Technical screening is one of the most time-consuming parts of hiring — scheduling calls, writing bespoke problems, grading inconsistently across candidates. QuizMachine brings structure to the process: build a code-question assessment once, send the same link to every candidate, and review scored results in minutes. This article walks through how engineering teams set this up end to end.
1. Why a structured assessment beats an ad-hoc technical call
- Removes interviewer scheduling overhead for the first filter round.
- Every candidate sees the same questions → fairer, more defensible decisions.
- Results are stored and comparable across a hiring cycle.
- Can be combined with a live follow-up for shortlisted candidates.
2. Building the screening quiz
Create the quiz
- Dashboard → Create → name it (e.g. "Backend Engineer — Screening Round 1").
- Add a welcome message in Configure → "This assessment takes approximately 30 minutes. You may use any reference material."
Add code questions Pro / Enterprise
- Question body: the problem statement (e.g. "Write a function that returns the nth Fibonacci number").
- Language: Python, JavaScript, C#, or SQL.
- Starter code: a scaffold (function signature, imports) so candidates spend time on logic, not boilerplate.
- Model answer: a reference solution used by AI for automatic scoring.
- Points: weight harder questions higher (easy = 1, medium = 2, hard = 3).
Mix in supporting question types
- Use Multiple Choice for language/framework knowledge checks.
- Use Free Text for "Explain your design decision" follow-ups.
3. Setting constraints
Time limit
- Configure tab → time limit: 30–45 minutes for a standard screening.
- Candidates see a countdown timer; the quiz auto-submits when time expires.
Access codes
- Generate a single-use access code per candidate for tight control, or a shared code for an open cohort.
- Revoke a code if a candidate needs to restart or a link is leaked.
Access code + link workflow
- Publish the quiz (status → Open).
- Copy the shareable link.
- Add a single-use access code per candidate.
- Email: "Here is your assessment link: {link} — your access code is: {code}."
4. Grading and reviewing results
- Automatic grading: Multiple Choice and Code questions with a model answer are auto-scored.
- AI evaluation (when configured) suggests a score for Code and Free Text — always review before finalising.
- Analyze: Dashboard → Analyze shows completion rate, average score, and per-question breakdown.
- Click any submission to view individual code answers side by side with the model solution.
- Export to CSV for integration with your ATS or hiring spreadsheet.
- Comparing candidates: sort submissions by score; use the per-question breakdown to spot skill gaps.
5. Consistency and repeatability
- Duplicate the quiz for each hiring cycle; increment the version in the title.
- Randomise question order to reduce sharing between candidates in the same cohort.
- Page time limits let you break a long assessment into timed sections.
Next steps
Choosing the right formats? Read "11 question types and when to use each one". New to QuizMachine? Start with "How to create your first quiz in 5 minutes". Code questions are a Pro / Enterprise feature.