TCExam review
A capable free option for self-hosted exam administration without proctoring.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
TCExam is a web-based, open-source computer-based assessment system for educators and trainers. It supports exam creation, scheduling, delivery, grading, reporting, user management, and question management. Administrators install it on a server, while candidates take browser-based exams. Docker deployment is also documented, and the software is distributed under the GNU Affero General Public License. It suits organizations that want control over their exam environment and can manage self-hosted software.
The free, open-source model gives TCExam a broad administrative feature set without a paid tier structure. Administrators can organize question modules by topic and difficulty, create randomized unique tests, and use multiple-choice, ordering, short-answer, and essay questions. Automatic real-time grading handles supported answers, while essay responses can receive manual grading. Scheduling, time limits, IP restrictions, access controls, server-side activity logging, and reporting cover core exam operations. Users, questions, and results can be imported or exported in TSV, XML, and PDF formats, with printable exams and optical mark recognition answer sheets for paper-based delivery.
Authentication and deployment flexibility are useful for institutions with existing systems: TCExam supports LDAP, CAS, and RADIUS, alongside custom authentication. API access is also included in its category capabilities. Its main boundary is assessment assurance rather than exam administration. The product does not provide verified proctoring or identity verification, so organizations requiring those controls should choose a platform built around them instead. TCExam is a strong fit for self-hosted basic exam administration, particularly where browser delivery, access controls, question randomization, and paper-based options matter. It is less suitable for teams seeking a managed SaaS service or integrated identity and proctoring workflows.
TCExam pros and cons
- Where it wins
- Free, open-source deployment with web and self-hosted support
- Randomized tests, scheduling, grading, reporting, and question management
- LDAP, CAS, RADIUS, imports, exports, and printable exam support
- Where it doesn't
- Requires server installation and administration
- No verified proctoring or identity verification
- No AI features or vendor-hosted SaaS service
TCExam fact sheet, pricing and score →
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