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

# Assessments

> How to start, resume, and complete security assessments

An assessment is a structured pass through all categories and questions in a compliance framework. Your answers are saved automatically, and Ayliea calculates a weighted score when you finish every category.

## Starting a New Assessment

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Assess tab">
    Tap the **Assess** icon in the bottom navigation bar. The framework picker loads automatically.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select a framework">
    Each framework card shows the framework name, a brief description, category count, and total question count. Tap the card for the framework you want to assess against.

    <Note>
      Free tier accounts can access the **AI Security** framework only. All other frameworks require an Organization tier subscription. See [Frameworks Overview](/frameworks/overview) for a comparison.
    </Note>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose a category to begin">
    After selecting a framework, the category list loads. Tap any category to start answering its questions. You do not need to complete categories in order.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Question Categories

Each framework divides its control set into named domains called categories. Categories map to the compliance domain structure defined by the framework — for example, CIS Controls v8.1 groups questions by individual CIS Controls (Control 1: Inventory of Enterprise Assets, Control 2: Inventory and Control of Software Assets, and so on), while NIST CSF 2.0 organizes questions by its six core Functions (Govern, Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, Recover).

Each category card on the Assess tab shows:

* The category name and icon
* Total number of questions in the category
* A completion badge once all questions are answered

## Answering Questions

Questions are presented one at a time within a category. A progress bar and question navigator at the top of the screen show your position within the category and let you jump to any question directly.

Ayliea uses four question types depending on the control being evaluated. For full detail on how each type works and how points are awarded, see [Your First Assessment](/getting-started/your-first-assessment).

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Yes / No">
    A binary compliance check — full points for Yes, zero for No.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Multiple Choice">
    Select the one option that best describes your implementation maturity. Each option carries a different point value.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Checklist">
    Select all applicable sub-controls. Partial credit is awarded proportionally based on how many items are checked.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Scale">
    Rate your maturity on a 1–5 scale. Higher values represent more documented, tested, and continuously monitored practices.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

Every question has an optional **Notes** field for recording evidence references, ticket numbers, or implementation caveats.

## Progress Tracking

Progress is tracked at two levels:

**Category level** — the category list displays a completion badge on each category you have fully answered. A progress count (e.g., *12 / 18 answered*) appears on in-progress categories.

**Framework level** — the Assess tab header shows the total number of questions answered across all categories in the selected framework.

Both progress indicators update in real time as you answer questions.

## Resuming In-Progress Assessments

Answers save automatically each time you select a response. If you close the app or navigate away mid-category, your progress is preserved. When you return to the Assess tab and select the same framework, the category list reflects your saved answers and you can continue from where you left off.

<Tip>
  There is no explicit "save" button — every answer is written to the database as soon as you select it. You will never lose progress from closing the app unexpectedly.
</Tip>

## Multi-Framework Support

You can run independent assessments against different frameworks. Each framework maintains its own assessment record, its own set of answers, and its own score. Switching frameworks in the Assess tab loads that framework's assessment state without affecting others.

This lets you, for example, complete a CIS Controls v8.1 assessment for a baseline posture score and then run a HIPAA assessment to evaluate regulatory readiness — both scores coexist on the Dashboard and in the Results screen.

<Note>
  Starting a new assessment for a framework where you already have a completed assessment will create a fresh record. Your prior completed assessment and its score remain accessible in your assessment history.
</Note>