Preparing your students for exams

Communicating exams details to students

Subject Coordinators are strongly encouraged to communicate exam details, such as exam location, time and venue, exam format, and other exam expectations including permitted materials and academic integrity compliance, to students as soon as possible. Exam communications should take place both on the LMS (for example, via a LMS announcement) and in-person during class time, if possible. The communicating exam details to your students guide provides detailed instructions on how to communicate exam details to your students.

It is important to note that students must be available during the exam period, including the supplementary exam period. If a student requires special consideration or alternative arrangements, they should refer to the student exams page for further information.

Setting up practice digital exams

Exams can be a stressful time for both students and staff, particularly as assessment formats and policies continue to evolve. We strongly recommend that you conduct a practice LMS exam with your students prior to the exam period to familiarise your students with the exam format and exam process, especially if the format differs from previous assessments in the subject. This will help build student confidence and familiarity with the tools and experience prior to their exam.

The setting up practice digital exams guide further highlights the importance of running practice exams and things to consider.

LockDown Browser test community

Students who complete an on-campus digital exam in either Canvas LMS Classic Quiz or Cadmus will be required to download the relevant LockDown Browser prior to exams taking place.

Students can download LockDown Browser using one of the following links:

• LockDown Browser for Canvas LMS Classic Quiz
• LockDown Browser for Cadmus

It is strongly recommended that students take a practice exam in either the LockDown Browser (Canvas Classic Quiz) Test Community or the LockDown Browser OEM (Cadmus) Test Community, so they know how to complete their exam on the exam day with this application installed.

The LockDown Browser guide provides further information about LockDown Browser, including its advantages.

Prepare students for language exams

The using keyboard shortcut to change keyboard input language guide provides students with detailed instructions (with references to external resources) on how to change keyboard input language on their laptop using keyboard shortcuts. This is particularly important in a language exam with LockDown Browser enabled, as students will not have access to the hot bar and will need to navigate their settings with keyboard shortcuts.

Exam guidance and in-venue support for students

Students can find all important information about exams on the student exams page.

Prior to the exam period, your students may have questions about different circumstances that may take place on the exam day. The in-venue exam support for students guide provides additional information regarding in-venue support (including technical support) for exams.

Please review the exam operations on the day guide on Staff Hub for more information on your responsibilities, what to expect on exam day, and how to support and prepare students for exams and potential disruptions.

If you have any further enquiries, please contact SASS Exams Support.