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  1. Home
  2. For Students
  3. Online Exams
  4. Taking an ExamOnline Assessment

Taking an ExamOnline Assessment

What is an ExamOnline assessment?

The ExamOnline assessment system may be used for in person, invigilated class tests and exams on campus where a student is required to type answers to short answer or essay style questions that will not be automatically marked. This assessment system will not be used for remote online exams.

For more general guidance, please see our guide on preparing for an invigilated online assessment.

Taking an ExamOnline Assessment

Stage 1 – PC Login

The first thing to note is that you DO NOT login to the PC with your own details. For every ExamOnline assessment a login instruction sheet will be placed in front of the PC and a username and password to login to the PC will be provided in Stage 1 of the instructions.

The PC login details will change for each assessment you take, so make sure you check the sheet every time.

Stage 2 – Locate the Assessment

Taking an ExamOnline Assessment: Logging in and locating your assessment

Once logged into the PC, you will need to double click on the 2. ExamOnline icon on the desktop. This will launch the ExamOnline system. Click on the ‘I am a Candidate’ link and select the Next button. When prompted to login, do not type in your standard University of Dundee details. Instead, where it asks for ‘Login’ you will enter the first part of your UoD e-mail address (e.g. jzbloggs or 1234567) and where it asks for ‘Password’ you will enter your student ID number (matriculation number) and click Next. Tick the box to confirm your name is displayed correctly and then click Next.

You should see the assessment listed on screen; it will have your module code at the start of it. Do not click on Start Test until instructed to do so by the senior invigilator. If you don’t see the correct assessment listed, try pressing the Refresh List button, and if no change report this to an invigilator.

Stage 3 – Start the Assessment

Taking an ExamOnline Assessment: Starting the assessment

When instructed to do so by the invigilators, click on Start Test ONCE and wait for the assessment to open. Your time remaining will be displayed at the top of the screen throughout your assessment and will immediately start counting down once the assessment has loaded. At the beginning of the assessment check to make sure your time limit is as expected. If the time limit seems incorrect, make an invigilator aware of this immediately – don’t wait until the end of the assessment!

Before starting to answer any questions, read the instructions provided on the first two pages carefully to find out how many questions you should attempt in the assessment.

Stage 4 – During the Assessment

Taking an ExamOnline Assessment: During the assessment

You can navigate between questions using the next and previous buttons or by clicking on a specific question number or information icon at the bottom of the screen. Information pages may be located at different points throughout the assessment.

You can use the flag button on the right-hand side of the screen to remind yourself to return to a specific question. In order to clear the flag icon, click back on the question that is flagged and click on the flag icon on the right hand side of the screen to clear it. 

Accessibility

There are some basic accessibility options available on the right-hand side of the screen. You can increase and decrease the font size and change the background colour and font colour. If you choose any of these options they will stay this way for the rest of the assessment, or until you choose to change them.

If you think you may require the use of assistive technology, you should visit the Disability Services website well in advance of your assessment.

Answering a Question

To start answering a question click where it states, “Click here to answer question x”. It may sound like an obvious point, but please ensure you answer the correct question in the correct box (especially where there is a choice of questions to answer)! Delete the pre-populated text from the answer box and start typing your answer.

To allow you to format and structure your answer there are some basic formatting options that you will be familiar with: Undo, Redo, Cut, Copy, Paste, Font Size, Bold, Italic, Underline, Superscript, Subscript, Numbering, Bullets, Decrease Indent, Increase Indent, Align Text Left, Centre Text, Align Text Right, Remove Formatting, Insert a Diagram, Insert a Symbol (L-R on the toolbar)

You will see a word count listed at the bottom of the screen – this should only be used as a guide.

Press Submit at the bottom of the screen once you have finished answering a question to return to the main assessment page (to view and access the other questions). Don’t worry, this is not a final submit, it simply saves your answer and returns you to the question paper. You can then move on to start answering a different question or revisit your existing answer to edit it. You can go in and out of questions throughout the assessment as many times as you need to while you have time remaining on the clock.

Key tips to remember:

  • When answering a question your responses are auto-saved every 30 seconds. In the unlikely event of your computer crashing (or similar) during your assessment, you’ll be able to resume the assessment (as long as there is time remaining).
  • Make sure you answer the correct question in the correct box.
  • If you find that you need to move an answer between questions, use copy and paste rather than cut and paste. This way if anything goes wrong, or your time runs out, the answer you have prepared will still be visible and accessible in the location you have copied from.
  • Remember there is an Undo button on the toolbar – this can be very useful if you accidently delete a section of text you didn’t intend to!
  • Keep an eye on your timer as the assessment will automatically submit once the time limit is reached, or, in some circumstances you may be prompted to press End Test.

Diagram Sheets

Taking an ExamOnline Assessment: Using diagram sheets

Diagram sheets or drawing sheets allow you to include a hand-drawn diagram, sketch, table, or calculation alongside your typed answer. Please note that not all assessments will require (or allow) the use of diagram sheets. If you’re unsure if your assessment will require this, please check with your module teaching team.

When you want to include a hand-drawn diagram/sketch as part of an answer, you MUST follow these instructions.

  1. Click on the blue pencil icon on the toolbar.
  2. You may see a prompt asking you to confirm you want to include a hand-drawn diagram or sketch. Click OK.
  3. At this stage, raise your hand and ask the invigilator for a drawing sheet if not already provided on your desk.
  4. Type in the unique Drawing ID which is printed on the drawing sheet and press Continue. (Invigilators may watch you complete this stage.)
  5. Only once these previous stages have been completed should you start drawing/writing on the diagram sheet.

Key tips to remember:

  • Diagrams should be drawn clearly and within the indicated box on the pre-printed diagram sheet. (Not outwith the box, or on the back of the sheet.)
  • You may include as many drawings in an answer as you wish by clicking on the blue pencil icon and repeating the process. If you do this, do not use the diagram sheet code as a reference in your typed answer (the marker does not see this code), instead use references like Figure 1, Figure 2 etc.
  • If you are answering more than one question, you should use a SEPARATE pre-printed drawing sheet for each question.
  • You MUST complete the required information at the top of every supplied diagram sheet (this includes Name, Question Number, Date and Room).
  • If you decide you no longer want to include a diagram that you have already inserted and drawn – simply score through the drawing box on the printed sheet and note that it should not be marked as part of your answer.
  • NO diagram sheets should be removed from the exam room or put in the rubbish bin (even if they are unused, notes, or not to be marked) – these are assessment answer sheets and all sheets must be left behind on the desk.

Stage 5 – Finishing the assessment

Taking an ExamOnline Assessment: Finishing the assessment

The assessment will automatically submit once the time limit is reached – in some circumstances you may be prompted to press End Test. If you are finished before the time limit is reached and you’re sure that you’ve finished, click on END TEST.  You will then see a pop-up box asking you to confirm that you want to end the test. Click End test. Click Logout and you will be returned to the ‘I am a Candidate’ screen.

Do not logoff your PC until told to do so by an invigilator and do not attempt to login to your normal account.

Key tips to remember:

  • Make sure you have completed all relevant paperwork (including the table at the bottom of the login instruction sheet).
  • The completed login instruction sheet, diagram sheets (used and unused) and any other paper used during the assessment should NOT be removed from the IT Suite.
  • Wait quietly until you are told you can leave and then leave the IT Suite silently as other assessments may be taking place.
Updated on 30/11/2022

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