How to Create a Practical Custom Question in Testlify

A Practical Question lets candidates download a reference file, complete a real-world task, and upload their finished work — all within the Testlify assessment. Use this type to evaluate hands-on skills such as data analysis, design work, or any file-based scenario.

Before you begin

Make sure you have an assessment open in Testlify and can access the Questions tab. You need editor-level access to add or modify custom questions.

Step 1: Open the Custom Questions panel

1. Open your assessment and click the Questions tab.
2. Scroll to the Custom Question section and expand it.
3. Select Practical Question from the question type list.

Step 2: Set the completion time

1. In the Time Limit field, enter how many minutes candidates have to complete the task.
2. This limit applies to this question only and does not affect the overall assessment timer.

Step 3: Write your question

1. In the text box on the left side of the screen, type the task description.
2. Be specific: describe what the candidate must produce, the expected format, and any constraints.
   Example: "Clean the provided sales spreadsheet — remove duplicate rows, normalise headers, and return a .xlsx file."

Step 4: Upload a reference file (optional)

1. On the right side of the screen, upload any file candidates should work from — for example, a design template, spreadsheet, or sample data file.
2. Any file format is accepted (e.g., PDF, PNG, DOCX, XLSX).

Step 5: Set required submission formats

1. Below the file upload area, type each file extension candidates must use when submitting (e.g., .pdf, .docx, .png).
2. Click Add after each extension. Candidates can only submit files in the formats you specify here.

Step 6: Configure additional settings (optional)

Click Show Options under the question box to access:

• Comments: Allow candidates to add a note alongside their file submission.
• Mandatory: Require candidates to submit a file before they can proceed.
• Scorable: Toggle scoring on or off and set a point value for this question.

Step 7: Review and score submissions

After a candidate completes the assessment, open their Candidate Report, download the uploaded file, review the work, and enter a score in the Score field.

Pro tip

Enable Screen Sharing Proctoring for practical questions. This records the candidate's screen during the task, giving you visibility into their problem-solving process — not just the final file.

Need help? Contact support.