Exams?
No. The type only becomes a selectable template. Exams appear in My Exams after the type is attached to a module version and students are enrolled.
Should formative quizzes use an exam type?
Exam types power module examination requirements and Exam Center workflows — typically summative or credit-bearing assessments. Lightweight formative checks may live elsewhere in teaching tools; use an exam type when the assessment must follow examination regulations and appear in My Exams.
Where do numeric attempt limits live if the type only has workflow?
On academic rulesets (maximum passed / failed attempts). The type’s workflow is the procedural path; the ruleset is the numeric ceiling. See Attempt lifecycle.
Related pages
- Assessment formats — map written, oral, practical, and more to templates.
- Edit an exam type — update an existing template.
- Configure grading scale — understand rating modes and schemas.
- Custom exam forms — build forms for custom-form types.
- Attempt lifecycle — how workflow and limits combine.
- Exam types — section overview and property reference.
- Create an exam — how instances appear from module requirements.
- Configure attempt limits — numeric passed/failed ceilings.