Choosing assessment software is not just a matter of finding a tool that can publish quizzes. For certification bodies, universities, government agencies, and workforce testing teams, the platform must support secure delivery, defensible scoring, item banking, reporting, and long-term test maintenance. FastTest is one of the more established platforms in this category, aimed at organizations that take measurement quality seriously.
TL;DR: FastTest is best suited for organizations that need a structured assessment platform with item banking, test assembly, online delivery, and psychometric support rather than a simple quiz maker. For example, a certification program managing 2,000 items across 12 exam forms would likely benefit more from FastTest than from a basic survey-style testing tool. Pricing is typically quote-based, so teams should expect a sales conversation rather than instant self-service plans. Strong alternatives include Questionmark, TAO, ExamSoft, ClassMarker, TestGorilla, and Mercer Mettl, depending on budget and use case.
FastTest Overview
FastTest is an assessment management and test delivery platform developed by Assessment Systems Corporation. It is commonly associated with professional testing, credentialing, education, and workforce assessment. The platform focuses on the full assessment lifecycle: creating items, managing item banks, assembling test forms, delivering exams, analyzing results, and maintaining test quality over time.
Unlike lightweight quiz tools, FastTest is designed for teams that need more control over test structure and validity. This makes it relevant for organizations where assessment outcomes carry real consequences, such as certification decisions, academic placement, employee qualification, or compliance testing.
Key FastTest Features
1. Item Banking and Test Authoring
FastTest provides item banking features that allow teams to create, categorize, review, and manage exam questions in a centralized system. This is important for organizations that maintain large pools of items and need to track metadata such as topic area, difficulty level, cognitive domain, author, status, or performance statistics.
The platform supports structured test development processes, including item writing and review workflows. For testing programs that use multiple subject matter experts, this can help reduce version confusion and improve consistency.
2. Test Assembly
FastTest allows users to assemble exam forms from item banks using defined rules and blueprints. This is useful when an organization must ensure that each form contains the right balance of topics, difficulty levels, or competencies.
For example, a medical certification exam may require 30% clinical diagnosis, 25% treatment planning, 20% ethics, and 25% case interpretation. A platform like FastTest can help test developers build forms that align with those requirements more systematically.
3. Online Test Delivery
The system supports web-based test delivery, giving organizations a way to administer assessments online. Depending on configuration and integration choices, this may include timed testing, candidate management, scoring rules, and access control.
Organizations should confirm delivery requirements directly with the vendor, especially if they need high-stakes remote proctoring, lockdown browser support, accessibility accommodations, offline testing, or integration with a specific learning management system.
4. Psychometric and Reporting Capabilities
One of FastTest’s strengths is its orientation toward measurement quality. The platform is associated with psychometric testing practices, including analysis of item performance and exam results. This can help teams identify weak questions, detect unusual performance patterns, and improve future test forms.
For serious assessment programs, reporting is not only about seeing who passed. It is also about answering questions such as: Which items were too easy? Which topics caused the most difficulty? Did the test form perform consistently? These insights are essential when assessments must be fair, reliable, and defensible.
5. Security and Administrative Controls
FastTest includes administrative tools intended to control who can create, edit, approve, and publish assessment content. For organizations with multiple stakeholders, permissions and workflow controls are critical. They reduce the risk of unauthorized edits, accidental publication, or inconsistent exam versions.
FastTest Pricing
FastTest does not typically present simple public pricing in the way that many entry-level quiz platforms do. Pricing is generally expected to be custom and quote-based, depending on factors such as number of users, number of candidates, delivery volume, support requirements, implementation needs, and specific modules or services.
This pricing model is common in enterprise assessment software, but it also means buyers should prepare a clear requirements document before requesting a quote. Important questions include:
- How many exams will be delivered per year?
- How many item writers and administrators need access?
- Is the program low-stakes, medium-stakes, or high-stakes?
- Are proctoring, integrations, or migration services required?
- Is psychometric consulting or technical support needed?
In practical terms, FastTest is unlikely to be the cheapest option for a small business that only needs occasional employee quizzes. However, for organizations managing formal testing programs, the cost may be justified by stronger item management, reporting, and assessment governance.
FastTest Pros and Cons
Pros
- Comprehensive assessment lifecycle: Supports authoring, item banking, form assembly, delivery, and analysis.
- Suitable for serious testing programs: Better aligned with certification, education, and professional assessment than casual quizzes.
- Strong item management: Useful for maintaining large and complex question banks.
- Psychometric orientation: Helps organizations focus on reliability, validity, and item performance.
- Administrative controls: Supports structured workflows and role-based management.
Cons
- Limited public pricing: Buyers must request a quote, making quick budget comparison harder.
- Potential learning curve: Advanced assessment tools usually require training and process maturity.
- May be excessive for simple needs: Small teams looking for basic quizzes may find it more than they require.
- Vendor evaluation required: Specific proctoring, integration, accessibility, and deployment needs should be confirmed before purchase.
Best FastTest Alternatives
1. Questionmark
Questionmark is a strong alternative for enterprise and certification testing. It offers secure assessment delivery, reporting, item banking, and proctoring options. It is often considered by organizations that need a mature platform for corporate compliance, credentialing, or educational testing.
2. TAO Testing
TAO is an open-source assessment platform widely used in education and large-scale testing. It is a good fit for organizations that value standards-based assessment technology and customization. However, implementation may require stronger technical resources than simpler commercial tools.
3. ExamSoft
ExamSoft is popular in higher education, especially in law, medical, nursing, and professional schools. It is known for secure exam delivery, offline testing capabilities, and detailed performance reporting. Institutions needing rigorous exam security may find it worth evaluating.
4. ClassMarker
ClassMarker is a practical option for businesses, trainers, and schools that need online tests without the complexity of enterprise assessment systems. It supports question banks, certificates, branding, and automated grading. It is generally easier to adopt than platforms built for formal psychometrics.
5. TestGorilla
TestGorilla is focused on pre-employment testing. It is not a direct replacement for certification exam management, but it is a strong alternative for HR teams that need skills assessments, cognitive ability tests, and role-based candidate screening.
6. Mercer Mettl
Mercer Mettl offers online assessments, remote proctoring, coding tests, psychometric tests, and hiring assessments. It is a broad platform suitable for enterprises, universities, and recruitment teams that need scalable online evaluation with security features.
Who Should Use FastTest?
FastTest is best for organizations that treat assessment as a formal program rather than an occasional administrative task. It is especially relevant for certification providers, licensing bodies, universities, testing companies, and organizations with large reusable item banks.
A good-fit customer might be a credentialing body that delivers several exam forms per year, uses subject matter experts to write and review items, and needs evidence that its exams are statistically sound. In that context, FastTest’s structure can support better governance and quality control.
On the other hand, a small training company that delivers ten-question knowledge checks after webinars may not need FastTest’s depth. A simpler and more affordable tool could be more efficient.
Final Verdict
FastTest is a serious assessment platform built for organizations that need more than basic online quizzes. Its strengths are item banking, test assembly, administrative control, and support for measurement-focused assessment workflows. The main drawbacks are the lack of transparent public pricing and the likelihood of a more involved implementation process.
If your organization needs secure, defensible, and well-managed assessments, FastTest deserves consideration. If your priority is low-cost quiz creation, fast setup, or recruitment screening, one of the alternatives may be a better fit. The most reliable approach is to compare platforms using a requirements checklist, request demos, and evaluate each option against real assessment scenarios before making a final decision.