Can candidates download certificates immediately after passing?

Yes! After scoring above required threshold, Download Certification button appears. Certificate auto-populated with candidate name, score, date, and validity period.

What happens when candidate fails exam?

Results show score and Review Answers but no certificate. If attempts remain per Limit Attempts setting, they can retake exam.

How do I prevent open-book exams if taken remotely?

Mitigate with: 1) Strict time limits, 2) Question randomization, 3) Application-based questions requiring synthesis, 4) Video proctoring for high-stakes exams.

Can I manually grade text box responses?

Yes. Text responses require manual review. In results dashboard, view each candidate's text answers and assign points manually.

Certification Exams in Odoo 18

Training coordinators administering certification exams through printed bubble sheets and manual grading create chaos: tests printed on office printers with obvious answer keys visible, proctors manually calculating scores with errors, certificates hand-signed and mailed weeks after exams, exam security compromised when same questions recycled across cohorts, and no data on which concepts students struggle with because there's no analytics on question performance—just pass/fail tallies in spreadsheets.

Odoo 18's Certification Exams via Survey tool automate entire testing lifecycle from question randomization to instant certificate generation. Configure timed exams with passing thresholds, randomize question order per test-taker, auto-grade responses with weighted scoring, send branded certificates automatically to qualifying candidates, track performance by section to identify knowledge gaps, and integrate with eLearning courses to require certification before course completion—all without paper or manual intervention.

Certification Exam Features:

8 question types (Multiple choice, Matrix, Text, Date, etc.)
Automatic grading with weighted scores
Time limits per exam or question
Passing threshold configuration
Automatic certificate generation
Certificate validity periods
Question randomization per test-taker
Conditional question display logic
Badge awarding integration
Performance analytics by section

Understanding Certification vs Survey

While both use the Survey tool, certifications have specific requirements that differentiate them from feedback surveys.

Key Differences

Feature	Regular Survey	Certification Exam
Scoring	Optional, analytics-based	Required, pass/fail threshold
Time Limit	None or flexible	Strict exam duration
Certificate	Not issued	Auto-generated for passing
Attempts	Unlimited	Limited (e.g., 3 attempts)
Randomization	Rare	Common (prevent cheating)

Step 1: Create Certification Survey

Initial Setup

Open Survey module
Click New
Enter Survey Title (e.g., "Odoo Functional Consultant Certification")
Responsible: Auto-filled with creator

Step 2: Add Question Sections

Strategic Sectioning

Organize questions by topic for analytics (e.g., "Sales Module", "Inventory Management", "Accounting Basics").

Navigate to Questions tab
Click Add a Section
Enter section name (e.g., "CRM & Sales")
Repeat for each topic area

Step 3: Create Questions

Question Types

Multiple Choice (Single)

Select ONE correct answer from options

Use for: "Which module handles sales quotations?" — definitive answer

Multiple Choice (Multiple)

Select MULTIPLE correct answers

Use for: "Which modules integrate with Inventory?" — Sales, Manufacturing, etc.

Text Box (Single/Multi-line)

Free-form text response

Use for: "Explain difference between BoM and routing" — requires manual grading

Matrix

Grid of questions × answers

Use for: "Match module to function" — rows=modules, cols=functions

Numerical Value

Number input with validation

Use for: "Calculate total cost if unit price=$20, quantity=15" — auto-grade exact values

Date / Datetime

Date picker input

Use for: Scenario-based questions requiring date selection

Adding Questions

Within section, click Add a Question
Enter question text in Question field
Select Question Type
Answers Tab:
- Add answer choices
- Mark correct answer(s)
- Assign Score per answer (e.g., 10 points)
- Optional: Add images to choices
Description Tab: Add instructions or context
Options Tab: Configure advanced settings (see below)

Step 4: Configure Question Options

Answer Options

Show Comments Field

Allow candidates to explain reasoning. Set "Comment Message" (e.g., "Why did you choose this?") and enable "Comment is answer" to grade comments.

Placeholder Text

For text/number inputs, add hint (e.g., "Enter whole number without commas")

Validate Entry

For numerical: Set Min/Max limits (e.g., answer must be 0-100). Add "Validation Error" message when out of range.

Constraints

Mandatory Answer

Enable to prevent skipping questions. Configure "Error message" shown when user tries to proceed without answering.

Conditional Display

Show/hide questions based on previous answers (branching logic).

Example Scenario:

Q1: "Do you have manufacturing experience?" (Yes/No)

Q2: "Which MRP system did you use?" — Only shown if Q1 = Yes

Setup: In Q2 Options → Conditional Display → Triggering Answers: Select "Yes" from Q1

Live Sessions (Optional)

For proctored exams, enable Question Time Limit to set seconds per question during live sessions.

Step 5: Configure Certification Settings

Options Tab — Critical Settings

Questions Section:

Pagination

One page per question: Show 1 Q at a time (prevents scrolling through entire exam)
One page per section: Show all Qs in section on 1 page
One page with all questions: Entire exam on single scrollable page

Display Progress As

Percentage: "25% complete"
Number: "Question 5 of 20"

Question Selection

All Questions: Every candidate sees all Qs
Randomized per Section: Pick X random Qs from each section (prevents question memorization)

Allow Roaming

Enable to let candidates go back to previous questions. Disable for strict linear progression.

Participants Section

Setting	Options	Recommendation
Access Mode	Anyone with link / Invite people only	Use "Invite only" for official certs
Require Login	Enable/Disable	Enable to prevent anonymous submissions
Limit Attempts	Set number (e.g., 3)	Prevent unlimited retakes

Time & Scoring Section (CRITICAL FOR CERTIFICATIONS)

Essential Certification Settings:

Survey Time Limit

Enable and set time in minutes (e.g., 60 for 1-hour exam)

Scoring

Select: "Scoring with answers at the end" (prevents mid-exam answer viewing)

Required Score (%)

Set passing threshold (e.g., 70% to pass)

Is a Certification

ENABLE THIS! Unlocks certificate features:

Certification Template: Select PDF certificate design
Validity: Set expiration (e.g., 2 years)
Certified Email Template: Auto-email to passing candidates
Give Badge: Award digital badge

Step 6: Share and Test

Testing Before Launch

Click Test button
Take exam as test-taker would
Verify:
- Timer displays correctly
- Questions display properly
- Mandatory questions enforce
- Scoring calculates accurately
- Certificate generates for passing score

Sharing Exam

Click Share button
Copy Survey Link or enable "Send by Email"
Select Recipients (invite specific users)
Click Send

Step 7: Monitor Results

Results Dashboard

From survey view, click See Results
View:
- Overall Performance: Average score, pass rate
- Performance by Section: Identify weak knowledge areas
- Individual Results: Each candidate's score, answers
- Question Analytics: Which questions most missed

Best Practices

Use Question Randomization

Create large question pools per section, randomize selection. Prevents cheating when multiple candidates take exam simultaneously in same room.

Balance Time Pressure

Set timer generous enough for thoughtful responses but tight enough to prevent open-book cheating. Rule of thumb: 1.5-2 minutes per multiple choice question.

Analyze Question Performance

Review results by question. If 90% miss question, it's poorly worded or topic not covered in training. If 95% get it right, it's too easy—adjust difficulty.

Integrate with eLearning

Link certification to course completion—require candidates to complete training modules before accessing exam, ensuring they've covered material.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Odoo 18's Certification Exams eliminate paper tests and manual grading by automating the entire assessment lifecycle from question randomization to instant certificate generation. By configuring timed exams with weighted scoring, setting passing thresholds, and integrating automated certification delivery, you transform ad-hoc testing into standardized, scalable credential programs that candidates can complete remotely with immediate results.

Whether certifying sales team product knowledge, validating technician skills, or issuing professional credentials for external customers, Odoo's survey-based certification provides the security features (time limits, attempt restrictions, randomization) and automation (auto-grading, certificate generation, validity tracking) necessary for credible programs. Analytics reveal knowledge gaps across candidates, enabling curriculum improvements while candidates receive instant feedback and downloadable proof of competency without waiting for manual processing.

Need Help Building Certification Programs?

Our eLearning experts can help you design certification curricula, create question banks, configure exam security, integrate with training modules, customize certificate templates, analyze candidate performance, and build complete credential programs with badging and recertification workflows.