Exams Process and Laptops

[Brax]

Good Morning all!

 

Bit of a generic question but I feel it would help knowing how others operate. What is your process for I.T support/provision when it comes to exams? It eats up a lot of my time which is fine as exams are the most crucial part of the school but just wondering how everyone approaches it?

 

Thanks

[CHiLL]

We have a set of laptops used for exams and then a bunch of exam accounts numbered exam01, exam02, etc..with networked home folders and a read-only shared drive if any resources are required. The details are passed to our exams officer and we leave all the accounts disabled, except for the ones she allocates to students. The exams officer tells us where to put the laptop and they're left on that student's exam desk for the duration of the exam period. The exam accounts are locked down significantly and only have access to the apps we specify, such as Exam WritePad. Completed exams are saved in that account's home folder, which we can print out after the exam.

[Olliedawg]

We have a set of laptops used for exams and then a bunch of exam accounts numbered exam01, exam02, etc..with networked home folders and a read-only shared drive if any resources are required. The details are passed to our exams officer and we leave all the accounts disabled, except for the ones she allocates to students. The exams officer tells us where to put the laptop and they're left on that student's exam desk for the duration of the exam period. The exam accounts are locked down significantly and only have access to the apps we specify, such as Exam WritePad. Completed exams are saved in that account's home folder, which we can print out after the exam.

 

I used a process very similar to Chill, works great. Not much input required from me at all. ExamWritePad is a great application to use for word processing - i recommend it if you don't already use it.

[Brax]

We have a set of laptops used for exams and then a bunch of exam accounts numbered exam01, exam02, etc..with networked home folders and a read-only shared drive if any resources are required. The details are passed to our exams officer and we leave all the accounts disabled, except for the ones she allocates to students. The exams officer tells us where to put the laptop and they're left on that student's exam desk for the duration of the exam period. The exam accounts are locked down significantly and only have access to the apps we specify, such as Exam WritePad. Completed exams are saved in that account's home folder, which we can print out after the exam.

Interesting thank you. Really basic question but if they're networked how do you deal with restricting the internet?

[Olliedawg]

Restrict edge / chrome / other browsers from being opened via group policy

[BFCIT]

Interesting thank you. Really basic question but if they're networked how do you deal with restricting the internet?

Just as an alternative to restricting opening the browser, we make the proxy details tab within browsers inaccessible and add in a bogus proxy via GPO to stop the internet working, works well for us. If its an ICT on screen exam we help staff use Net Support Tutor built in tools to disable the internet.

[mavhc]

Create Exam-Username for everyone, with random password from dinopass api, those users are in the Exam group which has restrictions applied, delete profile after each exam is signed off, teachers get the list of passwords, and disabling/enabling accounts ensures they're not used at other times. Use the same laptops are for the rest of the time

[robintech]

ExamWritePad and auto logon domain accounts, blocked the domain accounts on the firewall from internet and GPO for Wifi so it can only connect using our Wifi Certiicate, so can't be spoofed somehow.

Saves to their Home drive on the file server and locally to the laptop in the backup folder

 

Still not got it 100% as they don't always seem to be able to reach their home drive in some cases.

Edited April 28, 2023 by ittech2342323

[msi_school]

1. Domain Computers
   
2. Individual Exam Accounts
   
3. Users only have access to the exam account user area
   
4. Internet blocked at smoothwall
   
5. Specific Exam Laptops set up and left for the exam period
   

[Rob_D]

We use domain laptops (Exams have their own set purely because our library laptops keep getting trashed and apparently it's unfair to make someone do an exam on a laptop without an A key) and exams user accounts in the Smoothwall no-internet group and with SRP blocking everything except word, notepad and examwritepad. Accounts have their My Docs emptied at the end of each day, and are re-generated each year. For printing, the invigilators get a print release card that all the exams accounts are assigned to.

 

Although when the network went down and we had to pull something together at the last minute the exam officer was happy with, if examwritepad is open full-screen and needs a password to exit (and they're being watched by invigilators) then we probably don't need to lock down much else.

[jthompson]

We have sets of exam accounts for each subject (exam.sci0000, exam.sci0001...) as sometimes assessments are spread out over a number of weeks. A student could therefore be assigned more than one exam account, depending on the subjects they're taking. That makes it easier to keep track of them and to know when accounts are able to be recycled. Spreadsheets of names, exam usernames and passwords shared to staff as required. Staff sometimes need write access to the exam account user areas, so separating them into subject-specific sets allows those privileges to be more easily minimised.

 

Passwords are all unique.

 

If web access is prohibited, we assign non-functional proxy details via GPO. If access is required only for certain website, then we configure Chrome and Edge URL block/allow lists via GPO.

 

If any apps are to be prohibited (e.g. Calculator, Excel) then we block those for the accounts using AppLocker.

 

ExamWritePad is used in most instances.

 

Computers used for exams will have a GPO applied which adjusts the Windows power plan to keep the machines awake for several hours before sleeping.

 

We always try to keep on top on Windows updates ahead of exams as well, to avoid forced restarts.

Edited May 3, 2023 by jthompson

[Bompalompalomp]

Similar to pretty much everything above, but streamlined in a couple of ways for us:

 

We gave the exams officer a small laptop trolley with restricted laptops that are only able to use ExamWritePad - with one of them configured for having spellcheck as sometimes an exam allows for it.

 

Laptops are not networked, and have identical easy passwords (hint: the username is "exam") across them to the locked down user, work is printed to a WiFi Direct printer (Epson ET-4850 that lives on top of the trolley) and then deleted after use. Printing was the biggest problem for us, as the exams officer needs to print and send off the exams pretty shortly after finishing sometimes, so we gave them a printer to use and the exams officer was shown how to clean the printer heads before exam season to make sure it's working when needed. The laptops are configured to only see the printer's SSID, as we had a number of pupils wreck their printing by trying to connect to the school wifi.

 

With proper instruction and the exam officer/invigilators running it properly, we don't get these back much now and they pretty much run themselves. Maybe once a year or term I'll gather them all back and update them/upgrade ExamWritePad.

[SayLHP]

Do you guys remove all the windows apps, such as solitaire, Skype, calculator etc?

 

Only reason I ask, the elevated powershell command:

 

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers

 

(I’ve probably typed it out wrong, but I’ve spent all day on it) Has stopped working, we’re on Windows 10 22H2. I also had a text file for all the registry entries to prevent it re-deploying with a windows update. Had it working before I went on leave for a week!

 

Driving me up the wall, leave the pupils and inch and they’ll be playing solitaire offline in the exam given a chance [emoji102]

[Olliedawg]

Do you guys remove all the windows apps, such as solitaire, Skype, calculator etc?

 

Only reason I ask, the elevated powershell command:

 

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers

 

(I’ve probably typed it out wrong, but I’ve spent all day on it) Has stopped working, we’re on Windows 10 22H2. I also had a text file for all the registry entries to prevent it re-deploying with a windows update. Had it working before I went on leave for a week!

 

Driving me up the wall, leave the pupils and inch and they’ll be playing solitaire offline in the exam given a chance [emoji102]

 

What exam software do you use? ExamWritePad allows you to force fullscreen mode, while disabling all of the shortcut keys to exit, such as alt+f4, ctrl+w, alt+tab etc..

[Brax]

Do you guys remove all the windows apps, such as solitaire, Skype, calculator etc?

 

Only reason I ask, the elevated powershell command:

 

Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers

 

(I’ve probably typed it out wrong, but I’ve spent all day on it) Has stopped working, we’re on Windows 10 22H2. I also had a text file for all the registry entries to prevent it re-deploying with a windows update. Had it working before I went on leave for a week!

 

Driving me up the wall, leave the pupils and inch and they’ll be playing solitaire offline in the exam given a chance [emoji102]

Yes and we block access to the start menu so they can only open from the desktop stuff like Word, Claro Reader or Adobe Reader. I can't remember what commands we used off of the top of my head my head though sorry, but I have documented it at work.

[jthompson]

We use AppLocker to block access to Calculator, Office apps etc as required for the conditions of each exam.

[SayLHP]

Would just like to thank you for suggesting ExamWritePad. Completely saved my bacon this week.

 

I just set up as normal laptops with Papercut MF and the exam officer and SLT approved them.

 

Going to see the exam officer tomorrow and set up form 2 and form 4 tomorrow which will make him very happy!

[gaz350b]

Nice thing is there is a json file that you can configure for various scenarios. Drop in which one you need for each exam.

 

We actually manage the entire process including mocks for both our year 10 and 12s that are going on during the same 4 weeks as 11 & 13’s

 

It’s madness!

[SayLHP]

Nice thing is there is a json file that you can configure for various scenarios. Drop in which one you need for each exam.

 

We actually manage the entire process including mocks for both our year 10 and 12s that are going on during the same 4 weeks as 11 & 13’s

 

It’s madness!

 

All helps if your exam officer actually communicates, they think a phone call 5 mins before the exam is good!

 

I’ve asked for a timetable of exams and numbers of laptops required for each one. I’ve configured the json file for the year 10/11s but none of the year 12/13 have needed them this year.

[CalmBlueOcean]

We only have ever have a small handful of students using laptops in exam halls.

We disable the wireless card, have a local Exam account that gets logged in by us, all with the same password.

Notepad file is opened for them, they are told to save it on the desktop or Documents area.

Office is blocked using security permissions.

When finished, we put the files onto USB stick, print them off and hand them back to the exams officer or invigilator.

 

Will look into this ExamWritePad though!

[gaz350b]

All helps if your exam officer actually communicates, they think a phone call 5 mins before the exam is good!

 

I’ve asked for a timetable of exams and numbers of laptops required for each one. I’ve configured the json file for the year 10/11s but none of the year 12/13 have needed them this year.

 

Oh for sure we work closely throughout the year with the exams officer and the senco who does all the work behind the scenes supporting students from year 7 onwards.

 

6th form tends to be a bit more adhoc but we do get there in the end.

 

Because it normally ends up looking bad on us we make our own timetable from an export of exam entries.

Mocks tend to be a bit more difficult though.

Edited May 24, 2023 by gaz350b

[SayLHP]

We only have ever have a small handful of students using laptops in exam halls.

We disable the wireless card, have a local Exam account that gets logged in by us, all with the same password.

Notepad file is opened for them, they are told to save it on the desktop or Documents area.

Office is blocked using security permissions.

When finished, we put the files onto USB stick, print them off and hand them back to the exams officer or invigilator.

 

Will look into this ExamWritePad though!

 

Definitely recommend it, I've only set up some laptops as normal with no restrictions, cleared the desktop of any shortcuts apart from ExamWritePad and set it to open fullscreen mode. Only myself and the Exam Officer have the password to remove the full screen mode. Working brilliantly!

 

Oh for sure we work closely throughout the year with the exams officer and the senco who does all the work behind the scenes supporting students from year 7 onwards.

 

6th form tends to be a bit more adhoc but we do get there in the end.

 

Because it normally ends up looking bad on us we make our own timetable from an export of exam entries.

Mocks tend to be a bit more difficult though.

 

I'm just a bit fed up of people not thinking about the IT Provision at any point during the planning, apart from at the last minute. However, ExamWritePad made me look super pro/on the ball this year (this post is not a sponsored ad!)

[SayLHP]

After a full exam season of using ExamWritePad, I second my post above and utterly recommend it. I didn't have time to play around with GPO's this season and it completely saved my bacon. I just set my laptops up as normal and installed ExamWritePad, gave the Exam Officer a run through along with how to print, try to get out of it, etc) and it has been perfect.

 

The backup frequency has worked a treat, prevented any anxiety ridden self-sabotage with the delete key near the end of the exam.

[mikes]

Anyone having more and more kids needing laptops for exams? We have a separate suite locked down like others here, it used to be 2 or 3, then 5 or 6, now it's 15 ??? Once one student has one everyone else suddenly needs one too

[Brax]

Anyone having more and more kids needing laptops for exams? We have a separate suite locked down like others here, it used to be 2 or 3, then 5 or 6, now it's 15 ??? Once one student has one everyone else suddenly needs one too

Yes, has been slowly increasing year on year. We've reduced the need for laptop's substantially by phasing out Claro Reader and going to reader pens. Those needing a word processor has increased for younger years though. Last summer we really struggled as the exam hall simply didn't have enough power sockets.