LaTeX exam template

A LaTeX exam template for a midterm or a final you print and hand out, with the answer key in the same file.

Open in LaTeX.to Download all files (zip)

Engine: pdfLaTeX
Bibliography: none
License: Public domain, use freely.

Files:

main.tex

% addpoints keeps a running total, which is what fills the grade table.
\documentclass[addpoints,12pt]{exam}

\usepackage{amsmath}
\usepackage{amssymb}

% Uncomment the next line to print the answer key: the solutions appear and
% the correct choices are marked. Comment it out again for the student copy.
% \printanswers

\pagestyle{headandfoot}
\firstpageheader{Course 101}{Midterm Exam}{\today}
\runningheader{Course 101}{Midterm Exam}{Page \thepage\ of \numpages}
\firstpagefooter{}{}{}
\runningfooter{}{}{}
\headrule

\begin{document}

\begin{center}
  {\Large\bfseries Course 101: Calculus I} \\[2mm]
  {\large Midterm Exam} \\[2mm]
  University of Somewhere
\end{center}

\vspace{8mm}

% One line per thing the student writes on the cover.
\makebox[\textwidth]{Name:\enspace\hrulefill}

\vspace{6mm}

\makebox[\textwidth]{Student number:\enspace\hrulefill}

\vspace{10mm}

\begin{center}
  \fbox{\parbox{0.86\textwidth}{
    This exam has \numquestions{} questions, for a total of \numpoints{}
    points. You have 90 minutes.

    Write your answers in the space under each question and show your work:
    an answer with no working earns no credit. A basic calculator is allowed,
    notes and phones are not. If you need more room, use the back of the page
    and say so under the question.
  }}
\end{center}

\vspace{10mm}

\begin{center}
  \gradetable[v][questions]
\end{center}

\newpage

\begin{questions}

% Points go in the brackets. A question with parts leaves them off: its points
% are the points of its parts, added up.
\question
Differentiate each function. You do not have to simplify the result.

\begin{parts}
  \part[4] $f(x) = x^3 \ln x$
  \vspace{3cm}

  \part[4] $\displaystyle g(x) = \frac{\sin x}{1 + x^2}$
  \vspace{3cm}
\end{parts}

\question[6]
Which of the following is the derivative of $h(x) = e^{2x}$?

\begin{choices}
  \choice $e^{2x}$
  \CorrectChoice $2 e^{2x}$
  \choice $2x e^{2x - 1}$
  \choice $\dfrac{e^{2x}}{2}$
\end{choices}

\question[4]
The value of $\displaystyle \int_{0}^{1} 3x^2 \, dx$ is

% oneparchoices puts short choices on one line instead of one each.
\begin{oneparchoices}
  \choice $0$
  \choice $\dfrac{1}{3}$
  \CorrectChoice $1$
  \choice $3$
\end{oneparchoices}

\question[10]
Find the equation of the tangent line to the curve $y = x^2 - 4x + 5$ at the
point where $x = 3$.

\begin{solution}
  The derivative is $y' = 2x - 4$, so the slope at $x = 3$ is $2$. The point
  on the curve is $(3, 2)$, and the tangent line is
  \[
    y - 2 = 2(x - 3), \quad \text{that is} \quad y = 2x - 4 .
  \]
\end{solution}

\fillwithlines{5cm}

\question
A ball is thrown upward, and its height in meters after $t$ seconds is
$s(t) = 20t - 5t^2$.

\begin{parts}
  \part[4] Find the velocity of the ball after $t$ seconds.

  \begin{solution}
    $v(t) = s'(t) = 20 - 10t$ meters per second.
  \end{solution}
  \vspace{2.5cm}

  \part[4] At what time does the ball reach its highest point?

  \begin{solution}
    The velocity is zero at $t = 2$ seconds.
  \end{solution}
  \vspace{2.5cm}

  \part[4] How high does it get?

  \begin{solution}
    $s(2) = 40 - 20 = 20$ meters.
  \end{solution}
  \vspace{2.5cm}
\end{parts}

\end{questions}

\end{document}

How to use this template

Everything runs in your browser: nothing to install, no login, no compile timeout.

Click Open in LaTeX.to. The template opens as a project in the Projects pane, with main.tex in the editor and its finished PDF in the preview.
Replace the placeholders, such as Your Name, with your own text. The % comments in the files mark the places to edit.
Click Preview, or press Ctrl+Enter (Cmd+Enter on a Mac), to compile. The preview shows the new PDF; you do not need to save first.
If the compile fails, the Console pane opens with the LaTeX log. The first error in it says what went wrong and on which line.
To add an image, a .bib file or another .tex file, open the project's menu (the three dots next to its name in the Projects pane) and choose Upload file or New file.
The arrow next to Preview has Download PDF. Ctrl+S saves your edits, and the project stays in your browser on this device.

How to print the answer key

One line switches between the student copy and the key.

Near the top of main.tex, remove the % in front of \printanswers.
Compile: the solutions appear and the correct choices are marked.
Download that PDF, then put the % back and compile again for the copy the students get.

How to add a question

Questions and points are counted for you, and the grade table on the cover fills itself in.

Inside \begin{questions}, add \question[10] with the points in the brackets, then the text of the question.
For a question with parts, leave the brackets off \question and put \part[4] lines between \begin{parts} and \end{parts}; the parts add up.
Multiple choice goes between \begin{choices} and \end{choices}, one \choice per answer and \CorrectChoice for the right one.
Give room to write with \vspace{3cm} or \fillwithlines{5cm} after the question.
To show the answer in the key, put it between \begin{solution} and \end{solution} right after the question.

How to change the header

The course name and the exam title are set in two places.

The \firstpageheader{Course 101}{Midterm Exam}{\today} line prints on the first page, and \runningheader on every page after it, with the page count.
The centered block after \begin{document} is the title on the cover; change the course, the exam and the university there too.

More templates: Lecture notes and all templates.