diff --git a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/api/exam-api.ts b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/api/exam-api.ts
index d313a38ac..4dbe8f713 100644
--- a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/api/exam-api.ts
+++ b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/api/exam-api.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import type {
   CreateIncidentPayload,
   ResolveIncidentPayload,
   RegradeOutcome,
+  GradingSheet,
 } from '../types/exam';
 
 const examApi = baseApi.injectEndpoints({
@@ -101,6 +102,15 @@ const examApi = baseApi.injectEndpoints({
       }),
       invalidatesTags: ['Api'],
     }),
+    /** The candidate's answers plus auto-computable CHOICE scores, for RecordResultModal. */
+    getGradingSheet: builder.query<
+      GradingSheet,
+      { examId: string; profileId: string }
+    >({
+      query: ({ examId, profileId }) =>
+        `/exam-attempts/exam/${examId}/candidate/${profileId}/grading-sheet`,
+      providesTags: ['Api'],
+    }),
   }),
   overrideExisting: false,
 });
@@ -119,4 +129,5 @@ export const {
   useRecordIncidentMutation,
   useResolveIncidentMutation,
   useRegradeAttemptMutation,
+  useGetGradingSheetQuery,
 } = examApi;
diff --git a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/pages/ExamDetailPage.tsx b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/pages/ExamDetailPage.tsx
index a17673197..ff8759458 100644
--- a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/pages/ExamDetailPage.tsx
+++ b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/pages/ExamDetailPage.tsx
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import {
   TextInput,
   ThemeIcon,
   Box,
+  Tooltip,
   rem,
 } from "@mantine/core";
 import { useDisclosure } from "@mantine/hooks";
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@ import {
   useUpdateExamMutation,
   useAssignQuestionsMutation,
   useSelectRandomQuestionsMutation,
+  useGetExamRegistrationsQuery,
 } from '../api/exam-api';
 import { useGetQuestionsQuery } from '../../question/api/question-api';
 import { useGetCertificationsQuery } from '../../certification/api/certification-api';
@@ -114,6 +116,12 @@ export function ExamDetailPage() {
   const [selectRandom, { isLoading: isDrawing }] = useSelectRandomQuestionsMutation();
 
   const { data: exam, isLoading, isError } = useGetExamQuery(id ?? '', { skip: !id });
+  // The backend locks the paper the moment the first candidate registers
+  // (ExamService.assertPaperEditable) — every candidate must sit the same
+  // paper. Same query ExamCandidatesPanel already runs, so RTK Query serves
+  // it from cache rather than issuing a second request.
+  const { data: registrations } = useGetExamRegistrationsQuery(id ?? '', { skip: !id });
+  const paperLocked = (registrations?.length ?? 0) > 0;
   const { data: qRes } = useGetQuestionsQuery();
   const { data: certRes } = useGetCertificationsQuery();
   const allQuestions = qRes?.items ?? [];
@@ -122,10 +130,14 @@ export function ExamDetailPage() {
   // Only approved bank items may go on a paper (US-EXAM-003), so the picker
   // must not offer drafts or retired questions either.
   //
-  // BOTH describes a mixed paper — a question itself is never "BOTH" (see
+  // Filters on exam.form alone, not administrationMethod: the backend no
+  // longer restricts ONLINE to CHOICE (ExamService no longer has an
+  // assertOnlineIsChoiceOnly gate), so exam.form is now the sole source of
+  // truth for what belongs on the paper, ONLINE or OFFLINE alike. BOTH
+  // describes a mixed paper — a question itself is never "BOTH" (see
   // QuestionForm), so an equality check against it would match nothing and
-  // silently offer zero questions. Same skip-condition as the backend's own
-  // random draw (ExamService.selectRandomQuestions).
+  // silently offer zero questions; skipped the same way the backend's own
+  // random draw does (ExamService.selectRandomQuestions).
   const eligibleQuestions = useMemo(() => {
     if (!exam) return [];
     return allQuestions
@@ -179,7 +191,9 @@ export function ExamDetailPage() {
     } catch (error) {
       const key = extractErrorMessage(error, t('exam.randomError'));
       notify.error(
-        key.startsWith('insufficient_approved_questions')
+        key === 'paper_locked_after_registration'
+          ? t('exam.paperLockedHint', { count: registrations?.length ?? 0 })
+          : key.startsWith('insufficient_approved_questions')
           ? `${t('exam.notEnoughApproved')} (${key.split(':')[1] ?? ''})`
           : key.startsWith('paper_cannot_reach_cutting_point')
             ? t('exam.cannotReachCuttingPoint', {
@@ -200,7 +214,9 @@ export function ExamDetailPage() {
     } catch (error) {
       const key = extractErrorMessage(error, 'Failed to assign questions');
       notify.error(
-        key.startsWith('question_not_approved')
+        key === 'paper_locked_after_registration'
+          ? t('exam.paperLockedHint', { count: registrations?.length ?? 0 })
+          : key.startsWith('question_not_approved')
           ? t('question.qc.onlyApprovedUsable')
           : key.startsWith('paper_cannot_reach_cutting_point')
             ? t('exam.cannotReachCuttingPoint', {
@@ -452,19 +468,45 @@ export function ExamDetailPage() {
             {t("exam.detail.questionsSection", { pts: totalPoints })}
           </Title>
           <RequirePermission anyOf={[LICENSE_PERMISSIONS.MANAGE_EXAMS]} hideOnly>
-            <Button
-              variant="light"
-              size="xs"
-              leftSection={<IconPlus size={14} />}
-              onClick={openAssignModal}
-            >
-              {t("exam.manageQuestions")}
-            </Button>
+            <Group gap="xs">
+              {paperLocked && (
+                <Badge size="sm" variant="light" color="gray">
+                  {t("exam.paperLocked")}
+                </Badge>
+              )}
+              <Tooltip
+                label={t("exam.paperLockedHint", {
+                  count: registrations?.length ?? 0,
+                })}
+                disabled={!paperLocked}
+                multiline
+                w={280}
+              >
+                {/* Wrapped: a disabled Mantine Button fires no pointer events,
+                    so the tooltip needs an enabled element to hang off. */}
+                <Box>
+                  <Button
+                    variant="light"
+                    size="xs"
+                    leftSection={<IconPlus size={14} />}
+                    onClick={openAssignModal}
+                    disabled={paperLocked}
+                  >
+                    {t("exam.manageQuestions")}
+                  </Button>
+                </Box>
+              </Tooltip>
+            </Group>
           </RequirePermission>
         </Group>
         {(exam.questions ?? []).length === 0 ? (
-          <Alert color="gray" icon={<IconInfoCircle size={16} />}>
-            {t("exam.noQuestionsAssigned")}
+          <Alert
+            color={paperLocked ? "red" : "gray"}
+            icon={<IconInfoCircle size={16} />}
+          >
+            {paperLocked
+              ? t("exam.paperLockedHint", { count: registrations?.length ?? 0 })
+              : t("exam.noQuestionsAssigned")}
           </Alert>
         ) : (
           <Stack gap="md">
diff --git a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/pages/ExamPage/index.tsx b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/pages/ExamPage/index.tsx
index 874526c70..c4578d308 100644
--- a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/pages/ExamPage/index.tsx
+++ b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/pages/ExamPage/index.tsx
@@ -79,21 +79,44 @@ function ExamForm({
   const [status, setStatus] = useState<string | null>(editing?.status ?? null);
   const [activeTab, setActiveTab] = useState<string | null>("basic");
 
-  const handleSubmit = (e: React.FormEvent) => {
-    e.preventDefault();
+  /**
+   * Split per tab so "Next" can check just the tab in front of the user.
+   * Submitting from Basic Info used to complain about Settings fields the
+   * user had not been shown yet — the error was correct and unactionable at
+   * the same time. Each returns the message key for what is missing, or null.
+   */
+  const validateBasic = (): string | null => {
     if (!certificationId || !titleEn || !titleAm || !date || !venue) {
-      setActiveTab("basic");
-      notify.error(t("exam.form.fillRequiredBasic"));
-      return;
+      return "exam.form.fillRequiredBasic";
     }
     if ((directionEn || directionAm) && !(directionEn && directionAm)) {
-      setActiveTab("basic");
-      notify.error(t("exam.form.directionBothLanguages"));
+      return "exam.form.directionBothLanguages";
+    }
+    return null;
+  };
+
+  const validateSettings = (): string | null =>
+    !type || !form || !adminMethod || !evalMethod || !cuttingPoint
+      ? "exam.form.fillRequiredSettings"
+      : null;
+
+  const goNext = () => {
+    const error = validateBasic();
+    if (error) {
+      notify.error(t(error));
       return;
     }
-    if (!type || !form || !adminMethod || !evalMethod || !cuttingPoint) {
-      setActiveTab("settings");
-      notify.error(t("exam.form.fillRequiredSettings"));
+    setActiveTab("settings");
+  };
+
+  const handleSubmit = (e: React.FormEvent) => {
+    e.preventDefault();
+    // Still checks both: the tabs are clickable, so a user can reach Settings
+    // without going through Next.
+    const error = validateBasic() ?? validateSettings();
+    if (error) {
+      setActiveTab(error === "exam.form.fillRequiredSettings" ? "settings" : "basic");
+      notify.error(t(error));
       return;
     }
     onSubmit(
@@ -255,12 +278,6 @@ function ExamForm({
                   onChange={setForm}
                   size="sm"
                   required
-                  disabled={adminMethod === "ONLINE"}
-                  description={
-                    adminMethod === "ONLINE"
-                      ? t("exam.form.onlineChoiceOnlyHint")
-                      : undefined
-                  }
                 />
                 <Select
                   label={t("exam.detail.administration")}
@@ -270,14 +287,7 @@ function ExamForm({
                     { value: "ONLINE", label: t("exam.form.online") },
                   ]}
                   value={adminMethod}
-                  onChange={(value) => {
-                    setAdminMethod(value);
-                    // Online exams are graded automatically, and that only
-                    // has an answer model for CHOICE — matches the backend
-                    // rule (online_exam_requires_choice_form), not just a
-                    // UI nicety.
-                    if (value === "ONLINE") setForm("CHOICE");
-                  }}
+                  onChange={setAdminMethod}
                   size="sm"
                   required
                 />
@@ -350,9 +360,26 @@ function ExamForm({
           <Button variant="default" onClick={onCancel} size="sm">
             {t("exam.cancel")}
           </Button>
-          <Button type="submit" size="sm" loading={isSubmitting}>
-            {editing ? t("exam.update") : t("exam.create")}
-          </Button>
+          {activeTab === "basic" ? (
+            /* Not type="submit": Basic Info is not the last step, so the
+               primary action advances rather than saves. */
+            <Button size="sm" onClick={goNext}>
+              {t("exam.form.next")}
+            </Button>
+          ) : (
+            <>
+              <Button
+                variant="default"
+                size="sm"
+                onClick={() => setActiveTab("basic")}
+              >
+                {t("exam.form.back")}
+              </Button>
+              <Button type="submit" size="sm" loading={isSubmitting}>
+                {editing ? t("exam.update") : t("exam.create")}
+              </Button>
+            </>
+          )}
         </ModalFooter>
       </form>
     </Modal>
diff --git a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/types/exam.ts b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/types/exam.ts
index a66fed338..52adbd6fa 100644
--- a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/types/exam.ts
+++ b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/exam/types/exam.ts
@@ -133,6 +133,24 @@ export interface ExamRegistration {
 export type RegradeOutcome =
   { graded: true; resultId: string } | { graded: false; reason: string };
 
+/** One question's row on the staff grading sheet — the candidate's own
+ * answer plus the auto-computable score, where one exists. */
+export interface GradingSheetQuestion {
+  questionId: string;
+  form: QuestionForm;
+  points: number;
+  answerText: string | null;
+  selectedOptionId: string | null;
+  selectedOptionText: { en?: string; am?: string } | null;
+  /** null means "no auto-score" — examiner enters one by hand. */
+  autoScore: number | null;
+}
+
+export interface GradingSheet {
+  attemptStatus: 'IN_PROGRESS' | 'SUBMITTED' | 'EXPIRED';
+  questions: GradingSheetQuestion[];
+}
+
 export interface RecordAttendancePayload {
   registrationId: string;
   status: AttendanceStatus;
diff --git a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/result/components/RecordResultModal/columns.tsx b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/result/components/RecordResultModal/columns.tsx
index f224aa828..9503b1120 100644
--- a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/result/components/RecordResultModal/columns.tsx
+++ b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/result/components/RecordResultModal/columns.tsx
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
-import { NumberInput, Text, TextInput } from '@mantine/core';
+import { Badge, Group, NumberInput, Text, TextInput } from '@mantine/core';
 import type { TFunction } from 'i18next';
 import type { AdvancedColumn } from '@ema-platform/ui';
-import type { QuestionBrief } from '../../../exam/types/exam';
+import type { GradingSheetQuestion, QuestionBrief } from '../../../exam/types/exam';
 
 export function recordResultColumns(
   t: TFunction,
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ export function recordResultColumns(
     questionRemarks: Record<string, string>;
     onScoreChange: (questionId: string, value: number) => void;
     onRemarkChange: (questionId: string, value: string) => void;
+    /** The candidate's own answer + auto-score, when available (empty for
+     *  an OFFLINE candidate or one who hasn't sat an online attempt). */
+    answersByQuestion: Map<string, GradingSheetQuestion>;
   },
 ): AdvancedColumn<QuestionBrief>[] {
   return [
@@ -22,6 +25,20 @@ export function recordResultColumns(
         </Text>
       ),
     },
+    {
+      header: t('result.recordModal.candidateAnswer'),
+      cell: ({ row }) => {
+        const answer = handlers.answersByQuestion.get(row.original.id);
+        if (!answer || (!answer.answerText && !answer.selectedOptionText)) {
+          return <Text fz="xs" c="dimmed">{t('result.recordModal.noAnswer')}</Text>;
+        }
+        return (
+          <Text fz="sm" maw={220} lineClamp={3}>
+            {answer.selectedOptionText?.[locale] ?? answer.answerText}
+          </Text>
+        );
+      },
+    },
     {
       header: t('result.recordModal.maxPoints'),
       cell: ({ row }) => (
@@ -32,16 +49,26 @@ export function recordResultColumns(
     },
     {
       header: t('result.recordModal.score'),
-      cell: ({ row }) => (
-        <NumberInput
-          value={handlers.scores[row.original.id] ?? 0}
-          onChange={(v) => handlers.onScoreChange(row.original.id, Number(v))}
-          min={0}
-          max={row.original.points}
-          size="xs"
-          style={{ width: 80 }}
-        />
-      ),
+      cell: ({ row }) => {
+        const autoGraded = handlers.answersByQuestion.get(row.original.id)?.autoScore != null;
+        return (
+          <Group gap={4} wrap="nowrap">
+            <NumberInput
+              value={handlers.scores[row.original.id] ?? 0}
+              onChange={(v) => handlers.onScoreChange(row.original.id, Number(v))}
+              min={0}
+              max={row.original.points}
+              size="xs"
+              style={{ width: 80 }}
+            />
+            {autoGraded && (
+              <Badge size="xs" variant="light" color="teal">
+                {t('result.recordModal.autoGraded')}
+              </Badge>
+            )}
+          </Group>
+        );
+      },
     },
     {
       header: t('result.recordModal.remark'),
diff --git a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/result/components/RecordResultModal/index.tsx b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/result/components/RecordResultModal/index.tsx
index 15ed50335..b073b1ca1 100644
--- a/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/result/components/RecordResultModal/index.tsx
+++ b/apps/backoffice/src/app/features/result/components/RecordResultModal/index.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { useState } from 'react';
+import { useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import {
   Modal,
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ import { extractErrorMessage } from '@ema-platform/api';
 import { LICENSE_PERMISSIONS, RequirePermission } from '@ema-platform/auth';
 import { recordResultColumns } from './columns';
 import { useCreateResultMutation } from '../../api/result-api';
-import { useGetExamRegistrationsQuery } from '../../../exam/api/exam-api';
+import { useGetExamRegistrationsQuery, useGetGradingSheetQuery } from '../../../exam/api/exam-api';
 import type { Exam } from '../../../exam/types/exam';
 
 function InfoRow({ label, value }: { label: string; value: string }) {
@@ -55,12 +55,39 @@ export function RecordResultModal({
   const { data: registrations } = useGetExamRegistrationsQuery(exam.id, {
     skip: !opened,
   });
+  // The candidate's own answers plus whatever score auto-grading could
+  // already compute for the CHOICE portion — degrades to "no data" for an
+  // OFFLINE candidate or one who never sat an online attempt, same as
+  // before this existed.
+  const { data: gradingSheet } = useGetGradingSheetQuery(
+    { examId: exam.id, profileId: selectedSeafarerId ?? '' },
+    { skip: !opened || !selectedSeafarerId },
+  );
+  const answersByQuestion = new Map(
+    (gradingSheet?.questions ?? []).map((q) => [q.questionId, q]),
+  );
   const [createResult, { isLoading: isSaving }] = useCreateResultMutation();
   const table = useServerTable();
 
   const questions = exam.questions ?? [];
   const pagedQuestions = table.paginate(questions);
 
+  // Prefill (never override) the CHOICE questions auto-grading already
+  // scored — the examiner only has to key in the ESSAY marks. A fresh
+  // seafarer selection always starts from an empty scores map, so this
+  // only ever fills in blanks, never stomps a manual edit already made.
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!gradingSheet) return;
+    const autoScores: Record<string, number> = {};
+    for (const q of gradingSheet.questions) {
+      if (q.autoScore !== null) autoScores[q.questionId] = q.autoScore;
+    }
+    if (Object.keys(autoScores).length) {
+      setScores((prev) => ({ ...autoScores, ...prev }));
+    }
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, [gradingSheet]);
+
   const seafarerOptions = (registrations ?? [])
     .filter((registration) =>
       ['PRESENT', 'LATE'].includes(registration.attendanceStatus),
@@ -175,6 +202,7 @@ export function RecordResultModal({
                 questionRemarks,
                 onScoreChange: handleScoreChange,
                 onRemarkChange: handleQuestionRemarkChange,
+                answersByQuestion,
               })}
               data={pagedQuestions.rows}
               itemCount={pagedQuestions.itemCount}
diff --git a/apps/backoffice/src/app/i18n/locales/am.ts b/apps/backoffice/src/app/i18n/locales/am.ts
index 40aab6f6e..6711571c9 100644
--- a/apps/backoffice/src/app/i18n/locales/am.ts
+++ b/apps/backoffice/src/app/i18n/locales/am.ts
@@ -260,7 +260,6 @@ export const am: Translations = {
       both: "ሁለቱም",
       offline: "ከመስመር ውጪ",
       online: "በመስመር",
-      onlineChoiceOnlyHint: "የመስመር ላይ ፈተናዎች በራስ-ሰር ይመዘገባሉ፣ ይህም ለምርጫ ጥያቄዎች ብቻ ይሰራል።",
       sum: "ድምር",
       average: "አማካይ",
       percentage: "መቶኛ",
@@ -272,6 +271,8 @@ export const am: Translations = {
       cuttingPointPercentageHint: "የመቶኛ ግምገማ — ከ100 አይበልጥም።",
       fillRequiredBasic: "በመሠረታዊ መረጃ ውስጥ ያሉ አስፈላጊ መስኮችን ይሙሉ።",
       fillRequiredSettings: "በቅንብሮች ውስጥ ያሉ አስፈላጊ መስኮችን ይሙሉ — ዓይነት፣ ቅጽ፣ የአስተዳደር ዘዴ፣ የግምገማ ዘዴ እና የማለፊያ ነጥብ።",
+      next: "ቀጣይ",
+      back: "ተመለስ",
       directionBothLanguages: "መመሪያ በሁለቱም እንግሊዝኛ እና አማርኛ ጽሑፍ ያስፈልገዋል፣ ወይም ሁለቱንም ባዶ ይተዉ።",
       status: "ሁኔታ",
       statusPlaceholder: "የፈተና ሁኔታ",
@@ -388,6 +389,9 @@ export const am: Translations = {
     notEnoughApproved: "ለዚህ ትምህርት በቂ የጸደቁ ጥያቄዎች የሉም።",
     cannotReachCuttingPoint:
       "ይህ ወረቀት የማለፊያ ነጥቡን ሊደርስ አይችልም (ከፍተኛ {{max}}፣ የማለፊያ ነጥብ {{cuttingPoint}})። ተጨማሪ ወይም ከፍ ያለ ነጥብ ያላቸው ጥያቄዎችን ጨምር፣ ወይም የማለፊያ ነጥቡን ቀንስ።",
+    paperLocked: "ወረቀቱ ተቆልፏል",
+    paperLockedHint:
+      "ለዚህ ፈተና {{count}} ተፈታኝ(ዎች) ተመዝግበዋል። ሁሉም ተፈታኞች አንድ ዓይነት ወረቀት መፈተን ስላለባቸው ጥያቄዎቹ ከዚህ በኋላ አይቀየሩም።",
   },
 
   country: {
@@ -658,6 +662,9 @@ export const am: Translations = {
       seafarerPlaceholder: "መርከበኛ ይፈልጉ እና ይምረጡ",
       scorePerQuestion: "በጥያቄ ውጤት",
       question: "ጥያቄ",
+      candidateAnswer: "የተፈታኙ መልስ",
+      noAnswer: "የተመዘገበ መልስ የለም",
+      autoGraded: "በራስ-ሰር የተመዘነ",
       maxPoints: "ከፍተኛ ውጤት",
       score: "ውጤት",
       remark: "ማስታወሻ",
diff --git a/apps/backoffice/src/app/i18n/locales/en.ts b/apps/backoffice/src/app/i18n/locales/en.ts
index ac4ae177d..a737204d0 100644
--- a/apps/backoffice/src/app/i18n/locales/en.ts
+++ b/apps/backoffice/src/app/i18n/locales/en.ts
@@ -259,7 +259,6 @@ export const en = {
       both: 'Both',
       offline: 'Offline',
       online: 'Online',
-      onlineChoiceOnlyHint: 'Online exams are graded automatically, which only works for multiple choice.',
       sum: 'Sum',
       average: 'Average',
       percentage: 'Percentage',
@@ -272,6 +271,8 @@ export const en = {
       fillRequiredBasic: 'Please fill all required fields in Basic Info.',
       fillRequiredSettings: 'Please fill all required fields in Settings — type, form, administration method, evaluation method, and cutting point.',
       directionBothLanguages: 'Direction needs text in both English and Amharic, or leave both empty.',
+      next: 'Next',
+      back: 'Back',
       status: 'Status',
       statusPlaceholder: 'Exam status',
       pending: 'Pending',
@@ -387,6 +388,9 @@ export const en = {
       'Not enough approved questions in the bank for this subject.',
     cannotReachCuttingPoint:
       'This paper cannot reach the passing mark (max {{max}}, pass mark {{cuttingPoint}}). Add more/higher-point questions, or lower the cutting point.',
+    paperLocked: 'Paper locked',
+    paperLockedHint:
+      '{{count}} candidate(s) have registered for this session. Every candidate must sit the same paper, so questions can no longer be changed.',
   },
 
   country: {
@@ -658,6 +662,9 @@ export const en = {
       seafarerPlaceholder: 'Search and select a seafarer',
       scorePerQuestion: 'Score per Question',
       question: 'Question',
+      candidateAnswer: "Candidate's Answer",
+      noAnswer: 'No answer on file',
+      autoGraded: 'Auto-graded',
       maxPoints: 'Max Points',
       score: 'Score',
       remark: 'Remark',