> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mergeoa.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to create and configure an assessment on Merge

> Step-by-step guide to creating a Merge assessment from the dashboard, selecting a codebase template, and configuring the session parameters.

Creating an assessment in Merge takes only a few minutes. You define the parameters — difficulty, specialization, and language surface — and Merge selects appropriate codebase content and pull request material to match. Once saved, the assessment is ready to use across as many candidates as you need.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Assessments Dashboard">
    Navigate to **Assessments** in the main navigation and click **New Assessment**. You'll be taken to the assessment creation form.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name Your Assessment">
    Give the assessment a descriptive name — for example, `Senior Backend Engineer — Q3 2025` — so your team can identify it quickly in the dashboard. Names are visible only to your hiring team, not to candidates.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the Difficulty">
    Choose from the following levels: **Intern**, **New Graduate**, **Junior**, **Mid-level**, **Senior**, **Staff**, or **Principal**. This calibrates the codebase complexity and the expected depth of review. A Senior assessment surfaces subtler issues and longer iteration cycles than a Junior one.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a Specialization">
    Select the engineering domain most relevant to the role. Options include **Frontend**, **Backend**, **Infrastructure**, **Networking**, **Core Database**, **Performance**, **Distributed Systems**, **Data Pipelines**, **Security**, **Platform**, **Systems**, and **APIs**. The codebase and PR content Merge selects will reflect the domain you choose.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Set the Language Surface">
    Decide which programming languages should appear in the assessment. You can restrict the codebase to one or two specific languages for depth, or allow a broader mix when hiring for generalist roles. This setting signals clear expectations to candidates before they start.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and Save">
    Review your configuration on the summary screen. Confirm the name, difficulty, specialization, and language surface are correct, then click **Save Assessment**. The assessment is now ready for candidates to be invited.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  You can create multiple assessment configurations for different roles and reuse them across hiring cycles. For example, maintain a `Mid-level Backend — Python` configuration alongside a `Senior Infrastructure — Terraform` one and invite candidates to whichever fits the open role.
</Tip>

<Note>
  Assessment content — the actual pull requests and codebase — is managed by Merge. You configure the parameters; Merge selects appropriate material that matches your difficulty, specialization, and language choices. You do not need to provide or upload code.
</Note>

Once your assessment is saved, the next step is inviting candidates. For advanced configuration options — including how difficulty levels are calibrated and how specializations differ — see the [Customization](/assessments/customization) guide.