Someone told you to “just use a WordPress plugin” to run your online tests, and you nodded without understanding a word. This page is for you.
WordPress in one sentence
WordPress is free software that lets you build and manage a website without writing code. It runs a very large share of the websites on the internet, from small blogs to online schools.
Two versions, and the one you want
| WordPress.org (self-hosted) | WordPress.com (hosted) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs it | You, on your own hosting | WordPress.com runs it for you |
| Cost | Software is free; you pay for hosting and a domain | Plans with feature limits |
| Plugins | Install any plugin | Plugin installs only on higher plans |
| For exams and courses | Best choice | Limited |
For an exam or course site, use self-hosted WordPress.org. Every guide on this site assumes it.
The building blocks, with a shop analogy
Think of your website as a shop.
- Domain name is the shop’s address, such as yourcoaching.com.
- Hosting is the building and land. It is a computer that is always on, storing your site and your students’ data. You rent it.
- WordPress is the shop’s structure and billing counter: pages, user accounts, logins and a dashboard to manage them.
- A theme is the interior design. Colours, fonts, layout. Change it any time.
- A plugin is a department you add. WordPress alone shows pages and articles. An exam plugin adds a test-taking department: questions, timers, negative marking and results.
So WordPress + Turgor Exam Engine means a website that can run timed, competitive-exam style tests and courses.
What is a plugin, exactly?
A plugin is a package of code you install from the dashboard in two clicks (Plugins → Add New). You can switch it on, off, or delete it. Good habits:
- Install only what you will use. Fewer plugins means a faster, safer site.
- Check that a plugin is maintained and states which WordPress and PHP versions it works with. Turgor Exam Engine needs WordPress 6.7+ and PHP 8.1+.
- Keep plugins updated.
What is an LMS?
LMS means Learning Management System. It organises courses, lessons, quizzes, student progress and results. WordPress is not an LMS by itself. An LMS plugin makes it one. Turgor Exam Engine is an LMS plugin built around exams and mock tests, with a full course builder around them.
Your two workspaces
- The dashboard at
yourdomain.com/wp-admin. This is where you create exams and courses. - The public site. This is what students see.
Day to day you will do four things: add a page, install a plugin, create a quiz or lesson, and check results.
What is a shortcode?
A shortcode is a small tag in square brackets that you paste into a page to show a feature. Write [turgee_quizzes] on a page and it displays a grid of your mock tests. You never need to understand how it works. Just paste it. All of them are listed in the setup tutorial.
Is WordPress safe for exams?
Yes, when you follow ordinary hygiene: a strong admin password, https, regular updates, backups, and plugins from sources you trust. Turgor Exam Engine keeps student data in your own database and makes no requests to external servers.
Mini glossary
- Dashboard / admin: your site’s back office.
- Page vs post: a page is permanent (Home, Courses). A post is a dated article, like this one.
- Theme: the visual design.
- Plugin: an add-on feature.
- SSL / https: encryption, shown as the padlock.
- PHP: the language WordPress runs on. Your host sets the version.
- Backup: a saved copy of your site you can restore.
Ready to build?
Follow the full path in How to create an online exam, quiz or course website, then pick a host with the hosting guide.