This is Part 1 of a practical three-part series. First, connect the tools and give the assistant a repeatable routine. In Part 2 you will build a test template; in Part 3 you will adapt the difficulty and support.
The example comes from our Vocab Test Assistant project: Canva provides the editable design, while a private custom plugin holds the teaching rules. The finished routine turns a word list or photo into a standard test, a supported version and an answer key.
Before you start
You need a Canva account, ChatGPT with access to the Canva connection, and a vocabulary list you are allowed to use. Custom plugin and template features depend on your account and workspace permissions. Check availability before building your routine around them.
The Canva connection gives the assistant access to supported design actions. Your custom plugin supplies the teaching and formatting rules. They have different jobs: connecting Canva alone does not tell the assistant what a fair vocabulary test should look like.
If custom plugins are unavailable, you can still keep the instruction block below and paste it into a new conversation. You may need to fill or adjust the Canva design manually.
Connect Canva to ChatGPT
- Find Canva in ChatGPT’s available apps or plugins.
- Choose the connection option and sign in to the correct Canva account.
- Review the requested permissions. A school or team administrator may need to allow the connection.
- Return to the conversation and select Canva from the available tools.
- Ask the assistant to locate your named master and identify it before making a copy.
Try this first:
Using Canva, find the design named
“Vocabulary test master — beginner — 10 points”.
Show me which design you found. Do not edit the master.
Tell me whether you can create and edit a separate copy.Menu names can change. If the assistant cannot find the design, check the connected account and whether it has access to that design. If an action is unavailable, duplicate the master in Canva yourself and give the assistant the new design link.
See Canva’s connection guide for the current account-connection steps.
Give the assistant a reusable routine
In our project, we created a custom plugin called Vocab Test Assistant. It contains instructions for selecting vocabulary, filling the templates, adding support and checking the key. It uses the separate Canva connection to work with designs.
The name in our account is not a public download link. To reproduce the workflow, build your own private version with your own templates and rules.
Where plugin creation is available, open the plugin-building workflow and give it a brief like this:
Create a private plugin called Vocab Test Assistant.
It should use my connected Canva tools and the editable
master designs I supply. Do not publish or share it.
Input: a pasted vocabulary list or a photo of taught words,
plus the class, test number, task mix and point total.
First read the source. Flag unclear words instead of guessing.
For photos, show the transcription and wait for my confirmation.
Use only the supplied target words and familiar sentence patterns.
Build one item map with numbers, targets, answers, accepted
alternatives, points and support. Do not assess a target twice
unless I ask. If there are too few words, ask me how to proceed.
Create a NEW copy of the correct Canva master. Never edit
the master or an older finished test. Preserve fixed headings,
layout, directions and scoring fields.
Produce three pages in one editable design:
1. Standard pupil test.
2. Supported pupil test: same targets, numbers and points,
with suitable word-box or first-letter support.
3. Teacher answer key for both versions, including variants
and marking rules.
For my supported page, remove grade fields and grade tables;
retain item points and the Total field.
Keep sentences short and based on taught grammar.
Place each first-letter hint directly beside its gap.
Shuffle matching options and word-box entries.
Check answers, ambiguity, numbering, totals, writing space
and all page previews. Return the editable Canva link.
Report any step you could not complete; do not claim a design
or export exists unless it actually does.Then supply the correct template links and your year-group rules privately. Do not put student names or completed pupil work into a reusable plugin.
Build one practice test and correct the routine before relying on it for a real class. A correction such as “keep the supported page’s grade table off” belongs in the reusable rules; “use these ten café words” belongs in the individual test request.
OpenAI’s Build plugins guide explains the creation workflow. Its plugin documentation covers installing and using plugins. Available features depend on account permissions.
Test the connection before building a whole series
Use a small practice design with made-up content. Ask the assistant to identify the right file, create a separate copy and change one placeholder. Open that copy yourself. The original should remain unchanged.
Use Canva to create a separate copy of my practice design.
Replace only TEST_NUMBER with “Practice 01”.
Keep all other text and formatting unchanged.
Return the editable design link. If copying or editing fails,
explain which action failed instead of reporting success.This check separates a connection problem from a teaching-template problem. A friendly message saying “done” is less useful than a design you can actually open.
Keep reusable rules separate from this week’s words
The reusable routine holds your template choices, task formats, scoring rules and checking steps. The individual request holds the new vocabulary, class and test number. Connecting an app does not schedule tests or update your source list automatically.
Before sharing a plugin, remove private school information and confirm that recipients have access to their own templates and Canva accounts. Our Vocab Test Assistant is a private project, not a public download.
Ready for Part 2?
You should be able to identify the correct Canva design and open a separate edited copy. Next, build the master that will hold your questions.
Prepared on 31 October 2026. Based on the private Vocab Test Assistant workflow. A/B support remains a proposed extension, not a tested plugin change.