diff --git a/generic/widgets.py b/generic/widgets.py
index 8fa170fb..ca86d03c 100644
--- a/generic/widgets.py
+++ b/generic/widgets.py
@@ -347,8 +347,28 @@ class ExamSearchSelectMultipleWidget:
                     <input type="search" id="{search_id}" class="form-control form-control-sm" placeholder="Search exams by name or code" />
                     <!-- optional type indicator -->
                     {f'<div class="badge bg-secondary small">{self.exam_model._meta.verbose_name.title()}</div>' if self.exam_model is not None else ''}
+                    <button type="button" id="exam_search_help_btn_{self.name}" class="btn btn-sm btn-outline-secondary" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="exam_search_help_panel_{self.name}" title="Advanced search help">?</button>
                 </div>
                 <div id="{results_id}" class="mt-2"></div>
+
+                <div id="exam_search_help_panel_{self.name}" class="card card-body mt-2 d-none" style="font-size:.9rem;">
+                    <strong>Advanced search tips</strong>
+                    <ul class="mb-0 mt-1">
+                        <li>Basic: type any part of an exam's name, code or identifier (case-insensitive substring match).</li>
+                        <li>Field-specific searches: prefix with <code>field:term</code> to restrict the search. Supported fields:
+                            <ul class="mb-0 mt-1">
+                                <li><code>name:</code> — matches the exam name.</li>
+                                <li><code>code:</code> — matches an exam code or short identifier.</li>
+                                <li><code>id:</code> or <code>pk:</code> — match by numeric id.</li>
+                                <li><code>date:</code> — match by date (YYYY-MM-DD) where available.</li>
+                                <li><code>type:</code> — narrow to an exam type (e.g. <code>type:anatomy</code>).</li>
+                            </ul>
+                        </li>
+                        <li>Type filter: use the dropdown to restrict results to a specific exam type in addition to your query.</li>
+                        <li>To add exams, click the <em>Add</em> button beside a result. Use <em>Add all results</em> to import visible matches.</li>
+                        <li>Wildcard: use <code>*</code> to broaden results; wildcards may return more results and are rate-limited.</li>
+                    </ul>
+                </div>
             </div>
 
             <div>
@@ -364,6 +384,11 @@ class ExamSearchSelectMultipleWidget:
                     const results = document.getElementById('{results_id}');
                     const select = document.getElementById('{field_id}');
                     const selectedList = document.getElementById('{selected_list_id}');
+                    const helpBtn = document.getElementById('exam_search_help_btn_{self.name}');
+                    const helpPanel = document.getElementById('exam_search_help_panel_{self.name}');
+
+                    const defaultModel = '{self.exam_model._meta.label if self.exam_model is not None else ''}';
+                    const widgetFieldName = '{self.name}';
 
                     let timeout = null;
                     function fetchResults(q) {{
@@ -371,7 +396,8 @@ class ExamSearchSelectMultipleWidget:
                             results.innerHTML = '';
                             return;
                         }}
-                        const url = '{url}?field=' + encodeURIComponent('{self.name}') + '&q=' + encodeURIComponent(q) + ("&model=" + encodeURIComponent('{self.exam_model._meta.label}') || '');
+                        const modelParam = defaultModel ? '&model=' + encodeURIComponent(defaultModel) : '';
+                        const url = '{url}?field=' + encodeURIComponent(widgetFieldName) + '&q=' + encodeURIComponent(q) + modelParam;
                         fetch(url)
                             .then(r => r.text())
                             .then(html => {{ results.innerHTML = html; }});
@@ -382,14 +408,34 @@ class ExamSearchSelectMultipleWidget:
                         timeout = setTimeout(() => fetchResults(search.value), 300);
                     }});
 
+                    // Toggle help panel visibility
+                    if (helpBtn && helpPanel) {{
+                        helpBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {{
+                            e.preventDefault();
+                            helpPanel.classList.toggle('d-none');
+                            const expanded = !helpPanel.classList.contains('d-none');
+                            helpBtn.setAttribute('aria-expanded', expanded ? 'true' : 'false');
+                        }});
+                    }}
+
+                    // Delegate add clicks from results
                     results.addEventListener('click', function(e) {{
                         const btn = e.target.closest('.exam-add-btn');
                         if (!btn) return;
                         const id = btn.getAttribute('data-exam-id');
                         const text = btn.getAttribute('data-exam-text') || btn.textContent.trim();
-                        addExamToField('{self.name}', id, text);
+                        addExamToField(widgetFieldName, id, text);
                     }});
 
+                    // Wire up "Add all results" button if present
+                    const addAllBtn = results.parentElement.querySelector('.exam-add-all-btn');
+                    if (addAllBtn) {{
+                        addAllBtn.addEventListener('click', function(e) {{
+                            e.preventDefault();
+                            addAllExamsFromResults(widgetFieldName);
+                        }});
+                    }}
+
                     window.addExamToField = function(fieldName, id, text) {{
                         const sel = document.getElementById('id_' + fieldName);
                         if (!sel) return;
@@ -414,6 +460,17 @@ class ExamSearchSelectMultipleWidget:
                         const li = document.getElementById('selected_exam_' + fieldName + '_' + id);
                         if (li && li.parentNode) li.parentNode.removeChild(li);
                     }}
+
+                    window.addAllExamsFromResults = function(fieldName) {{
+                        const list = document.getElementById('exam_search_results_list_' + fieldName);
+                        if (!list) return;
+                        const items = list.querySelectorAll('li[data-exam-id]');
+                        items.forEach(function(it) {{
+                            const id = it.getAttribute('data-exam-id');
+                            const text = it.getAttribute('data-exam-text') || it.textContent.trim();
+                            addExamToField(fieldName, id, text);
+                        }});
+                    }}
                 }})();
             </script>
         </div>