Comparing off-campus digital open book exam options

Off-campus digital open book exams scheduled with the Exams Office can choose between four different digital assessment types. Each of these assessment types is detailed below and includes links to relevant resources, exam features and other technical considerations to help determine which assessment type is most suitable for your exam situation.

For details of the off-campus digital open book exams option visit the exams site.

Use this table to compare different aspects of the four standard online exam types/tools. For more detail on each tool, view the pages linked above.

LMS Quizzes (as off-campus digital open book exams) LMS Assignments (as off-campus digital open book exams) Cadmus (as off-campus digital open book exams) Gradescope (as off-campus digital open book exams)
Build
Platform/submission type A mix of question types including multiple choice, short answer, file upload and essay Submissions are made via document upload or text entry Submissions are made by text entry directly into the Cadmus interface Upload of hand–written responses in PDF format, as well as options for multiple choice and short answer questions completed in the Gradescope interface
Accepted file types for submission Any – for file upload question type only Any – can limit types None – answers submitted directly into Cadmus interface PDF submitted via Gradescope interface
Question Banks for Quiz Questions Yes NA NA No
Turnitin Similarity Checking Yes – Using the Quiz to Turnitin Tool Yes Yes No
Time limit Optional - included as part of exam creation but can be removed.
It is recommended that LMS Quizzes (no timer) is used for exams with a file upload component*         		No Optional - enable in Cadmus settings (recommended) Optional - enable in Gradescope settings
Student submission
Countdown to end of exam for students Timer - Yes
No timer - No         		No Yes Yes
Auto–submit Timer - at end of Time Limit or Until date
No timer - at the Until date         		No Yes – when timer used, student  is prompted to submit or  have their submission marked as late Yes – for timed Online Assignments
Student locked from submitting When Time Limit/Until date reached When Until due date reached When Until date or Cadmus Final Due date reached When Until date or Gradescope Late Due date reached
Student works autosaved Yes – as students complete each question No – in text entry submissions – saved on submission
In file upload – needs to be saved in application 		Yes – every 3–5 seconds Yes – for the Online Assignment assessment type.
No – for file upload assignments.
Students get extra 30 minutes buffer to submit Timer - No
No timer - Yes
It is recommended that no timer is used and that students get a 30 minute buffer if the file upload question type is used* 		Yes – submission is marked late Yes – submission is marked late Yes – submission is marked late.
No – when there is a timer
Students get email confirmation of No – on screen confirmation only No – on screen confirmation only Yes Yes
Marking
Grading platform SpeedGrader SpeedGrader Turnitin – Feedback Studio or SpeedGrader Gradescope
Automatic marking Yes – for some question types NA NA Yes – for some question types
Marking by rubric Yes – SpeedGrader rubrics Yes – SpeedGrader rubrics Yes – Turnitin Feedback Studio rubrics
Yes –SpeedGrader rubrics     		Yes – Gradescope dynamic rubric can be created and updated during marking
LMS sections available Yes Yes No - in Feedback Studio
Yes - in SpeedGrader 		No - Feature exists but does not work as expected
LMS groups available Yes Yes No - in Feedback Studio
Yes - in SpeedGrader 		No
Option to mark by section Yes Yes No - in Feedback Studio
Yes - in SpeedGrader 		No - Feature exists but does not work as expected
Option to mark by group Yes Yes Yes – in Cadmus, if you make your own groups
Yes – in Speedgrader 		No – does not sync with LMS groups
Submissions can be downloaded Yes – as Excel spreadsheet with all submissions Yes Yes - as a PDF Yes – for uploaded files only
File upload option available in Exam/Quiz and Homework/Problem activity types
Alternative exam arrangements (AEAs) present in assignment as part of assignment creation Yes Yes No – AEAs need to be created manually No – AEAs need to be created manually

Tips

  • Ensure your paper has gone through the Board of Examiners checklist and your local review processes.
  • Share student exams support with students.
  • Do not copy forward exams, recreate them to ensure links and images are not broken.
  • Prior to the exam, provide a practice exam opportunity for students.
  • LMS Classic Quiz: Check that the images are stored in files and published in the subjects with alt text.
  • Show all quiz questions together to save time and prevent data loss for students with poor internet.
  • LMS Classic Quiz: if using question banks from previous delivery ensure they are copied to the new version of the subject.
  • Do not adjust any AEA settings.
  • Gradescope and Cadmus: ensure release and due dates match what is in the LMS shell, and AEAs are set up.
  • Ensure your exam is added to your LMS exam shell by the Monday prior to the week of your exam.

This guide was last updated 10 Sep 2025.

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