Comparing on-campus supervised exam options
Invigilated supervised exams scheduled with the Exams Office can choose between five different digital assessment types. Each assessment type 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.
Overview of on-campus exams
| On-campus written exam (unscanned) | On-campus written exam (scanned) | On-campus digital exams (LMS Classic Quiz) | On-campus digital exams (Cadmus) | On-campus digital + supplied printed material (LMS Quiz or Cadmus) | On-campus digital exam with written component (LMS Quiz or Cadmus) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University exam venue with in-person invigilation | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Response type | Handwritten | Handwritten (scanned for digital marking) | Digital | Digital | Digital (with printed reference material for reading) | Digital (with printed answer booklet for questions that require handwritten responses) |
| Main features | Exams are returned for manual marking | After completion, exams are scanned for digital marking | LockDown Browser limits student access during the Canvas Quiz. | LockDown Browser limits student access during the Cadmus exam. | Answers are digital but may include printed material for reading/reference |
Most answers are digital but there can be an additional printed answered booklet for questions that require handwritten responses, such as hand drawn diagrams and charts. There is an option to request for the written component to be scanned. |
| Marking platform | Manual | Gradescope | Canvas or Gradescope | Cadmus | Digital | Digital Written component (scanned): Gradescope Written component (unscanned): Manual, dept discretion |
| Expected turnaround time | Within 1 business days | Within 3 business days | Instant | Instant | Instant | Digital: Instant Written component (scanned): Within 3 business days Written component (unscanned): Within 1 business day |
Additional information
| On-campus written exam (unscanned) | On-campus written exam (scanned) | On-campus digital exam (LMS Quiz) | On-campus digital exam (Cadmus) | On-campus digital plus supplied printed material (LMS Quiz or Cadmus) | On-campus digital exam with written component (LMS Quiz or Cadmus) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reading time | 15 minutes/30 minutes | 15 minutes/30 minutes | 15 minutes/30 minutes | 15 minutes/30 minutes | 15 minutes/30 minutes | 15 minutes/30 minutes |
| Writing time options | 90/120/180 minutes | 90/120/180 minutes | 90/120/180 minutes | 90/120/180 minutes | 90/120/180 minutes | 90/120/180 minutes |
| Turnitin Similarity Checking | N/A | N/A | Yes – Using the Quiz to Turnitin Tool | Yes | Yes | Yes (for digital component, may need to use the Quiz to Turnitin Tool) |
| Compatibility with LockDown Browser | N/A | N/A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (for digital component) |
| MCQ only exams | Not available | Not available | Available | Not available | Available (LMS Quiz) | Not available |
| Set-up requirements | Instructors must draft the exam; no digital setup needed | Instructors must draft the exam as per the guidelines; no digital setup required | A Quiz is created automatically in Canvas. Instructors must add questions and content and LockDown Browser for the quiz | An Assignment is created automatically in Canvas. Instructors must set up the Cadmus assignment and set LockDown Browser for the Cadmus exam | In addition to the Canvas digital exam, instructors must also prepare and submit printed materials | LMS Classic Quiz: A quiz is created automatically in Canvas. Instructors must add questions and content and Lockdown Browser for the quiz Cadmus: An assignment is created automatically in Canvas. Instructors must set up the Cadmus assignment and set LockDown Browser for the Cadmus Exam Written component: Instructors must draft the exam paper for relevant handwritten questions as per the guidelines. Ensure space is available for student answers. |
| Exam materials and device requirements | Only required permitted materials allowed | Only required permitted materials allowed | Students can either bring their own device (BYOD) or request a fleet laptop for the exam. | Students can either bring their own device (BYOD) or request a fleet laptop for the exam | Students can either bring their own device (BYOD) or request a fleet laptop for the exam | Students can either bring their own device (BYOD) or request a fleet laptop for the exam. |
| Student preparation | Students should come prepared with essential writing materials and be familiar with the exam format and content | Students should come prepared with essential writing materials and be familiar with the exam format and content | Students must download LockDown Browser for LMS quizzes. It's strongly recommended that students take the practice exam in the LockDown Browser Community | Students must download LockDown Browser for Cadmus. It's strongly recommended you conduct a practice LMS Assignment with Cadmus for your students | Students must download the relevant version of LockDown Browser for their digital exam and are strongly recommended to take a practice exam using the LockDown Browser. See the preparing your students for exams guide | Students must download the relevant version of LockDown Browser for their digital exam and are strongly recommended to take a practice exam using the LockDown Browser. Students should come prepared with essential writing materials and be familiar with the exam format and content. See the preparing your students for exams guide |
| Student works autosaved | N/A | N/A | Yes – as students complete each question | Yes – every 3–5 seconds | Yes (LMS Quiz: as students complete each question, Cadmus: every 3-5 seconds) | Yes (LMS Quiz: as students complete each question, Cadmus: every 3-5 seconds) |
| Automatic marking | No | Yes – for some question types | Yes – for some question types | N/A | Yes – for some question types | Yes (for some question types in LMS Quiz) |
| Marking by digital rubric | No | Yes – Gradescope rubrics |
Yes – SpeedGrader rubrics Yes – Gradescope rubrics | Yes - SpeedGrader and Feedback Studio | Yes | LMS Classic Quiz: SpeedGrader or Gradescope rubrics Cadmus: SpeedGrader or Feedback Studio rubrics Written component (scanned): Gradescope rubrics |
| LMS sections available | No | No | Yes |
No - in Feedback Studio Yes - in SpeedGrader | Yes | LMS Quiz: Yes Cadmus: No-Feedback Studio; Yes-Speedgrader |
| Submissions can be downloaded | N/A | Yes – as PDF | Yes – as PDF through Gradescope | Yes – as PDF | Yes – as PDF | Digital component: Yes (LMS Quiz only if Gradescope has been requested) Written: If scanned |
This guide was last updated 08 Aug 2025.
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