# Scheduling a test

> Academium Surepass Help › Tests
> For: School Owner, School Admin, Instructor, Independent Teacher
> Web page: https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-surepass/article/sp-scheduling-a-test
> Last updated: 2026-10-06

A **schedule** opens a test to students at a set time. One test can have several schedules, for example a morning and an afternoon sitting, or a resit.

## Publish the test first

The **Schedule** step asks you to **Publish Test**. Publishing locks the test's structure (its sections and questions) and makes it ready to schedule.

## Create a schedule

Click **Create Schedule** and fill in:

| Field | Notes |
| --- | --- |
| **Timing Type** | **Fixed**: starts and ends at exact times. **Flexible**: students can start any time within the window. |
| **Start** and **End Date & Time** | For Flexible, the end is when the window closes |
| **Grace Period (minutes)** | How long after the start late students can still join. 0 means no late joining. Late students still get the full test time. |
| **Classes** | Which classes and sections sit it |
| **Status** | Whether the schedule is live |
| **Special Instructions** | Shown to students for this sitting |
| **Lab & Seating** | Link a lab room, and tick **Enable seat assignment** to give students seats. See [Seating and temporary passwords](https://helpcenter.academium.com.ng/academium-surepass/article/sp-seating-and-temporary-passwords.md). |

Surepass gives each schedule a **code**.

## Managing schedules

The **Test Schedules** list shows each schedule's classes, times and status. Use **Manage** (analytics), **Seating**, **Edit** and **Delete**. A schedule that students have completed cannot be deleted.

## Unpublishing a test

If students have already taken the test, Surepass asks what to do with their results:

- **Keep in academic record**: results stay in reports.
- **Hide from academic record**: results are hidden until you publish again.

## Common problems

**A student missed the sitting.** Edit the schedule and extend the end time, or create a separate schedule for that student's class.

**Students cannot see the test.** Check the schedule's classes include theirs, that it has started, and that the student is in the right class.

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