> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.equip.co/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating Custom Tests

> Author your own tests when Equip's library doesn't cover your needs, and add them to any assessment.

A **Custom Test** is a test you create with your own questions. Equip supports several test types, and you can build a test of most types with your own content, then add it to any assessment.

An assessment can contain only Equip's questions, only your Custom Tests, or a mix of both. See [Equip Content vs Custom Content](/equip-vs-custom-content) for a full comparison.

## When to Use Custom Content

Equip's library covers hundreds of skills, so start there. Reach for a Custom Test when:

| Situation                                                                            | Why a Custom Test helps                                                   |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| The skill is not in Equip's **Question Bank**                                        | You can write questions for any skill, in any language                    |
| You want **company-specific questions**, like "Why do you want to join our company?" | These need your own wording and manual evaluation                         |
| You need control over **timers, points, or negative marking**                        | Only Custom Tests let you set time limits and points per question         |
| You want to **see every question and response** in results                           | Equip quiz questions stay hidden; custom quiz responses are fully visible |

<Tip>
  Missing a skill? Before building your own test, ask Equip via live chat: if the skill is broadly useful, Equip can create the test for you for free. See [Can't Find Your Role or Skill](/cant-find-role-or-skill).
</Tip>

## Supported Test Types

You can create Custom Tests of these types from the **Custom Tests** section:

| Test Type              | What it is                                                                                                                                                          |
| ---------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Quiz**               | MCQs, multiple-correct, essay-type, and more; supports up to 100 questions across 15 [question types](/custom-quiz-question-types), shown one-by-one or all at once |
| **Coding Challenge**   | Your own [programming or SQL problem](/custom-programming-test) with test cases and starter code                                                                    |
| **Question Bank**      | A large pool of your questions, organized by points; not added to assessments directly                                                                              |
| **Question Bank Quiz** | A quiz that draws a random set of questions from one or more [Question Banks](/question-bank-quiz)                                                                  |
| **Video Response**     | Up to 4 questions candidates answer by [recording a video](/video-response-questions); graded manually                                                              |

<Note>
  A Question Bank on its own cannot be added to an assessment. Pair it with a Question Bank Quiz to serve randomized questions to candidates.
</Note>

## Creating Your First Custom Test

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Custom Tests section">
    From the Assessments Dashboard, click the **Custom Tests** link in the sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a test type">
    Pick the type of test you want to create, such as Quiz or Coding Challenge.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create and save the test">
    Add your questions, set points and timers where applicable, and save.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add the test to an assessment">
    Open a new or existing assessment's settings. In the **Tests** tab, select the test type on the left, click **Add**, then choose **My Content** and select your Custom Test.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  For custom quizzes, you can also bulk-add questions instead of typing them one by one. See [Import Questions from Excel](/import-questions-from-excel).
</Tip>

## Viewing Custom Quiz Results

A key benefit of a **Custom Quiz** is detailed visibility into responses. When you open a candidate's result for a custom quiz, you can see each question, the candidate's answer, and the points scored.

To download the responses of all candidates for a quiz:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Custom Tests">
    Click **Custom Tests** in the sidebar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Locate the quiz">
    Find the Custom Quiz whose results you want.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the results dashboard">
    Click the **Analytics** icon next to the quiz.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Download">
    Click **Excel Download**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Warning>
  The export contains all responses for that quiz across every assessment it is used in. Either use one quiz per assessment, or filter the exported file by assessment.
</Warning>

## FAQs

**Can I add the same Custom Test to multiple assessments?**
Yes. A Custom Test is reusable across any number of assessments.

**Can I share a Custom Test directly with candidates?**
No. A Custom Test must be added to an assessment, and candidates must be invited to that assessment.

**Will my teammates see the tests I create?**
Yes. Like assessments, every Custom Test belongs to your entire team. Teammates can view, edit, and remove it.

<Note>
  Thinking about writing your own coding challenge? Equip generally recommends its battle-tested library questions instead, since small setup mistakes in test cases can mark every submission incorrect. See [Custom Coding Challenge Issues](/custom-coding-challenge-issues).
</Note>

## Related Resources

* [Equip Content vs Custom Content](/equip-vs-custom-content) - Detailed comparison of what each option allows
* [Custom Quiz Question Types](/custom-quiz-question-types) - All the question formats a custom quiz supports
* [Creating a Custom Programming Test](/custom-programming-test) - Build your own coding challenge step by step
* [Can't Find Your Role or Skill](/cant-find-role-or-skill) - Ask Equip to build the test for you