Online Tool Store
Exam Seating Plan Generator
Generate an exam seating plan that separates named pairs and same-class candidates, marks absentees, and saves the setup as a JSON file for reuse.
🔒 This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to a server.
Education
Exam Seating Plan Generator
Row letter + column number, comma separated. Row 2, seat 3 is B3 — the chart below shows every label once generated.
Save the room, roster and rules as a file so the next exam can reload the same setup.
Add a class after a comma to enable the same-class rule above — e.g. "Perera, 10A". The class is optional and only used for that rule.
One pair per line (or separated by ;). Names must match the candidate list exactly.
One name per line. Excluded from this plan only — the roster above is left untouched for next time.
Room chart
Candidate list
How the Exam Seating Plan Generator works
- Enter the room layout as columns and rows, and list any broken or out-of-bounds seats to exclude.
- Paste the candidate register, one name per line - add a class after a comma (e.g. "Perera, 10A") if you want the same-class rule below to apply.
- List any named pairs that must sit apart, and mark anyone absent on the day without editing the main roster.
- Leave checkerboard spacing on to keep the seat beside, in front of and behind every candidate empty, and leave the same-class rule on to mix classes across the room, or turn either off.
- Press Generate plan - candidates are placed so that every listed pair and every same-class group ends up outside each other's surrounding seats, chosen at random so the arrangement isn't alphabetical.
- Print the room chart for invigilators, or copy or download the alphabetical candidate list for the door - or save the whole setup as a settings file to reload for the next exam.
FAQ
How far apart should candidates sit?
Follow your exam board's requirement, which is usually a stated minimum distance rather than a seat count. Where capacity allows, leaving alternate seats empty is the simplest way to satisfy most rules.
Why produce two versions of the plan?
Because invigilators need the room chart to find a candidate quickly, and candidates need an alphabetical list to find their seat. One document serving both slows the start of the exam.
Should the plan be random?
Randomised within the constraints, yes - an alphabetical seating order puts friends and relatives next to each other, which is the arrangement seating plans exist to avoid.
Can I export the seating plan to PDF or Excel?
Not directly, but both are one step away. Print opens your browser's print dialog, where "Save as PDF" turns the room chart into a PDF, and the candidate list downloads as a CSV file, which Excel and Google Sheets both open natively.
What if a candidate is absent on exam day?
Add their name to the "Mark absent" field and press Generate plan again - the roster itself stays untouched, so you don't need to retype anyone for the next exam.
Can it keep whole classes apart, not just named pairs?
Yes - add a class after each candidate's name (e.g. "Perera, 10A") and turn on the same-class rule, and no two candidates who share a class will be seated next to each other, on top of any named pairs you list.
Can I reuse the same room and rules for the next exam?
Yes - "Save settings" downloads the room, roster, rules and absentee list as a JSON file, and "Load settings" reads one back in, so a recurring exam setup doesn't need retyping.
How we compare
| Feature | Online Tool Store | Roster + class-rule tools (e.g. SeriesNexa) | Seat-layout template tools (e.g. AcademixPoint) | Excel-upload tools (e.g. shaileshchaure.com) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keeps specific named candidates apart, not just whole classes | ✓ | Class-level only | ✗ | Not offered |
| Checkerboard spacing between every candidate | ✓ | Not offered | Not offered | Not offered |
| Paste your candidate list - no spreadsheet upload required | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Free CSV download of the candidate list | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | Not shown pre-upload |
| Same-class rule and named-pair rule together, not one or the other | ✓ | Class-level rule only | Manual dragging only | Not shown pre-upload |
| Mark candidates absent without editing the saved roster | ✓ | ✓ | Not offered | Not offered |
| Save the room, roster and rules as a settings file to reload later | ✓ | ✓ | Not offered | Sample Excel templates only |
Exam Seating Plan Generator produces both the room chart and the alphabetical list from one input, because one document cannot serve invigilators and arriving candidates at once.