Certification Exams in Odoo 18
By Braincuber Team
Published on December 26, 2025
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
Surveymodule - 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
Testbutton - 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
Sharebutton - 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.
