Setting up and running a rank test
How to schedule a rank test, register candidates, run the test day, and record results.
Updated June 4, 2026
For schools that run formal exams before promotion, rank tests are the structured way to do it. Tests have a date, candidates, a passing standard, and results that flow into the promotion system.
Setting up a test
Go to /rank-tests and click New rank test.
- Name. Something descriptive like "Winter 2026 Belt Test" or "Q2 Level Up".
- Date and time.
- Location.
- What ranks are testing. A test usually covers multiple ranks (Yellow Belts testing for Orange, Orange testing for Green, and so on).
- Test fee. Most schools charge for testing, often 30 to 75 dollars per candidate.
Who can sign up
You have three options for who can register:
- Instructor-nominated only. Instructors select students who are ready, and the family is invited to confirm.
- Family self-register, instructor approval. Family signs up. An instructor approves before the candidate is locked in.
- Open registration. Anyone at the right rank can sign up directly.
Most schools use instructor-nominated for younger ranks and self-register for higher ranks.
Candidate prep
After candidates are confirmed, Rosterra sends them a prep packet email:
- What they will be tested on.
- What to wear.
- What to bring.
- When to arrive.
You write this packet once per rank ladder; it goes out automatically for every test.
Test day
Open the test from /rank-tests and tap Start test. You will see the candidate list grouped by rank, with their photo and the criteria they are testing on.
For each candidate:
- Tap their tile.
- Mark each criterion (forms, sparring, kicks, breaking, attitude) as Pass, Partial, or Fail.
- Add a written note if useful.
- Mark overall result: Pass, Stripe Awarded, or Test Again.
After the test
Results are saved instantly. For every candidate who passed:
- A promotion request is auto-filed for head-instructor approval.
- Their certificate is generated.
- The family is notified by email and push.
For candidates who did not pass, they get a note from the head instructor with what to work on. Most schools waive the retest fee.
Reporting
Test history is on /reports/rank-tests. You can see pass rates by rank, by year, and by instructor (useful for spotting where curriculum gaps live).