Online Examination System in PHP with Free Source Code

An Online Examination System In PHP is a computer-based test system that can be used to hold computer-based tests online.

This exam system uses fewer resources and cuts out the need for question papers and answer scripts, scheduling exam rooms, arranging invigilators, coordinating with examiners, and more.

About the Project

The Online Examination System is developed using PHP, JavaScript, CSS, and Bootstrap, this article teaches you how to manipulate an Online Examination System In PHP and MySQL Source Code.

This PHP project is created to generate a Random examination, Quiz, and Result.

This Source code is an online examination in PHP where the user can answer and generate results after submitting it.

Project Information

Project Name:Online Examination System Project In PHP and MySQL With Source Code
Language/s Used:PHP
PHP version (Recommended):5.6.3, 7.4.12
Database:MySQL
Type:Website, Web Application
Developer:IT SOURCECODE
Updates:0
Project Information

This PHP Project also includes a downloadable Online Examination System In PHP Bootstrap With Source Code for free, just find the downloadable source code of the project below and click to start downloading.

Online Examination System Project List of Modules

  • Manage Course
  • Manage Exam
  • Manage Examinee
  • Reports
  • Feedbacks

Features

  • Generate Questions – Using this system, you can generate your desired questions for a specific exam or topics
  • Create Multiple Choices – By default, you can create multiple choices for selections of answers.
  • Identification – as part of the exam, you can have an identification section.
  • Test Results – After the exam, you can automatically view the exam results.
  • Friendly User Interface – It has a user-friendly design of GUI.

Screenshots

Online Examination System In PHP With Free Source Code
online examination Examinee dashboard
Admin Dashboard

To start executing this system, make sure that you have sublime or any platform of PHP and MySQL installed on your computer.

Steps On How To Run The Online Examination System In PHP With Source Code

Time needed: 5 minutes

These are the steps on how to run an Online Examination System In PHP With Source Code.

  • Step 1: Download the source code.

    First, download the source code given below.
    download source code

  • Step 2: Extract file.

    Second, after you finish downloading the source code, extract the zip file.
    online examination zip file

  • Step 3: Copy the project folder.

    Third, copy the project folder and paste it into the xampp/htdocs folder.
    online examination copy folder

  • Step 4: Open xampp.

    Fourth, open xampp and start the apache and MySQL.
    online examination open xampp

  • Step 5: Open the browser.

    Fifth, Open a browser and go to the URL “http://localhost/phpmyadmin/
    online examination open phpmyadmin

  • Step 6: Create a database.

    Sixth, click on the databases tab and Create a database named “exam”.
    online examination create database

  • Step 7: Import “exam.sql”.

    Seventh, Click on browse file and select “exam.sql” file which is inside the “database” folder, and after import click “go“.
    online examination import sql file

  • Step 8: Open the browser and type the folder name.

    Eight, Open a browser and go to the URL “http://localhost/Online/”.
    Online Examination System In PHP With Free Source Code

  • Step 9: Explore manipulating.

    Final step, Login from the User’s login side. Just provide the Admin’s login details, and it will redirect you to the Admin panel.

Download the Source Code below

Anyway, if you want to level up your programming knowledge, especially PHP, try this new article I’ve made for you Best PHP Projects With Source Code Free Download.

Conclusion

This PHP Project with source code for an online examination system project is only a student project made for school requirement purposes only. You can download this source code and modify it to suit your client’s requirements.

If you are a beginner and you want to learn more about PHP with MySQL Database programming, you can start your lesson here Best PHP and MySQL database tutorial for beginners in 7 days.

After you learn the basics of PHP and MySQL Database programming, you will be able to create a secure login page using PHP with MySQL, or CRUD using PHP with MySQLi or PDO.

Technology stack and requirements

To run this PHP project, you need these tools on your development machine:

  • XAMPP or WAMP server. Bundles Apache, MySQL, and PHP so you can run PHP on Windows without individual installs. Free from apachefriends.org.
  • PHP 8.0 or higher. Included with XAMPP. Older versions (5.x, 7.x) may work but modern PHP features improve security and performance.
  • MySQL or MariaDB. Comes with XAMPP. phpMyAdmin manages the database through a browser UI.
  • VS Code or PhpStorm. Free code editor with PHP syntax highlighting, IntelliSense, and debugging support.
  • Web browser. Chrome, Firefox, or Edge for testing the running app.

Installing the source code

  1. Download the archive. Get the ZIP file from the download link on this page and extract it.
  2. Move to htdocs. Place the extracted folder inside C:\xampp\htdocs\ so Apache can serve it.
  3. Import the database. Open http://localhost/phpmyadmin, click Import, and select the .sql file included in the archive.
  4. Update database credentials. Open the config.php or connection.php file and set the correct database name, username, and password (default XAMPP: root / empty password).
  5. Run the project. Start Apache + MySQL in XAMPP, then visit http://localhost/your-project-folder/ in a browser.

Using this project for your BSIT capstone

This PHP project maps cleanly to standard BSIT capstone documentation. Suggested chapter alignment:

  • Chapter 1 (Introduction). Discuss the problem the system solves in real-world context. Cite Philippine business or academic use cases where a manual process could be replaced.
  • Chapter 2 (Review of Related Literature). Compare this system’s features against 5-10 similar published projects. Cite journals like IJERT or IEEE Access for academic-standard sources.
  • Chapter 3 (Methodology). Include Use Case Diagram, Data Flow Diagram, Entity Relationship Diagram, and Activity Diagram covering all major workflows.
  • Chapter 4 (Results and Discussion). Screenshot each module of the running system with a caption explaining what data it processes and which user role interacts with it.
  • Chapter 5 (Conclusion and Recommendations). Identify features that could be added in a Version 2, such as mobile app, REST API export, or AI-powered analytics.

Modules typical of Online Examination System

  • Master data. CRUD forms for the primary entities with search and filter.
  • Transaction processing. Data entry forms for day-to-day operations the system automates.
  • Reports. Formatted printable output summarizing activity per day, user, or category.
  • User management. Login with role-based permissions (Admin, Encoder, Viewer).
  • Backup and restore. Export database to a .sql file and restore when needed.

Common enhancements for capstone review

  • Modernize the UI. Add Bootstrap 5 or Tailwind CSS for a polished appearance.
  • Add printable receipts. Use TCPDF or FPDF to generate PDF reports.
  • Multi-user concurrency. Ensure database handles simultaneous writes without lost-update errors.
  • Rewrite in Laravel. Migrate to Laravel for maintainability and modern development patterns.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this PHP quiz or online examination system work?

Admin creates quizzes (title, time limit, pass mark), questions (multiple choice, true/false), correct answers. Students log in, attempt quiz with countdown timer (JavaScript), submit answers, system auto-grades.

What PHP and MySQL versions does this project require?

Most projects in this batch run on PHP 7.4 to PHP 8.2 with MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10+. A few older projects need PHP 5.6 (deprecated, use XAMPP 7.x). To run: install XAMPP / WAMP / Laragon, extract project to htdocs, import the included .sql file via phpMyAdmin, edit the connection file (usually config.php or db_connect.php) with your DB credentials, browse to the project URL in your browser.

How do I set up the database for this PHP project?

Open phpMyAdmin (http://localhost/phpmyadmin/ on XAMPP), create a new empty database with the name specified in the project’s config.php. Click the Import tab, choose the included .sql file, click Go. Then edit config.php (or includes/connection.php) with: ‘localhost’, your MySQL username (usually ‘root’), your MySQL password (usually blank for XAMPP), and the database name.

Can I use this PHP project for a BSIT capstone or thesis?

Yes, but extend it. A bare CRUD app is too narrow for full capstone scope. Add: user roles via session checks, reports/dashboards (Chart.js + AJAX), PDF exports (TCPDF library), email notifications (PHPMailer), real domain extension (analytics, audit log, multi-branch support). Pair with Chapter 1-5 documentation matching your panel’s rubric.

Why am I getting ‘connection error’ or ‘undefined function mysqli_connect’?

Three common PHP issues: (1) Connection error: Apache + MySQL services not running in XAMPP control panel, OR database name in config.php does not match what you created in phpMyAdmin. (2) ‘undefined function mysqli_connect’: MySQL extension not enabled, in php.ini uncomment extension=mysqli (then restart Apache). (3) ‘No such file or directory’: MySQL socket path wrong, use 127.0.0.1 instead of localhost in the connection string.

Where can I find more PHP projects with source code?

Browse the PHP Projects hub for the full library (300+ vanilla PHP systems). For modern PHP MVC alternatives see Laravel Projects (74 systems) or CodeIgniter Projects (32 systems). For BSIT-focused capstone idea lists see 150 Best Capstone Project Ideas.

Related PHP Projects

Inquiries

If you have any questions or suggestions about this online examination in PHP project, please leave a comment below.

Angel Jude Suarez


Full-Stack Developer at PIES IT Solution

Focuses on Python development, machine learning, and AI integration. Has built production AI systems including OpenAI Whisper integration for medical transcription and GPT-4o-powered diagnosis assistance. Strong background in pandas, scikit-learn, and TensorFlow.

Expertise: Python · PHP · Java · VB.NET · ASP.NET · Machine Learning · AI Integration · OpenCV · Django · CodeIgniter
 · View all posts by Angel Jude Suarez →

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