1. System Overview & Core Capabilities

The CBT Examination System provides a complete, turnkey testing solution requiring zero external internet. It is engineered to conduct academic, entrance, and mock examinations within an institute's local LAN or Wi-Fi network.

• Local Network Ready: Binds to 0.0.0.0:8000. Any computer or mobile on the same network connects via http://<SERVER_IP>:8000.
• Excel-Based Question Papers: Upload .xlsx question sheets with questions, 4 options, correct answer keys, positive/negative marks, and solutions.
• Automated Student Accounts: Batch generate candidate roll numbers and memorable passwords with one click.
• Printable Admit Slips: Generates official, branded admit cards ready for immediate printing and candidate distribution.
• Live Invigilator Command Center: Start test for all candidates simultaneously, pause, resume, extend time by +5 mins, or force submit.
• Anti-Cheat Security: Fullscreen mode, right-click disabling, and real-time tab-switch detection.
• Instant Automated Grading: Produces rank lists, Excel summaries, and individual official PDF answer sheets.

2. Hardware & Network Prerequisites

Role	Recommended Specifications	Minimum Requirement
Server PC (Host)	Intel Core i3/i5, 8 GB RAM, Gigabit LAN Cable, Windows 10/11 (64-bit)	Core i3, 4 GB RAM, Windows 10, 1 GB Free Disk Space
Student PCs / Devices	Any PC/Laptop with Chrome/Edge/Firefox or Tablet/Phone	1 GB RAM, modern web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari)
Network Equipment	Dual-band Wi-Fi Router (2.4/5GHz) or 24-Port LAN Switch	Standard Wi-Fi router (No internet cable required!)

3. Initial 1-Click Installation

STEP 1 Install Python (If Not Already Present):

• Download Python 3.10+ from https://www.python.org/downloads/.
• Run installer. MUST CHECK: [x] Add python.exe to PATH at the bottom of the first setup screen.

STEP 2 Run Automated Installer:

• Extract CBT_Setup.zip to C:\CBT_Setup or D:\cbt.
• Double-click setup_and_install.bat.
• The script automatically creates an isolated virtual environment, installs dependencies, and launches the server.

4. Institute Profile Registration

On initial launch, your browser opens to http://localhost:8000/setup:

• Enter Institute Name, Address, Contact Number, Email, and optional Affiliation / UDISE code.
• Set your custom administrator password (default: admin123).
• Click Save Profile & Launch Examination System. Your branding is now dynamically applied.

5. Daily Operation & Server Startup

• Double-click run_cbt.bat.
• Server starts at http://localhost:8000. Minimize the terminal window.
• Find your local IP address in the Admin Dashboard (e.g. http://192.168.1.15:8000).
• Click Scan QR to display a large QR code for mobile/tablet students to connect instantly.

6. Windows Firewall Port 8000 Unblock

If student devices cannot reach the server, allow port 8000 in Windows Defender Firewall:

# Open PowerShell as Administrator and run:
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "CBT Exam Server Port 8000" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 8000 -Protocol TCP -Action Allow

7. Student Account Generation & Admit Cards

1. Open Admin Dashboard (http://localhost:8000/admin).
2. Click Batch Generate IDs (e.g. Prefix: STU-, Count: 50, Batch: Class 10A).
3. Click Export Credentials Excel to archive user IDs and auto-generated passwords.
4. Click Print Admit Cards to generate official printable student slips.

8. Uploading Question Papers via Excel

• Click Download Sample Excel from the dashboard (or use sample_questions.xlsx).
• Columns required: Question Number, Question Text, Option A, Option B, Option C, Option D, Correct Option (A/B/C/D), Marks (4.0), Negative Marks (1.0), Section / Subject, Explanation.
• Click Upload New Test Paper, specify duration (e.g. 60 mins), choose the .xlsx file, and click upload.

9. Conducting Live Exam (Invigilator Dashboard)

• Navigate to /admin/live/<test_id>.
• Students log in at http://<SERVER_IP>:8000 and wait on the instructions screen.
• Click START TEST FOR ALL to begin test and synchronize countdown timers.
• Use Pause Test, Resume Test, or +5 Mins Extender as needed.
• Click END TEST to compile final results and lock all candidate sessions.

10. Automated Results & Reports

• Go to Results & Ranking (/admin/results/<test_id>).
• Click Export Excel Report to download complete merit rankings.
• Click Download Answer Sheet (PDF) for any candidate's full evaluated booklet.
• Click Download All Answer Sheets (ZIP) to archive all PDF answer sheets at once.

New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "CBT Exam Server Port 8000" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 8000 -Protocol TCP -Action Allow