---
sourceDocument: Australia Governance, Risk, and Compliance
sourceDocumentLink: https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/r/governance-risk-compliance

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    - australia

ft:locale :

    - en-US

ft:publication_title :

    - Australia Governance, Risk, and Compliance

ft:clusterId :

    - grc

bundleId :

    - grc

workflow :

    - Technology


---

# Add instructions and questions to an assessment template

# Add instructions and questions to an assessment template {#ariaid-title1}

* Release version: Australia
* 
* Updated March 12, 2026
* 
* ![](https://www.servicenow.com/docs/portal-asset/ico-clock) 3 minutes to read

Add instructions and questions to an assessment template by using the Smart Assessment Engine application. You can use instructions and questions to help gather precise and relevant information from designated responders.

## Before you begin

Role required: sn_smart_asmt.template_manager or sn_smart_asmt.assessment_admin

## About this task

## Procedure

1. Open an assessment template for updates by either going to the landing page or when you create a template and save it.

   | Option | Description |
   | Existing template | On the Assessment Workspace landing page, select an existing template. |
   | New template | When you have created a template and select Save, the template opens on the General tab. |
   |-|-|

   {#sae-asmnt-template-populate__choicetable_lml_jwt_dcc}  
   The Details page on the General tab displays the information that you provided to create the template.
2. Select the Settings page and then fill in the values.  
   {#sae-asmnt-template-populate__table_krg_p53_2yb__entry__2}

   | Field | Description |
   |-|-|
   | Duration | Default time period in days between when the assessment is sent and when the responders are expected to return a completed assessment. This setting is used to calculate the Due date value for assessments that are generated from this template. |
   | Assessment reader role | Role that is required to view an assessment that is generated from this template. |
   [Table 1. Settings page]

   {#sae-asmnt-template-populate__table_krg_p53_2yb}
3. Add instructions to the assessment.
   1. On the Questions tab, select Add instructions.
   2. Enter the information that a responder might find useful in the Instructions text box.  
      This information could include the purpose of the assessment, the ways that the responses are used or analyzed, and so on.
   3. Select Save.
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4. Add a section that can hold questions by selecting Add section.  
   The sections organize the questions into manageable groups. For example, an assessor who is knowledgeable about a subject can answer all questions in one section and an assessor with a different area of expertise can respond to questions in another section. The sections can contain either the subsections or questions, but not both. The subsections can only contain questions but no other subsections.  
   Note:  
   At any time, you can select a section in the list and then select Delete to delete that section.
5. Enter a name and description for the section and then select Save.
6. Select a section in the list and then select Add question.  
   For each question type, you configure the following settings:

   A: Enter the text of the question
   :   Enter the question text that the assessor reads.

   B: Add additional content (optional)
   :   Add a plain text description that appears after the question and Guidance text that could contain HTML or images by selecting Question description. You can provide descriptive text
       that appears in addition to the question text and provide guidance on how best to answer the question.

   C: Specify the question type and set the attributes for the type

   :   Configure any one of several question types (check box, text, date, and so on).

       You can customize each type of question with attributes like whether a response is required or visible only when specified conditions are met, whether particular responses are correct or preferred, whether a justification is required, and so on.  
       Note:  
       The option to have one or multiple records selected as answers to one question is available only for the drop-down list, check box, and reference question types.

   D: Specify possible responses
   :   Configure a specified set of possible responses to some question types.

   For more information on configuring a question, see one of the following topics.  
   {#sae-asmnt-template-populate__table_ebw_fzt_dcc__entry__2}

   | Description | Location |
   |-|-|
   | Create and configure text type questions. | [Create a text question](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/bUwRJqgHUMImrgUtZid2AQ "Enable the assessors to respond to a question by using simple text in an assessment. Specify any of several attributes to qualify the question, for example, whether a response is required or an attachment is requested as part of your assessment template by using the Smart Assessment Engine application.") |
   | Create and configure drop-down list type questions. | [Create a drop-down list question](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/sMBO5FC3p~NmiUL~_oyqcA "Enable the assessors to respond to a drop-down list question by making one or more selections from a list. Specify any of several attributes to qualify the question, for example, whether a response is required or an attachment is requested as part of your assessment template by using the Smart Assessment Engine application.") |
   | Create and configure radio button type questions. | [Create a radio button question](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/QeOOMrz5TEj0iEkzMYW3Hw "Enable the assessors to respond to a radio button question by making a selection from a limited list of options. Only one selection is allowed for this question type. Specify any of several attributes to qualify the question, for example, whether a response is required or an attachment is requested as part of your assessment template by using the Smart Assessment Engine application.") |
   | Create and configure check box type questions. | [Create a check box question](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/_EA4oiuEQohZxeQxDNzvNw "Enable the assessors to respond to a check box question by selecting one or more options in a specified list of options. Specify any of several attributes to qualify the question, for example, whether a response is required or an attachment is requested as part of your assessment template by using the Smart Assessment Engine application.") |
   | Create and configure number type questions. | [Create a number question](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/6DJNG92rePeXgSv7C0dLhw "Enable the assessors to respond to a number question with a numerical value. Specify any of several attributes to qualify the question, for example, whether a response is required or an attachment is requested as part of your assessment template by using the Smart Assessment Engine application.") |
   | Create and configure reference type questions. | [Create a reference question](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/IroUmX8XFNagFlkKXvj7ug "Enable the assessors to respond to a reference question by selecting an item from a list. The list is generated dynamically from the data in the table that you specify. Specify any of several attributes to qualify the question, for example, whether a response is required or an attachment is requested as part of your assessment template by using the Smart Assessment Engine application.") |
   | Create and configure attachment type questions. | [Create an attachment question](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/GkGBxnYVL2kmOD5RPjXPmw "Enable the assessors to respond to an attachment question by adding one or more files as a response. Specify any of several attributes to qualify the question, for example, whether a response is required or an attachment is requested as part of your assessment template by using the Smart Assessment Engine application.") |
   | Create and configure date type questions. | [Create a date question](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/RGzxK1cfJjsTvGzKQ4fTaQ "Enable the assessors to respond to a date question by specifying a date or a date and time. Specify any of several attributes to qualify the question, for example, whether a response is required or an attachment is requested as part of your assessment template by using the Smart Assessment Engine application.") |
   | Create and configure code type questions. | [Create a code question](https://servicenow-prod.fluidtopics.net/ei5cwZRIx7J5aWW_bwmpGA "Enable the assessors to respond to a question by using entering a barcode number or scanning a QR code in an assessment.") |
   [ ]

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