> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://synap.ac/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://synap.ac/docs/exams/create-and-manage-exams/creating-an-exam/exam-templates.md). # Exam templates Exam templates let you save a set of exam settings once and reuse them every time you create an exam, so you don't need to configure the same experience, grading, results and proctoring settings on each exam. Global settings sit alongside templates and set the default exam configuration for your whole portal. Exam templates are commonly used to: * Run the same type of exam every sitting, such as timed, proctored finals with the same instructions and legal terms * Keep exam settings consistent across a team of admins and educators * Make portal-wide changes in one place using global settings {% hint style="info" %} Exam templates are available on Pro, Business and Enterprise plans - get in touch with support to discuss upgrading and enabling. {% endhint %} ### Considerations Before you create templates we'd recommend the following: * ✅ **Set up your global settings first**\ Anything a template doesn't set falls back to your global settings, so your templates only need to cover what's different. * ✅ **Decide static or dynamic**\ Every template is either Static or Dynamic, matching the type of exam you'll create from it. * ✅ **Have your quizzes ready**\ Templates hold settings only, you'll still pick your source quiz or quizzes when you create the exam. {% content-ref url="/pages/-Mkl31x7yLUowLWg3oFg" %} [Dynamic exams](/docs/exams/create-and-manage-exams/creating-an-exam/dynamic-exams.md) {% endcontent-ref %} ### Finding templates and global settings Head over to the **Exams** page and select **Manage Templates**. The Manage exam templates page has two tabs: * **Exam templates** = create and manage your templates * **Global settings** = set the default exam settings for your portal

Manage templates button on the Exams page

Exam templates and Global settings tabs on the Manage templates page

## How settings are applied When you create an exam from a template, settings are applied in order of priority. If a setting is configured in more than one place, the highest one in the list below wins. {% tabs %} {% tab title="Static exams" %} 1. Settings set on the template 2. Global settings 3. Settings on the source quiz 4. Synap's platform defaults {% endtab %} {% tab title="Dynamic exams" %} 1. Settings set on the template 2. Global settings 3. Synap's platform defaults {% endtab %} {% endtabs %} Once the exam has been created you can change any of its settings, these changes only apply to that specific exam. ### Set vs inherited settings Settings you've applied on a template are highlighted in your portal's primary colour. Any setting that isn't highlighted is inherited from your global settings, and will keep following them.

{% hint style="warning" %} If you change a global setting, any template that hasn't set that option will pick up the change. For example, turning flagging on in global settings means every template that doesn't set flagging will now create exams with flagging on. {% endhint %} To stop a global change affecting a template, set that option on the template, even if it's the same as your global setting. For checkboxes, tick it on and off again, the highlight will stay to show it's set on the template. ### Resetting settings Use the reset icon next to a setting to remove it from the template, the highlight will be removed and it'll go back to following your global setting. **Reset section** and **Reset all** do the same for a whole section or for the page you're on.

{% hint style="info" %} 🧠 Sections and dynamic filters don't have a global setting, so resetting these will clear them. {% endhint %} ### Changes to templates When you create an exam from a template, the exam takes a copy of the template's settings at that point. Editing or deleting a template **won't change any exams already created from it**. ## Global settings Global settings are the default exam configuration for your portal. They're applied to every new exam and every new template, and any setting you don't change on a template will keep following your global settings. Head over to **Exams > Manage Templates** and select the **Global settings** tab. Work through the settings pages on the left and set your portal's defaults, making sure you **save each page** before moving onto the next one. If you have sub portals, use the selector on the **Global settings** tab to switch between the root portal and your sub portals.

Use **Reset section** to clear the settings in one section, or **Reset all** to clear every setting on the page you're on. There's no reset for individual settings in global settings. ## Creating a template From **Exams > Manage Templates**, select **Create Template**. There are 3 ways to create a template: * **New template** = start from scratch, using your global settings as the starting point * **From quiz** = copy across the settings configured on an existing quiz * **From exam** = copy across the settings configured on an existing exam

### New template Give your template a name and description, and select whether it's a **Static** or **Dynamic** template. Then go through the settings pages and set only the options you want this template to control, anything you leave will follow your global settings. Save each page before moving onto the next. ### From quiz or exam Select **From quiz** or **From exam** and choose your source. If you're creating from a quiz you'll also pick Static or Dynamic. Everything configured on the source is copied across as set on the template, so it'll be highlighted. Reset any settings you'd rather follow your global settings.

{% hint style="warning" %} The template doesn't stay linked to the quiz or exam it was created from, so **changes to the source afterwards won't be pulled through to the template**. {% endhint %} ### Template settings Templates cover the same settings pages you'll find on an exam, including Experience, Sections, Instructions, Grading, Scoring, Resits, Results, Certificates, Proctoring, Legal, Marking, Security and Communication. Dynamic templates also have a Dynamic page for filters. A few settings work slightly differently on templates: * **Scoring** - credits per question, partial credits and penalties can be set on a template. Custom marks on individual questions are still set in the quiz builder. * **Sections** - static and dynamic templates can both include sections. Templates store the section layout and settings but not which questions go in each section, dynamic sections can also have their own filters. * **Option shuffling** - shuffling set on the template applies to the exam, but shuffling set on an individual question will still take priority. * **Marking** - shared marker user groups can be added to a template, individual markers need to be added on each exam. {% content-ref url="/pages/N5qRY0ZWdeU9JfP3EOfB" %} [Experience](/docs/exams/create-and-manage-exams/3.-configure/experience.md) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/wmffX5g1pQX91jUEJ3nY" %} [Marking](/docs/exams/create-and-manage-exams/marking.md) {% endcontent-ref %} ### Dynamic templates Dynamic templates support **tag filters** only. Question and EMQ group filters can be added once you've created the exam. If you create a template from a dynamic exam, its existing filters will be copied across.

{% content-ref url="/pages/-Mkl31x7yLUowLWg3oFg" %} [Dynamic exams](/docs/exams/create-and-manage-exams/creating-an-exam/dynamic-exams.md) {% endcontent-ref %} ## Creating an exam from a template Head over to the exams page and select **Create exam**. Fill in the details and user group as normal, then on the **Type** step select **Template**.

Choose the template you want to use, then select your source: * **Static template** = select a single source quiz * **Dynamic template** = select one or more source quizzes, then use the question and tag lists as you would for any dynamic exam

Once you've finalised the source, carry on with the rest of your exam set up. The settings from your template will already be applied. {% hint style="info" %} 🧠 You can change any setting on an exam created from a template, it won't make any changes to the template itself. {% endhint %} {% content-ref url="/pages/-MkktvM4jjlHuxjd8y\_h" %} [1. Setup: Exam](/docs/exams/create-and-manage-exams/creating-an-exam.md) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/Frlf6d7w86bX6Bkare6U" %} [2. Build: Exam](/docs/exams/create-and-manage-exams/2.-build-exam.md) {% endcontent-ref %} ### What isn't included in a template Some settings are specific to each exam so can't be added to a template: * Questions and quiz content * Schedule and sharing settings * User group access * Settings on individual questions, such as custom marks * Individual markers * Question and EMQ group filters (these can be added on the exam) ## Permissions All admins and managers will be able to create, edit and delete templates and change global settings. For educators, you can create custom roles using the following permissions: | Permission | What it allows | | ------------------------------ | ---------------------- | | Exams > Global Settings > View | View global settings | | Exams > Global Settings > Edit | Change global settings | | Exams > Template > Create | Create new templates | | Exams > Template > View | View and use templates | | Exams > Template > Edit | Edit templates | | Exams > Template > Delete | Delete templates | To create an exam from a template, an educator needs permission to create exams and access to view that template, either through the View permission, by owning the template or by being added as a collaborator.

Global Settings and Template permissions

{% content-ref url="/pages/tFz72HQbklA8DSVmZoXu" %} [Permissions](/docs/users-and-groups/permissions.md) {% endcontent-ref %} {% content-ref url="/pages/3q5aI6YlZUw3BXt0yP2r" %} [Collaborators](/docs/users-and-groups/permissions/collaborators.md) {% endcontent-ref %} ## Sub portals ### Global Settings Each sub portal has its own global settings, separate from the root portal. Root portal admins can switch between portals using the selector on the **Global settings** tab, sub portal admins will only see their own. A new sub portal won't copy the root portal's global settings, it'll use Synap's defaults until its own global settings are saved.

Switching between root and sub portal global settings

### Templates Templates belong to the portal they were created in. Templates created in the root portal are also available in your sub portals, so they can be used when creating exams in a sub portal. {% hint style="info" %} 🧠 Sub portal educators can use root portal templates to create exams, but can't make changes to them. {% endhint %} {% content-ref url="/pages/5F6yKZGELTxyo6buqixr" %} [Sub portals](/docs/portal-settings/sub-portals.md) {% endcontent-ref %} --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters: ``` GET https://synap.ac/docs/exams/create-and-manage-exams/creating-an-exam/exam-templates.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.