Exams

[Ozone]

I'm just wondering how you all handle exams done on the computer in your school. This morning I had 10 computers to setup all in different rooms all for an exam start time of 12:00 (when I only get the exam paper at 11:45) and find the exams all starting late as it's just myself and can't be in 10 rooms at one time. I was wondering if there was a trick I was missing! Our current procedure is:

 

1. Add the exam paper to a hidden share that only myself and the exam account has access to when I receive the paper (only get it 15 minutes before the exam).

2. Then run to each machine that requires the paper and login using a special exam account. The login script secures the account (no programs, internet access disabled, no desktop shortcuts - I'm not allowed to use GP!) The login script then creates a secure share on the server that only that PC can access, and an exam paper is copied to this share and the share is then mapped onto the users computer.

3. I then get the student to open up the PDF paper, save the paper as their name (to help identify the paper if needed) and remind them to save throughout the paper. The invigilator then takes over until the end of the exam.

4. At the end of the exam, I then return to each computer, print out the paper for the student, get the student to then check it then hand to the invigilator.

 

I was just wondering if there's a better way to be doing things that is less resource heavy - each year there seems to be more and more students wanting to do exams on computers and only one me!

[PyROm]

We have an exam account we log into the machines the students will be taking exams on. We tend to use Impero to log them in remotely (normally we use an entire classroom with all people who need computer readers/writers in the same room). The account locks everything down (even shutdown/reboot to stop them changing accounts easily, needing Impero to log off cleanly). The desktop is redirected to a shared folder, just before the exam starts the exam paper is dropped into that folder, so it appears on the desktops of those doing exams, the invigilators are trained in the use of F5 should it not appear fast enough.

 

For those who are typing, the invigilators have labelled blank memory sticks, they insert them into the relevant pc`s and tell the students to save the the drive. At the end the memory sticks are collected and handed to the exam officer along with the test papers, the exam officer then prints the work from the usb sticks.

[DrBeaker]

To give more context - What's your role within the school?

[Ozone]

We have an exam account we log into the machines the students will be taking exams on. We tend to use Impero to log them in remotely (normally we use an entire classroom with all people who need computer readers/writers in the same room). The account locks everything down (even shutdown/reboot to stop them changing accounts easily, needing Impero to log off cleanly). The desktop is redirected to a shared folder, just before the exam starts the exam paper is dropped into that folder, so it appears on the desktops of those doing exams, the invigilators are trained in the use of F5 should it not appear fast enough.

 

For those who are typing, the invigilators have labelled blank memory sticks, they insert them into the relevant pc`s and tell the students to save the the drive. At the end the memory sticks are collected and handed to the exam officer along with the test papers, the exam officer then prints the work from the usb sticks.

We are in the process of rolling out ABTutor to all of our machines as we migrate to Windows 10 so might be able to automate some of this functionality you have. I wish we could have all the exams in one room but I think individual rooms are used due to student requirements.

 

We used to use USB sticks but had to ban them as a student was caught bringing a stick into an exam with answers on it!

 

 

To give more context - What's your role within the school?

 

ICT Technician.

[CHiLL]

Most of the time we don't log the devices in ourselves, we have instructions for the pupils to follow before the exam officially starts. We have 99 exam accounts in AD and our exams officer allocates those accounts to a specific pupil for the duration of the examination period. The computer or laptop that is being used has a copy of those instructions.

 

So our procedure is:

1) Copy the paper and other materials to the shared drive

2) Exams invigilator sets up the rooms and places instructions

3) Students log on with their instructions

4) Students copy the open their exam software (ExamWritePad for us) and save it to their Documents

5) Students start and finish the exam

6) At the end of the exam, before the student leaves, completed papers are then printed by ourselves and co-signed by the student.

7) We then archive off and wipe the Exam home folder areas.

 

We generally don't use lots of rooms at the same time because we'd need an invigilator per room and we don't have enough (or simply won't employ more) exam invigilators. We always ensure there are spare computers or laptops available.

 

The only time this is different is when we do Pearson online tests because they all log in to the computers as the same basic account and use the Pearson software, with specific Pearson login details. (Pearson software has restrictions built-in to prevent using other software at the same time - it's full screen and locks out if it detects 'loss of focus'.

Edited January 20, 2020 by CHiLL

[jthompson]

Our exams coordinator will book out rooms for exam use as necessary. We tend to stick to the same room(s) as much as possible, so that we can focus on preparing computers with GPOs, keyboard/mouse checks and checking that power cables are not loose.

Students are assigned individual exam accounts, which for actual examinations with allocated seating are typically signed on beforehand by staff. Each account has a dedicated user area.

Exam papers are supplied on paper, rather than electronically.

GPOs are applied to computers/users that are being used for exams. These adjust Windows power settings so that PCs can stay awake for several hours of inactivity before sleeping, Windows updates are adjusted to try and avoid mandatory restarts, restricted apps (e.g. Calculcator) are blocked and SPAG tools are disabled if necessary. We've started using ExamWritePad in most instances now (auto-saves to user area, with auto-backups to local profile).

Students sign printouts of their exam scripts before leaving.