Exams on Computer - FAQ
Questions
- Will Washburn provide me with a computer to use during a computer exam?
- Generally students must use their own laptop computers when taking exams at Washburn. The relevant hardware and software requirements are discussed below in detail. However, Washburn will make certain desktop computers located in designated computer labs available for taking exams on computer. The number of such slots is extremely limited and computers will be assigned to students on a first-come, first-serve basis. While Washburn will ensure that SofTest (the exam software) is loaded onto the designated lab computers, the student must still register with ExamSoft and attend a Washburn training session (see discussion below) prior to the deadline set by the school. Additionally, Washburn takes no responsibility for any mechanical or software problem encountered by students using a lab computer.
- Do I have to notify Washburn of my intention to take an exam using a computer?
- Yes. You must notify Kerri Pelton in the Clinic, Room 253, 670-1010 ext. 1693, by the deadline set by the school of your intention to take any specific examination using a computer, usually your laptop computer.
- Can I change my mind after notifying Washburn of my intention to take an exam using a laptop?
- Yes. You can decide to handwrite your exam at any time, including during the examination. However, if prior to the examination you definitely decide not to take your examination on your laptop, you must nevertheless notify Kerri Pelton as soon as possible. Note: once you have registered with ExamSoft as explained below, you must pay the fee (also described below) even if you later change your mind and decide not to take your exam on computer.
- If I notify Washburn of my intention to take an exam on computer by the deadline does that guarantee that I will be allowed to take the exam on computer?
- Unfortunately, no. Since the classroom space for exams on computer is limited, if a very high number of students request permission during any particular examination slot, some students will be denied the ability to use computers for an exam. In such situations, students will be notified well in advance of the exam. Generally, students will be selected to fill the available slots chronologically based on the date they notified Washburn of their intention to take that exam using their laptop computer. Additionally, students may be denied the ability to take their exams on a laptop if they have not complied with the other requirements set forth in this FAQ.
- Will computer exams be given in the same classroom with non-computer exam takers?
- No. Special classrooms will be designated for the use of students taking exams on laptops and qualifying students will be notified of their particular room assignment prior to the examination. Additionally, it is possible that some students in your examination room may be taking the exam for a different course and may have different time constraints.
- If I am in a special computer laptop exam room, how do I get my examination and still preserve the anonymity of my exam?
- A proctor will be in your specially assigned computer room and will have obtained a copy of your examination and will provide it to you in the exam room.
- NOTE: It is an honor code violation to look at the exam prior to being told to do so by the proctor! The time of when to begin and end your exam will be governed by the proctor, not the professor administering the exam in the handwritten exam room. You should return the exam to the proctor in the computer exam room, not directly to your professor, unless the proctor specifically tells you the exam is yours to keep. Your exam, together with the other computer exams for that class, will be printed by the proctor after the exam ends and will then be provided to the professor.
- Do I have to use exam time to print a copy of my exam?
- No. You may use the full amount of exam time working on your exam answers. At the end of the allotted time, the proctor will ask you to stop. You will then save your work and proceed to sign out of SofTest. The answers will be printed by the proctor after the exam and then given to the professor for grading.
- What is SofTest from ExamSoft?
- SofTest is a software program created by ExamSoft Worldwide, Inc. that enables students to take their exams on a laptop computer. SofTest locks down all other Windows applications thereby reducing the risk of violations of the student honor code. SofTest serves as a simplified word processor similar to Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect for essay responses and includes cut, copy, paste features, font size and style adjustment, and the ability to undo up to 50 previous actions per essay question window. The software is downloaded onto your individual laptop computer from the ExamSoft website (Here).
- Will SofTest work on my laptop computer?
- Yes, if you have a pc with the following minimum requirements:
- CPU = 200 Mhz
- RAM = 64 MB
- Drives = 50 MB of free space and one floppy drive
- Operating System = English versions of Windows 98, ME, 2000 (Pro), and XP (Home, Pro & Tablet PC)
- Software = Internet Explorer or greater
- Internet Connection = An Inernet connection is required to download SofTest (AOL users must have AOL 6.0 or higher).
- How do I register and download my copy of SofTest?
- You are required to register and download the SofTest software from the "Exam Takers" section of the www.examsoft.com/washburnlaw website (Here). Laptop-exam takers should download the software on the laptop they will be using in the exam. Non-laptop-exam takers, i.e., those students who will be taking the exam on a Washburn desktop computer, should download the software on their home computer (whether desktop or laptop). They need to do this so they can complete the registration process and have the SofTest practice exam to practice with at their leisure. Once desktop-exam takers have completed the registration process and practiced with the practice exam as much as they want, they (but not those who will be taking their exams on their laptops) are free to uninstall the software.
- Step 1: Log In - (30 seconds) Enter your Student ID # (WIN #) and password (WIN #).
- Step 2: Download - Downloading SofTest takes minutes on high-speed Inernet connections and 30-60 minutes on dial-up connections.
- Step 3: Qualification Exam - (5-10 minutes) To familiarize yourself with the software prior to exam day, you will take a mach exam.
- Step 4: Register SofTest - (1 minute) Once registered, you will be notified on-screen that you hve completed the process and you will also receive a confirmation e-mail to the address you provided in Step 1. Note that you must register SofTest by April 15, 2005, or you must hand write your exam.
To ensure that all students download the SofTest software in advance of the exam date, ExamSoft will terminate a student's ability to download the software on a specified date! However, students will need to download the software in advance of this date in order to participate in one of the SofTest training sessions required by Washburn, as discussed below. Registration must be completed for the exam software to function properly. If SofTest is not registered by the announced date, the application will not work when you arrive at the exam and your responses will have to be handwritten. If you have any questions or problems registering or downloading SofTest, contact ExamSoft technical support at: support@examsoft.com or call toll free 866.429.8889 or 954.429.8889.
- Do I have to pay anything for downloading the SofTest software?
- There is a modest licensing fee associated with registering the software. Students taking computer exams must pay a $30 fee. This fee covers all exams taken in one academic year. Payment must be made to Kerri Pelton in Room 253 in the Clinic by a date set by the school. Checks should be made payable to "Washburn Law School."
- Can you explain the registration process in more detail?
- Registration is a five-step process. The website (Here) will walk you through the process after you click on the "Exam Takers" tab. Generally, the process involves entering a valid email address; receiving a password from ExamSoft; downloading the SofTest software over the internet; entering your name, ID number (see below), and password on the registration form; performing a Qualification Exam to verify the proper installation of the software; and receiving a registration number. The Qualification Exam will entail a reboot of your computer. Students requiring more detailed instructions can find them on the internet here. To read PDF files you need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader which is available at the Adobe web site.
- What ID number do I use in the registration process?
- Sign up with ExamSoft in Step 1 using your WIN # as your Student ID and password. NOTE: You will need this number again and password to register SofTest and to dowload exam files.
- How do I know the software has been properly installed?
- After registering SofTest, you will receive a registration confirmation e-mail from support@examsoft.com and the Registration number along with the registration date will be recorded. Additionally, when SofTest is launched, the Start Window will indicate that your "Registration" is "Complete."
- What happens if I don't take the Qualification Exam?
- If you fail to complete the Qualification Exam successfully, then your computer will not allow you to take exams using the software. Your registration will be incomplete and your name will not appear on the list of registered students provided to Washburn by ExamSoft.
- How do I know that I have been properly registered?
- After receiving your registration confirmation e-mail from support@examsoft.com you may also re-confirm your registration by going to the ExamSoft website (here), clicking on the "Exam Takers" tab, and then clicking on the "Confirm Registration" link.
- How reliable is SofTest?
- SofTest has a considerable number of safety features designed to ensure that answers typed into SofTest cannot be lost. They include:
- An AutoSave feature that automatically saves two separate encrypted copies of the exam answer file on a rotating basis every sixty seconds during the exam. This is designed to ensure that at most 59 seconds of work could be lost in the event of a power outage or computer shutdown. Retaining an encrypted copy of the exam on the laptop computer's hard drive following the exam in the event a problem occurred. At times, just as computers freeze/lock for no apparent reason while using any Windows-based software programs, some computers will freeze during the examination. Generally, you can restart the computer and re-enter the exam in the amount of time it normally takes to reboot Windows. See the discussion below for more information on what to do if your computer freezes during the exam. Even if you are unable to re-enter an exam for the purpose of allowing you to complete taking it on your laptop, the portion of the exam that was completed prior to the freeze should be recoverable for grading purposes. However, in such situations you will need to complete the remainder of the examination by hand in standard bluebooks.
- Can I practice using SofTest before the exam?
- Yes. After you install and register SofTest, launch the program by double-clicking the SofTest icon on your Windows Desktop. Click the "Take an Exam" button. On the SofTest Start Window, select "Practice Exam." This enables you to familiarize yourself with the SofTest exam environment. You may use the Practice Exam as many times as you wish. However, note that the Practice Exam cannot be printed or saved.
- How Often Must I Register My Software?
- You must download, reinstall, and register the ExamSoft software each academic year unless you are instructed otherwise.
- What MUST I do Prior to Exam Day?
-
- Register SofTest by the signup deadline. Note that you can redownload SofTest on additional computers for use as backups, however, you can typically only download exam files once so only do so on the computer you intend to use on exam day.
- Ensure: (1) that your PC meets the specifications listed above, (2) that there is plenty of free hard drive space, (3) that your PC is virus free, and (4) that your PC is free of disk errors by running SCANDISK (click Start Button, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Scandisk or Disk Cleanup).
- Once you have installed and registered SofTest, familiarize yourself with the software by utilizing the built-in Practice Exam feature.
- Download your exams. SofTest FlexSite users (i.e., students who download their exams from the Internet) will need to use the Student ID number and password submitted during Step 1 of the registration process.
- Locate your A/C - battery power indicator light on your laptop to determine which light indicates you are running on A/C power (i.e., power from a wall or desk outlet).
- Ensure that your battery has at least 20 minutes of charge in it prior to the exam in the event there is a temporary power outage.
- If you encounter issues with the use of SofTest, you should visit the FAQ Page.
- What Must I do on Exam Day?
- Bring your power cord, battery (in the event of power loss), and an extension cord. If you normally use an external keyboard and mouse, be sure to bring those as well. If you wish to use earplugs, please be sure to bring your own.
Arrive at the exam room at least 15 minutes early, plug your computer into a power outlet, turn on the computer, and follow the instructions provided in the test room. You are responsible for ensuring that your computer is properly connected to the provided outlet, is in fact receiving AC power from the outlet, and is otherwise functioning properly in advance of the examination. NOTE: The proctor will NOT delay the scheduled start time of the examination merely due to you encountering hardware or software problems.
Do not uninstall SofTest until you receive your exam scores at the end of the academic year.
Immediately before SofTest launches the exam, you will be provided a warning screen with RED STOP SIGNS indicating that you should not begin the exam until instructed to do so. Heed this warning.
- What should I do if I have a technical problem or my laptop freezes?
- While limited technical support solely regarding the function of the SofTest program will be available from a central proctor (i.e., one not physically present in the examination room), no hardware support or other technical assistance will be provided by Washburn.
- In the event that a computer crashes or freezes during an examination, the student may try restarting/rebooting the machine in an attempt to rectify the technical problem. In most cases such a reboot will permit the student to continue his or her laptop exam normally (i.e., rebooting should automatically restart SofTest in a secure environment and return the student to the point immediately before the error occurred). If restarting the laptop does not rectify the problem and automatically return the student to the SofTest program or if a serous malfunction occurs, students should complete the remainder of the examination in handwriting using standard bluebooks. Since SofTest saves frequently, any examination responses written prior to the error should be recoverable after the examination and therefore it is only necessary to complete any unanswered questions.
- Will I be given extra time or other accommodations if I have a computer malfunction during the examination?
- No. Students should be aware that they are solely responsible for any technical or other problem that may arise during an examination. Washburn assumes no responsibility for any interruption in power, for any computer mechanical breakdown, or for any problem you may encounter using your laptop, a Washburn desktop computer, or SofTest. No extra time or any other consideration or accommodation will be allowed for any interruption in power or any computer or software malfunction, whether it is isolated or widespread. You assume all risks of using a computer to take your examination. If you have a serious malfunction, you should immediately begin handwriting the remainder of the examination. Prior answers should be recoverable from your hard drive after the examination. However, in the unlikely event that the backup copy of your examination answers is ultimately unrecoverable from your hard drive after the examination, then the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, in consultation with the professor for the course, may prescribe an appropriate accommodation.
- Are there other things I should keep in mind?
- During the exam, use extreme care when highlighting and deleting, as well as using other functions that may significantly change a document because SofTest only allows the exam taker to undo the last 50 actions. Students who do not take the time to become familiar with their laptop computer or with word processing functions, should seriously consider handwriting their exams. No administrative relief will be granted in the event that all or a portion of an exam file is deleted or otherwise altered! Once you register your copy of SofTest, the school will be charged the license fee.
- DO NOT ATTEMPT TO RESOLVE COMPUTER ISSUES ON YOUR OWN. ASK FOR THE ASSISTANCE OF THE PROCTOR IMMEDIATELY.
- ANY ATTEMPT TO DISABLE OR TAMPER WITH SOFTEST'S SECURITY FEATURES WILL BE CONSIDERED A VIOLATION OF THE STUDENT HONOR CODE. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH YOUR EQUIPMENT AND THE SOFTEST SOFTWARE AND INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY EXAMSOFT ON ITS WEBSITE PRIOR TO THE START OF YOUR EXAM. PLEASE ALLOW YOURSELF SUFFICIENT TIME TO BECOME FAMILIAR WITH YOUR LAPTOP AND THE APPLICATION. COMMENCEMENT OF THE EXAM WILLNOT BE DELAYED DUE TO A HARDWARE PROBLEM WITH YOUR LAPTOP.
