How supervised online exams work

Some subjects require supervised online exams to check our students' academic integrity. This ensures fairness and integrity in exams. So how does this type of exam work?

Technology time allowances will be given to most time-limited exams. If you receive technology time allowances, this will be added to your exam timetable in the coming weeks.

We use zoom to supervise online exams.

We start identity checks for your exam 45 minutes before the scheduled exam time. This gives the supervisors time to check your ID cards.

Then, you will still sit your exam at the time scheduled for your original online exam. You can view your exam timetable to check your scheduled exam start time.

Using zoom for online supervised exams

Only Charles Sturt students and staff will be able to join the online exam in Zoom, and only Charles Sturt staff that will be supervising will be present in the room.

You may have to update your Zoom app before you sit your exam. You can check for updates by clicking on your profile.

Each student will have an individual link to Zoom.

On the day of your exam, you’ll be able to access your Zoom link in the online supervised exams section within your Interact2 subject site.

You may need to check that your Zoom app is up-to-date. You can do this by signing into your Charles Sturt Zoom and clicking on your profile. You will see a menu option titled "Check for updates".

Yes. You need to use your student login details to log into Zoom (use the same username and password that you use to log into your Student Portal).

Please practise this before your exam. Use your normal Zoom rooms for your online classes and when asked to log in, click ‘Sign in with SSO’ and type charlessturt. This will then redirect you to a page where you can type in your student login details.

In the unlikely event that there is a major system failure, students will receive an SMS and an Announcement from the Interact2 subject site. If it is a system failure that cannot be quickly resolved the exam will be rescheduled.

Please check your details in your Student Portal are up-to-date.

If you have technical issues and cannot complete an exam, you will need to apply for Special Consideration to sit a Deferred Exam.

Your responsibilities

1

Follow Academic Integrity

Students will be asked during the identity verification step (which is completed in a breakout room individually) to confirm that they will not access any unauthorised materials during the exam. Students will also need to show that their desk and web browsers are clear of unauthorised materials.

This approach will involve honesty and integrity from all students. Students enrolled in courses with supervised exams are training for professions that command high ethical standards. Online exams are an opportunity for all students to develop and demonstrate these qualities.

2

Unauthorised materials

If you follow our guidelines for what is and isn't allowed on your desk you will be fine.

What equipment and materials am I allowed?

3

Leaving your desk

You are allowed to use the bathroom. You must send a message to your supervisor in the chat when you go to the bathroom and return to your exam as quickly as possible.

More information about toilet breaks

Answers to common questions

Once the exam has commenced, the supervisor will not interrupt the exam at all. Students will be required to keep their microphones on, though should turn down their own computer volume so that they are not distracted by background noise.

If you need to communicate with the supervisor during the exam, please use the chat feature in Zoom. The chat feature will be set-up so that students can only communicate with the supervisor. You will not be able to communicate with other students with the Chat feature.

There will be a countdown timer in test centre so you will be able to monitor how much time you have remaining.

The supervisor needs to be able to see and hear all students for the duration of the exam.

Though, you can certainly minimise the Zoom window to focus on your exam. You can also turn down your own computer volume so that you are not distracted by any background noise.

If you need to communicate with the supervisor during the exam, please use the Chat feature in Zoom. The Chat will be set-up so that students can only communicate with the supervisor. You will not be able to communicate with other students through the Chat feature.

No, you must be in a room or space by yourself. This is not only for academic integrity but also better for you as you are less likely to be distracted while sitting your exam.

Yes, the technology allowance and reading time will be added in addition to the scheduled exam time for all students.

The student verification, including identity checks, will be completed in Zoom before the exam time commences.

If the verification process takes longer than expected and you don’t start the exam until after the official start time, please don’t worry. The exam countdown timer won’t commence until you click on the button to commence the exam. You will then have the full exam time, including the technology allowance and reading time, to complete the exam.

Please note that the exam will not be available until the scheduled start time. If you cannot view the exam as the clock ticks over to the start time, please try refreshing the ‘online proctored exam’ page in your Interact2 subject site.

Yes, the meeting room will be recorded just like our lectures and tutorials. This will allow us to review recordings later.