iSmartExams is one of Lacspace's own products. Between September and October 2026 the team rebuilt it end to end: a new brand, a cleaner app, a learner portal, paid exams on two payment systems, verified certificates and a fairer exam engine. This is how the pieces fit together.
The stack
| Layer | What we used | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile app | Expo / React Native, one codebase for Android and iPhone | Over-the-air updates ship fixes without waiting on store review |
| API | Node.js / Express with MongoDB | Flexible exam, attempt and certificate documents |
| Website and portal | Next.js on Vercel | Fast pages, live catalogue straight from the API |
| Payments | Lacspace Payments (eSewa) on Android and web; Apple StoreKit 2 on iPhone | Each platform pays the way its users expect |
| Lacspace mail relay | OTPs and receipts without managing mail credentials per product | |
| Notifications | Expo push in the app, Web Push (VAPID) in the browser | Reminders and certificate alerts on every surface |
| Certificates | PDF and QR rendered on the server | One source of truth that the verify page reads |
Scoring on the server
The biggest engineering change was moving every score to the server. The app sends answers; the API marks them, shuffles options per attempt, stores the remaining time so an attempt can resume, and releases answer keys only after submission. This made certificates possible: a certificate is only worth sharing if the score behind it cannot be edited on a phone.
Payments on two rails
Premium exams are priced per exam, from Rs. 10 up to Rs. 1,000+. On Android and the web, iSmartExams uses Lacspace Payments, the shared payment layer Lacspace built over eSewa. The product never holds the eSewa merchant secret: its server asks Lacspace Payments for a signed checkout, the learner pays on eSewa, Lacspace verifies the signed response and the amount, then sends iSmartExams a signed webhook to unlock the exam. The same layer handles idempotency, so an order can never be charged twice. On iPhone, purchases use Apple StoreKit 2 with receipts verified on the server, as the App Store requires.
Email without credentials
Verification codes come from hello@lacspace.com and receipts from payments@lacspace.com through the Lacspace mail relay. The relay authenticates with the product's key and enforces which sender addresses each product may use, so no SMTP passwords live on product servers.
Certificates and verification
When a learner passes, the API renders a certificate PDF with an eight-character code and a QR code. verify.ismartexams.com reads the same record, showing name, exam, grade, date and a valid or revoked status. Certificate notifications carry the rendered card as the push image.
The portal's DataView
The learner portal includes a reusable DataView: any list can switch between table, cards, list, kanban, analytics, timeline and calendar, with more than 20 filters, saved views and CSV export. The same component powers exams, results and purchases.
Shipping fast, safely
Over-the-air updates let the team fix and improve the app daily, while native changes such as in-app purchase go through store releases. A security pass added input sanitising, rate limits and privacy fixes, and app version 1.1.0 trimmed permissions to only what is used and added in-app account deletion.
Build something similar
Lacspace builds apps, portals and payment-ready platforms for founders and organisations. If you are planning an EdTech or exam product, talk to the Lacspace team.
Keep reading: iSmartExams: what’s new in October 2026 · Fairer exam mode · Verified certificates with a QR code · iSmartExams on Lacspace
iSmartExams is an independent practice platform built by Lacspace. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Japan Foundation or JLPT/JFT organisers, IDP, British Council, Pearson, Duolingo, Goethe-Institut, France Éducation international, Chinese testing authorities, the Public Service Commission (Lok Sewa) or any exam board. Exam names are used only to describe what the practice is for. iSmartExams certificates recognise practice achievement on the platform; they are not official language certificates or accredited qualifications. Content figures are as of October 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Who built iSmartExams?
Lacspace designed and built iSmartExams as one of its own products.
How does iSmartExams take payments?
Through Lacspace Payments (eSewa) on Android and the web, and through Apple’s App Store on iPhone.
What technology does the app use?
Expo / React Native for the app, Node.js / Express with MongoDB for the API, and Next.js on Vercel for the website and portal.
Can Lacspace build a similar platform for us?
Yes. Lacspace builds custom apps, portals and payment integrations. Book a call through lacspace.com.
