How to create a matching test

Learn how to create matching tests with structured scripts, manual editors, flexible scoring rules, and multimedia or math content.
June, 2025

Design interactive and flexible matching tests that evaluate classification, association, and analytical skills, all within a secure, scalable platform.

With TestInvite, you can easily build matching tests that fit your goals: whether you need fast setup, multimedia integration, randomized delivery, or advanced scoring logic. From simple pairings to complex classification tasks, our platform gives you control without the complexity.

What is a matching test?

​​A matching test presents candidates with two related sets, such as terms and definitions, items and categories, or images and labels, and asks them to pair each item with its correct counterpart. This format is ideal for assessing logical reasoning, association skills, and detailed knowledge in areas like language learning, science, geography, and compliance training.

Sample matching test interface
Sample matching test interface

Create dynamic matching exams

Creating a matching exam doesn’t require a long checklist as TestInvite simplifies the process.

Start with a test structure

Head to the Tests module to create a new test. Give it a name and, if needed, a description. Sections and pages help organize your content. The first ones are auto-generated to get you started right away.

New test creation interface with fields for name, description, and section
New test creation interface with fields for name, description, and section

Set up and refine your test

TestInvite gives you advanced, yet intuitive control over how your matching tests behave. With just a few clicks, you can configure key settings to match your assessment style and security needs.

Choose the Test Type to define how your test behaves, whether you want it focused on right/wrong scoring, personality inventories, or subjective interviews.

Test type selection menu with options such as performance, inventory, and interview
Test type selection menu with options such as performance, inventory, and interview

Adjust Navigation Control to decide if participants can freely move through sections, move backward only, or follow a strict sequential order without skipping ahead.

Settings for allowing or limiting forward/backward navigation in the test
Settings for allowing or limiting forward/backward navigation in the test

You can also set precise Time Limits at the test or section level, defining exactly how long participants have to complete their tasks, or choose to have no limit at all.

Time limit setting
Time limit setting

With these settings at your fingertips, you can tailor the experience for high-stakes exams, practice tests, or skill assessments while ensuring fairness, clarity, and control across devices.

Craft matching questions your way

TestInvite provides multiple ways to create matching questions:

  • Quick creation with structured scripts: Use the Quick Question Creation tool to paste or type structured item-option lists. The platform automatically generates the matching pairs, saving time for bulk creation or standardized tests.
    Quick Question Creation tool for generating questions automatically
    Quick Question Creation tool for generating questions automatically
    • Step-by-step editor: Manually build each part of your matching question, defining the main prompt, adding items, and specifying matching options with precise control over content, layout, scoring and behavior.
      Matching question editor with manual item and scoring setup
      Matching question editor with manual item and scoring setup

      Flexible option and item configuration

      Matching questions can be designed with:

      • Public options: Shared choices that can be matched to multiple items. You can limit how many times each option can be used.
        • Private options: Item-specific choices that apply only to a particular item, offering tighter control over pairing possibilities.
          • Mixed pools: Combine both public and private options for greater complexity and realism.
            Edit option popup showing public and private option setting
            Edit option popup showing public and private option setting

            You can set minimum and maximum numbers of matches required, ensuring candidates engage with the task as intended, and reduce guessing through careful option pool design.

            Settings panel for setting minimum and maximum matches in a matching question
            Settings panel for setting minimum and maximum matches in a matching question

            Media-rich and advanced matching formats

            You can enrich both the question text and the items in various ways making it easy to create reading, listening, or visual reasoning tasks within your matching format.

            • Images: Match diagrams, photos, or visual symbols.
              Image-based matching question
              Image-based matching question
              • Audio / Video: Have candidates listen and match sounds or spoken phrases to descriptions or categories, or use video clips for scenario matching or recognition tasks. Playback settings let you control how audio and video are consumed (e.g., limit plays, prevent skipping).
                Video-based matching question
                Video-based matching question
                • Reading passages: Pair texts with summaries, titles, or interpretations.
                  Paragraph-based matching question
                  Paragraph-based matching question
                  • Math expressions: Have candidates match formulas with solutions, properties, or descriptions via LaTeX or the math editor.
                    Matching question with math expressions
                    Matching question with math expressions

                    Configure scoring and feedback

                    Matching questions support advanced scoring logic:

                    • Assign success contribution rates for correct matches, allowing partial credit for partially correct responses.
                      • Apply negative contribution rates for incorrect matches or blanks, if you want to penalize guessing or omissions.
                        • Define a scoring threshold. If the candidate’s success rate falls below this, no points are awarded.
                          • Use penalty multipliers to apply negative scores when the performance on a matching question is poor.
                            Scoring settings for blank answers
                            Scoring settings for blank answers

                            After answering, candidates can receive dynamic feedback that explains correct matches and clarifies why distractors were incorrect, shown immediately or after the test.

                            Question editor showing feedback option
                            Question editor showing feedback option

                            Ensure secure, fair delivery

                            Matching questions integrate seamlessly with TestInvite’s full security suite:

                            • Time limits - at the test, section, or page level.
                              Time limit setting panel
                              Time limit setting panel
                              • Randomized delivery - by shuffling options and items.
                                Shuffle question settings
                                Shuffle question settings
                                • Proctoring - with webcam, mic, and screen monitoring.
                                  Security settings with webcam, screen recording, AI cheating detection, and lockdown browser
                                  Security settings with webcam, screen recording, AI cheating detection, and lockdown browser


                                  • Lockdown browser - to block external resources or applications.

                                    You can also control access via invitation codes, login credentials, or PINs, and deliver tests to individuals or groups through bulk registration and customizable email invitations.

                                    Advantages of matching tests

                                    Matching tests allow you to cover many concepts efficiently in one question, minimize random guessing, and assess classification skills effectively. Their flexible design means they can suit a wide range of learning objectives and evaluation scenarios.

                                    Limitations to consider

                                    They require thoughtful design to avoid ambiguity or confusion. Overly large or poorly balanced option pools can frustrate candidates or reduce the assessment’s value. Matching primarily evaluates recognition and association, not open-ended reasoning.

                                    When to use matching tests

                                    Matching tests are ideal for all kinds of pairing logic assessments, such as:

                                    • Vocabulary and definition pairings
                                      • Country-capital matching in geography
                                        • Concept-property associations in science
                                          • Policy-scenario linking in compliance training
                                            • Visual or auditory recognition tasks

                                              Seamless matching, smarter delivery

                                              With TestInvite, matching tests become a strategic tool for building clear, engaging, and reliable assessments that adapt to your needs.

                                              • Empower secure high-stakes testing with built-in controls
                                                • Design interactive, media-rich pairings that go beyond basic matching
                                                  • Track detailed performance insights across topics, skills, and dimensions
                                                    • Offer a smooth, accessible experience for test-takers on any device

                                                      From academic evaluations to certification programs and workplace training, TestInvite helps you create, deliver, and analyze matching tests that are both scalable and effective.

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