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Create your first assessment

This is the quick path from an empty draft to a published assessment: gather items, assemble the structure, attach rubrics, clear the publish checklist, and go live.

Add or generate items

Start with the questions. The import-from-library modal lets you filter by folder, tag, and type, search, multi-select, and use Select all shown to bulk-add up to 100 items at once, with order preserved. Items already in the assessment show an In assessment badge so you never add duplicates.

If your library is empty, you have two faster routes: a CSV import (paste rows or upload a file — a template is provided), and AI generation. Ask for a count in your AI prompt (up to 100 per run); generation can be grounded in an uploaded source document, requires a destination folder, and produces drafts you review before use. Note that creating an assessment starts with choosing its use case — the work intent, such as hiring or certification — which also sharpens what the AI drafts.

Assemble sections in the builder

An assessment is structured as sections, which contain pages, which contain blocks. In the builder's structure editor you can rename, reorder, and delete pages, and reorder blocks with up and down controls. Shuffle is configured in the Test settings panel's Randomization options at three levels — section order, page order, and question order — and is seeded per attempt, so each candidate gets a stable but individual order.

Attach rubrics

For anything that needs human judgment, attach a rubric: classic score-entry, or a level-based matrix with per-criterion behavior descriptions at each level. Criterion weights let some criteria count more than others. Attaching a rubric freezes a snapshot — later edits to the bank rubric never change assessments it is already attached to; editing within a draft re-freezes the snapshot.

You can optionally show the rubric to candidates during the assessment, with or without weights. Scores are never shown to candidates.

Pass the publish checklist

The publish checklist is computed from your real assessment data, not a static to-do list. Required failures lock the Publish button until you resolve them, and each checklist row has a Fix action that navigates you to the panel where the problem lives. Work down the list until every required check passes.

Preview, then publish

Before going live, use Preview as candidate from the assessment header to walk the assessment exactly as a candidate will. When it looks right and the checklist is clear, publish. You can keep editing after publishing — candidates who already submitted keep their exact results; only closed and archived assessments lock their structure.

At a glance

  • Add items from your library, bulk-import from a CSV, or generate drafts with AI.
  • Assemble the structure as sections, pages, and blocks in the builder.
  • Attach classic or matrix rubrics — attaching freezes a snapshot of the rubric.
  • The publish checklist locks the Publish button until required checks pass; each row has a Fix action.
  • Preview as candidate before publishing; live assessments stay editable, and submitted results never change.

Frequently asked questions

Can I edit the structure after publishing?
Yes. Live assessments stay editable, and candidates who already submitted keep their exact results. Only closed and archived assessments lock — duplicate those to a new draft. See "Edit a live assessment" for what weight changes affect.
What happens to an item without an answer key?
It auto-scores as null, which means it needs manual review. It is never treated as zero, so unkeyed items will not silently drag scores down.

Need a hand?

We'll help you set it up

Our team helps with setup, assessment design, and rollout — bring your questions to a live session.

Create your first assessment | SkillCort