Timed online exams with server-side grading

Problem

Educators and small teams need online exams and grading without taking on a full learning platform.

Solution

Simple Assessment is an open-source product for question banks, participant lists, and timed exams. The server stores the start and end timestamps, so a refresh does not reset the clock. Grading for standard question types runs in the Express API. The browser polls for updates. It does not use WebSockets.

What I handled

I built the React application, the Express API, and the grading flow.

Architecture & Technical Decisions

One Express API and a React application. The frontend is a static site. The API is a Node process.

Architecture pattern

Monolith: Express API and React application

Hosting & deployment

Netlify for the frontend. The API is a Node server.

Data layer

MongoDB for exams, questions, participants, and submissions

Integrations & services

JWT authentication and server-side grading