Quizzes Overview

Portal: /lms · Desk: Learning workspace

Overview

Smooth LMS quizzes are the primary knowledge-check tool inside courses and cohorts. A quiz is a reusable assessment document (LMS Quiz) made up of linked LMS Question records. Quizzes can be embedded in lessons as checkpoint activities, attached to cohort assessment schedules, or created standalone in the Learning workspace.

Quizzes support multiple question types—single choice, multiple choice, true/false, user input, and open-ended responses—with configurable passing percentages, attempt limits, timers, question randomization, and optional negative marking. When a learner submits answers, Smooth LMS creates an LMS Quiz Submission with per-question results, score, percentage, and pass/fail status. Progress on the parent course updates automatically when a quiz is passed.

For HR-driven organizations, quizzes often gate mandatory policy training: employees must achieve the passing score before course progress reaches 100%. Completed submissions can be exported as PDF reports and filed in Smooth HR Employee Document records for audit trails.

Portal: Learners take quizzes at /lms inside the course lesson view. Desk: Trainers manage quizzes at /app/lms-quiz.

Who this is for

Quizzes appear in three contexts: lesson checkpoints (a lesson row links to quiz_id), course-level assessments listed on the course dashboard, and cohort assessments scheduled on an LMS Batch. Understanding where a quiz lives determines who sees it and when it blocks progress.

How quizzes fit the course structure

Smooth LMS uses a three-level hierarchy: Course → Chapter → Lesson. Most quizzes are attached to a lesson—the lesson body may include instructional content, and the quiz renders below or as the lesson's primary activity.

When you create a quiz from the lesson editor, the system sets the Lesson and Course links on the quiz record automatically. Standalone quizzes created from the desk can later be linked by editing a lesson and selecting the quiz.

Question bank pattern: Create LMS Question records independently, then add them to one or more quizzes via the Questions child table. Each row specifies marks for that question within the quiz. Total marks are calculated automatically.

Checkpoint pattern: Place a quiz at the end of each chapter to verify comprehension before the learner advances. With Show Answers enabled, learners see explanations after submission—ideal for training, not high-stakes testing.

Cohort pattern: Batch administrators add quizzes to the batch Assessments tab with due dates. Learners enrolled in the cohort see batch-level assessments alongside course content.

Question types explained

Choices questions support up to four options with per-option explanations shown after submission. Enable Multiple on the question when more than one option is correct.

Open Ended questions flag the submission as requiring review. Instructors grade from LMS Quiz Submission in the desk, or Smooth LMS can invoke AI grading (grade_open_answer) when AI features are enabled.

Negative marking is optional at the quiz level: enable Deduct Points for Wrong Answers and set Points Deducted per Wrong Answer to discourage guessing on certification exams.

Quiz settings at a glance

Timed quizzes record started_at on submission; the server rejects submissions that exceed the allowed window (duration + small grace period).

When Max Attempts is reached, the learner sees a message and cannot start another attempt unless an administrator resets submissions.

Grading, progress, and notifications

On submit, the submit_quiz API processes each answer, calculates score and percentage, creates LMS Quiz Submission, and calls save_progress_after_quiz to update LMS Enrollment progress when the quiz is linked to a lesson.

Pass/fail is determined by comparing percentage to Passing Percentage. Open-ended questions may leave the submission in a pending state until an evaluator assigns marks on each LMS Quiz Result row.

Quiz submission updates can trigger notifications to the learner when scoring completes. Evaluators with Batch Evaluator or Moderator roles receive work items for submissions needing manual review.

Course progress typically requires completing all lessons—including quiz lessons—and achieving pass marks on gated quizzes. Check the course Certification settings if completion certificates depend on quiz performance.

Desk paths and navigation

From the Learning workspace sidebar, shortcuts include Quiz, Quiz Results, and Courses Completed. Course creators often work from the /lms portal Course Dashboard for a visual editing experience.

Tips for effective training quizzes

• Align Passing Percentage with policy: 80–100% for safety and compliance; 60–70% for introductory training.
• Use Questions Per Attempt with a large question bank to reduce memorization across retakes.
• Enable Show Answers for learning-oriented content; disable for formal assessments.
• Keep timed durations generous—account for reading time on scenario-based questions.
• Attach quiz PDFs to Employee Document when OSHA or internal audit requires proof of test results.
• Pair mandatory course quizzes with Employee Compliance records that track renewal cycles.
• Review Statistics → Average Assessment Scores to identify courses needing content improvements.

Troubleshooting

In this section

• Create and Manage Quizzes
• Taking Quizzes and Results
• Print PDF Quiz Reports
• Assignments Overview

Frequently asked questions

Does LMS training completion automatically update Employee Compliance?

No. Smooth LMS tracks learning progress, quiz scores, and certificates. Smooth HR Employee Compliance is updated separately by HR when a regulatory or policy requirement is satisfied. Download LMS PDFs and attach them to Employee Document, then mark the matching compliance row Complete with the correct renewal date.

Where should quiz PDFs be stored for audits?

Use Employee Document on the employee record with an appropriate Employee Document Type (for example Training Record or Policy Acknowledgment). Include the Quiz Submission Report PDF exported from LMS. For organization-wide retention policies, align document type expiry settings with Employee Compliance renewal periods.

Which desk workspace manages LMS content?

Open the Learning workspace from the app switcher. Desk paths use /app/list name slugs—for example /app/lms-quiz and /app/lms-enrollment. Learners consume training at /lms on the same site.

How do new hires get enrolled in mandatory training?

When Employee Onboarding is created in HRMS, the LMS integration enrolls the employee user in every published Mandatory course and creates LMS Training Assignment rows with default due dates. Ensure the Employee record has a linked User with the LMS Student role.

What is the difference between an LMS Certificate and HR compliance?

An LMS Certificate proves course completion inside Smooth LMS. Employee Compliance in Smooth HR tracks regulatory obligations (training renewals, I-9, background checks) with scheduled expiry alerts. Course certificates do not automatically appear on the HR compliance ledger—HR attaches LMS PDFs to Employee Document and updates Employee Compliance when policy requires.

Can managers view their team's quiz scores?

Managers with Moderator or Course Creator roles can open LMS Quiz Submission list views filtered by course and member. The Statistics dashboard summarizes average assessment scores by course. For official personnel files, export PDFs and store under the employee's HR documents rather than sharing desk login credentials.

Glossary

Smooth LMS + Smooth HR capability map

Use Smooth LMS for training delivery and assessments, and Smooth HR for employee files and compliance records — both on the same account.

Course completion certificates from LMS are separate from HR compliance records until HR explicitly files them. Attach LMS PDFs to Employee Document or update Employee Compliance when a training record must appear on the official employee file for audits.

LMS roles reference

HR users without LMS roles can still manage Employee Document and Employee Compliance records when L&D provides exported PDFs.

Connecting training records to Smooth HR

Smooth LMS and Smooth HR share one account. Completing a course does not automatically update HR compliance—you connect the two when your policy requires it.

Recommended workflow: When an employee completes mandatory training and passes required assessments, download the LMS certificate or quiz PDF from the Learning portal or desk, then attach it to an Employee Document or update the corresponding Employee Compliance record. HR Managers can configure Compliance Type with renewal periods so expiring certifications trigger scheduled reminders—complementing LMS Training Assignment due dates.

New hires enrolled via Employee Onboarding may receive automatic LMS enrollments for courses marked Mandatory; HR still uses Employee Compliance for regulatory items (I-9, background checks) that live outside LMS.

Related guides

• Create and Manage Quizzes
• Employee Documents (HRMS)
• Employee Compliance (HRMS)

Last updated: May 2026

Smooth HR (HRMS)