diff --git a/generic/widgets.py b/generic/widgets.py
index 64e5764e..4c6fc9f6 100644
--- a/generic/widgets.py
+++ b/generic/widgets.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ class UserSearchSelectMultipleWidget:
                 f'<span>{u.get_full_name() or u.username} <small class="text-muted">{u.email}</small>'
             )
             if grade_text:
-                selected_html += f' <span class="badge bg-secondary ms-2">{grade_text}</span>'
+                selected_html += f' <span class="badge bg-light text-muted ms-2 small border">{grade_text}</span>'
             selected_html += (
                 '</span>'
                 f'<button type="button" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-danger ms-2" onclick="removeUserFromField(\'{self.name}\', {u.pk})">Remove</button>'
@@ -407,10 +407,11 @@ class ExamSearchSelectMultipleWidget:
                     pk = getattr(ex, "pk", "")
                     options_html += f'<option value="{pk}" selected>{label}</option>'
                     # badges for metadata where available
-                    archive_badge = '<span class="badge bg-secondary ms-2">Archived</span>' if getattr(ex, 'archive', False) else ''
-                    open_badge = '<span class="badge bg-success ms-2">Open</span>' if getattr(ex, 'open_access', False) else ''
-                    mode_badge = '<span class="badge bg-info text-dark ms-2">Exam mode</span>' if getattr(ex, 'exam_mode', False) else ''
-                    cand_badge = '<span class="badge bg-warning text-dark ms-2">Candidates only</span>' if getattr(ex, 'candidates_only', False) else ''
+                    # use smaller, less vibrant badges: low-opacity background + matching text color
+                    archive_badge = '<span class="badge small border bg-secondary bg-opacity-10 text-secondary ms-2">Archived</span>' if getattr(ex, 'archive', False) else ''
+                    open_badge = '<span class="badge small border bg-success bg-opacity-10 text-success ms-2">Open</span>' if getattr(ex, 'open_access', False) else ''
+                    mode_badge = '<span class="badge small border bg-info bg-opacity-10 text-info ms-2">Exam mode</span>' if getattr(ex, 'exam_mode', False) else ''
+                    cand_badge = '<span class="badge small border bg-warning bg-opacity-10 text-warning ms-2">Candidates only</span>' if getattr(ex, 'candidates_only', False) else ''
                     selected_html += (
                         f'<li id="selected_exam_{self.name}_{pk}" class="list-group-item d-flex justify-content-between align-items-center">'
                         f'<span>{label}{archive_badge}{open_badge}{mode_badge}{cand_badge}</span>'