Online supervised exams are a fairly new concept to the #UNELaw School and to the university. It enables law students to sit their some of their exams wherever they are located, without having to travel to a UNE exam centre. Here are some tips to ensure your online exam runs smoothly.
ProctorU
ProctorU is a platform which monitors students as they take exams. It has technology which is able to flag dishonest behaviour, as well as students’ identification. It is a requirement that students sitting online exams need the chrome extension for ProctorU. You can install it any time before your exams, or when you go to sit your exam you will be prompted to download the extension before you can begin. The program is essentially your exam supervisor
Exam Clock
Make sure that you keep an eye on the countdown clock which is located in your exam. The proctor will not notify you of the time remaining in your exam, so you need to be continuously checking it.
Internet connection
To sit the exam, you need access to a stable internet connection. There are a number of ways to strengthen your internet connection which include sitting closer to your router, connecting via an Ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi, booking your exam session in off-peak times and turning off other devices using the internet and ensuring your device is the only one connected to the internet. These steps are not necessary but they do assist in making sure you have the strongest connection possible.
If you do experience a short drop out (1-15 minutes), you will be able to reconnect with your proctor and resume your session. Don’t close your browser with ProctorU – they will also try to reconnect with you as soon as your connection returns. If you lose time in your exam, your proctor can contact the Online Exams Team directly and we can help out from there. If this does not happen, please let us know (once your exam is complete) so that we can assist you – we may be able to add the time you have lost or assist you with applying for special consideration for time lost. If you lose your internet connection for a longer period of time, or if you are not able to reconnect with your proctor please contact the Online Exams Team as soon as possible on (02) 6773 2145 or via askUNE. They will work with you to find a solution. If your internet connection drops out for more than a minute or two, ProctorU may attempt to contact you via the phone number you have listed in your ProctorU account to help you reconnect.
Submitting Your Exam
You may submit your exam at any time during your Online Supervised Exam. Just let the Proctor know that you have finished, and they will watch you click the submit button and log out of Moodle. Once completed, you’re done!
Auto-Submission of Exam
Once the exam clock runs out of time, Moodle will automatically submit your exam. Don’t worry, it will save all of the work you have done first, and return you to the start screen. If this happens, just let the Proctor know that your exam has been submitted, and they will watch you log out of Moodle. Once completed – you’re done!
Have your ID ready
Like any other exam please ensure that your ID is readily available, so you that you can confirm your identity with ProctorU. Make sure the name you use in your ProctorU profile is the legal name that appears on your official photo ID. Accepted forms of ID include UNE Student Card, Driver’s Licence, Passport and Government Issued Photo ID.
Check what additional materials you are allowed to have
Most online exams allow for students to have an A4 size whiteboard to scribble notes on, however check with your unit coordinator. Some exams may allow you take in a calculator, textbook or notes, but check with your unit coordinator before the exam date. ProctorU will identify flag any instances where you display cheating behaviour.
Dress Code
Please remember that you are being supervised by a real person, so you should dress appropriately. You can certainly wear your pj’s or other comfortable clothing if you would like. As in a paper-based exam, you are not permitted to wear hats, beanies or sunglasses during an online exam. If you have darker prescription or Irlen glasses these may be mistaken for sunglasses. Please let the exam team know so they make arrangements for you prior to your exam via askUNE or (02) 6773 2145.
For more online exam tips visit: https://www.une.edu.au/current-students/my-course/examinations/olx-project/online-exam-tips
