Overview

One of India’s most widely used exam platforms was due for a rethink. The interface had not aged well — with usability gaps, navigational inconsistencies, and limited scalability across question types. I led the end-to-end redesign to bring clarity, calm, and modern experience design to the center of this national-level exam system.

My Role

Sole Product Designer

Timeline

14 Days

Year

2025

Team

Behavioral Scientist (Lead Researcher), Project Manager, Business Stakeholders

The Brief

We got a demo of the existing candidate exam interface and we were asked to redesign it to give it a new “look and feel”

Challenge

The Interface looked Outdated and it was Confusing

We evaluated the interface amongst ourselves, asked a bunch of questions to the business on how it worked and evaluated the user experience based on learnability, efficiency and usability.

Process

Shadowing and 1-1 User Interviews

We decided to visit 1 test centre to speak to candidates face to face and discover core problems with the examination interface. In addition, I was allowed to shadow one of the invigilators and observe how candidates used the interface.

All Candidates were frustrated with comprehension Questions

All Candidates were frustrated with comprehension Questions

Reason? They couldn't read the entire passage. They had to scroll within a limited area or had to use 'Zoom in' button. Interesting fact - 3/8 candidates were not aware of this button :)

3 out of 8 candidates who attended the exams for the first time were not aware of mock exams being sent to them

Because of this unfamiliarity, they felt anxious about the exam and it affected their performance.

Candidates relied in the question palette quite extensively

Candidates relied in the question palette quite extensively

They used it to bookmark questions and later jumped between them. We also learned that they bookmarked questions that were both answered and not answered

2 Candidates finished the exam sooner and wished they could leave earlier.

Currently, there was no way to put a stop to the exam and leave earlier.

How might we redesign a neat interface and make it feel like there is nothing standing in between the candidate and the questions they have to answer ?

Solution

A Better Onboarding

We designed a lounge before the examination starts for candidates to be able familiarize the exam interface.

Simplified Interface

We took away everything that candidates did not require and kept important information within reach.

Scalable to all Types of Questions

Comprehension questions were given more real estate so they can do less scrolling in addition to having a way to expand them.

Impact

We Tested the Redesign with 4 Candidates

We made an end-end Figma prototype mocking a real exam and asked candidates to use them. I closely observed and listened to them for further insights.

What I learned

What Field Research and Fast Iteration Taught Me

Field Research Reveals What Screens Can’t

Being on-site exposed subtle but critical factors like lighting, seating layout, and real-time stress behaviors that remote interviews would’ve missed.

Field Research Reveals What Screens Can’t

Being on-site exposed subtle but critical factors like lighting, seating layout, and real-time stress behaviors that remote interviews would’ve missed.

Field Research Reveals What Screens Can’t

Being on-site exposed subtle but critical factors like lighting, seating layout, and real-time stress behaviors that remote interviews would’ve missed.

Design for Calm, Not Just Functioning Process & Delivery

Designing for high-pressure environments like national-level examinations requires balancing usability with calmness and clarity.

Design for Calm, Not Just Functioning Process & Delivery

Designing for high-pressure environments like national-level examinations requires balancing usability with calmness and clarity.

Design for Calm, Not Just Functioning Process & Delivery

Designing for high-pressure environments like national-level examinations requires balancing usability with calmness and clarity.

Speed Doesn’t Mean Skipping Steps

Parallel prototyping and testing let us meet a tight 2-week deadline—without sacrificing user validation.

Speed Doesn’t Mean Skipping Steps

Parallel prototyping and testing let us meet a tight 2-week deadline—without sacrificing user validation.

Speed Doesn’t Mean Skipping Steps

Parallel prototyping and testing let us meet a tight 2-week deadline—without sacrificing user validation.

Small UX Tweaks Can Drive Big Impact

Even subtle interface changes—like palette clarity or button placement—had an outsized effect on user confidence and flow during the exam.

Small UX Tweaks Can Drive Big Impact

Even subtle interface changes—like palette clarity or button placement—had an outsized effect on user confidence and flow during the exam.

Small UX Tweaks Can Drive Big Impact

Even subtle interface changes—like palette clarity or button placement—had an outsized effect on user confidence and flow during the exam.