How to Use Video Questions in Testlify

Before you begin

Video questions are ideal for roles that require strong verbal communication, such as sales, customer service, and leadership positions. Before adding them to an assessment, confirm the following:

You have a desktop or laptop with a stable internet connection.
You are using a Chromium-based browser (version 80.0 or above), such as Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge.
Your camera and microphone are available and not in use by another application.

Set up a video question

Go to the Library and click Tests.
Select an existing test or create a new one.
Click Add Custom Question and choose Video as the response type.
Write the question you want the candidate to answer on video.
Set a time limit for the response and the number of recording attempts allowed.
Optionally, add guidelines or prompts so candidates know what is expected.

For a full walkthrough, see Adding Video Interview Questions in Testlify.

Candidate experience

When a candidate reaches a video question during the assessment:

They see the question and can record their response.
Depending on your settings, they may have one or more recording attempts.
After submitting, they continue to the next question.

AI transcript and review

Testlify automatically transcribes each video response and scores it using AI, saving you time on manual review:

AI Transcript: After the video uploads, Testlify transcribes the candidate's spoken response into text. The transcript appears in the Results section alongside the video, giving you a clear text-based record of what was said.
AI Review: The AI scores the response based on the criteria you defined — analyzing language, clarity, and focus on role-relevant points — to complement your manual evaluation.

Review video responses

Open the Results section in your Testlify dashboard.
Select a candidate and navigate to the video question.
Watch the video, read the AI transcript, and review the AI score.
Add manual ratings or written notes as needed.

Troubleshoot common issues

Camera or microphone not working: Close any other application that may be using the device, then refresh the browser.
Slow video upload: Ask the candidate to switch to a more stable network connection and try again.
Unable to record: Update the browser to the latest version and grant camera/microphone permissions in browser settings.

Best practices

Write clear, specific questions to avoid confusion and inconsistent responses.
Limit recording attempts to encourage spontaneous, natural answers.
Keep response times between 1–3 minutes so answers stay focused and concise.

Tip: Video questions work best as a complement to skill-based tests. Use them at the end of an assessment to capture personality and communication style after candidates have demonstrated technical ability.

Need help? Contact support.