Multiple tables with similar columns in a single DB

Question

I am a web developer who's working on an Exam Generator project. Now I am stuck at one point.

I have one database with different tables. Four of these tables are somehow similar with their columns. I want to know what is the best practice for such thing.

The similar tables I have are:

Exam (Used to store the exam name and the number of questions included in the exam).

ID | ExamName | NumberofQuestions

UserExam (Used to store the the exams availble for a user with his grade in each exam he took).

ID | MemberID | ExamID | Grade

QuestionExam (Used to store Question IDs included in each exam).

ID | ExamID | QuestionID

UserSolution (Used to store the user's answers for each exam he took).

ID | MemberID | ExamID | QuestionID | UserAnswer

In the beginning, I wanted to merge the "Exam" table with the "QuestionExam" table, but then I asked myself if I merged them how would I have one ID for each exam? So I kept it as it is.

Answer 1

Everything is correct with the tables. IF you want to be more desciriptive some practices say to value like Exam_ID, UserExam_ID, or UserSolution_ID that way you can distinguish between the two in a join. It all depends on personal preference. It is a little more writing but saves you from a headache in the long run.