# Exam Setup

> Academium SMS Help › Exam Center
> For: School Owner, School Admin
> Web page: https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-setting-up-an-exam
> Last updated: 2026-10-06

An exam is made up of **components** such as *1st C.A.* and *Exam*. Set those up first under [Mark Distribution](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-mark-distribution.md).

## Creating the term's exam

Open **Exam Center → Exam → Exam Setup** and choose **Add Exam**.

1. **Name** the exam, for example *First Term Examination*.
2. Choose the **term**. Each term can only have one exam.
3. Choose the **exam type**:
   - **Marks**: scores out of the full mark;
   - **Grade**: grades only;
   - **Marks and Grade**: both.
4. Under **Mark Distribution**, tick the components that make up this exam's total, and give each a **full mark** and a **pass mark**.
5. Choose the **cumulative average** mode, which decides how this exam combines with earlier terms on a cumulative report:
   - **Term average**: a simple average of the terms;
   - **Term weighted**: each term counts for a percentage you set. The weights must add up to **100%**. Weighting applies from the **second term**, and needs an exam in every earlier term.
6. Save.

## Publishing the exam to staff

Turn on **Publish** to make the exam visible to staff, so teachers can start entering marks.

## Publishing results

When the results are final, turn on **Publish Result** from the exam list. On plans that include the parent portal, families can then see the results. You can unpublish them again if needed.

Publish results only after they have been checked and authorised. See [Positions, comments and authorising results](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-sms/article/sms-positions-comments-and-authorising.md).

## Deleting an exam

Deleting an exam **also removes its schedule, marks and results**, and cannot be undone.

## Common issues

**"An exam already exists for this term."** Each term has one exam. Edit the existing one instead.

**"Term weighted needs an exam in every earlier term."** Create the earlier terms' exams first, or use **Term average**.

## With Academium Surepass

The exam and components you set up here are what **Academium Surepass** fills when it sends CBT scores to SMS. Each component becomes an **assessment type** in Surepass. Set the exam up for the term before sending Surepass results. See [Sending results to Academium SMS](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-surepass/article/sp-sending-results-to-academium-sms.md).

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