How to Create a Practical Custom Question in Testlify

A practical custom question lets candidates download a reference file, complete a real-world task, and upload their work directly within the assessment. Use this question type to evaluate hands-on skills with documents, designs, or any file-based scenario.

Before you begin

Make sure you have already created or are currently editing an assessment in Testlify. You need access to the Questions tab to add custom questions.

Step 1: Open the Custom Questions panel

1. Open your assessment and click the Questions tab.
2. Locate the Custom Question section and expand it.
3. Select Practical Question from the available question types.

Step 2: Set the completion time

Enter how long candidates have to complete the task. This time limit applies to this question only.

Step 3: Write your question

1. In the text box on the left side of the screen, type the task or scenario the candidate must complete.
2. Be specific — describe exactly what the candidate should produce and in what format.

Step 4: Upload a reference file (optional)

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

Step 5: Set required submission formats

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

Step 6: Configure additional settings (optional)

Click Show Options under the question box to access these settings:

• Allow candidates to add comments to their submission.
• Mark the question as mandatory so candidates cannot skip it.
• Toggle scorable on or off and assign a point value.

Step 7: Review and score submissions

After a candidate completes the assessment, download their uploaded file from the candidate report, review their work, and assign a score.

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.

Need help? Contact support.