Delivering an online exam involves more than simply moving a paper test into a digital format.
Thoughtful preparation, clear communication, and attention to accessibility, integrity, and technical reliability are key to a smooth experience for both instructors and students.
This guide outlines best practices to help you plan, deliver, and reflect on your online exams with confidence—ensuring that your online assessments are well prepared, secure, and aligned with your course goals.
Consider if an online exam is the right fit
Consider if your current exam setup is still the best fit for your goals and course objectives. Feel free to reach out for a consultation if you would like to discuss available options with an Educational Consultant.
Prepare your students early
Inform your students early on of the online setup of the course’s assessment(s).
- Use the Syllabus template
- Send your students the Exam Practice Run before each online exam
- Remind students to make sure Lockdown Browser (LDB) is up to date before the assessment
Consider accessibility and inclusivity
- Ensure exam settings accommodate extra time or other accommodations
- Avoid question formats that can be difficult for screen readers
Support academic integrity
- Randomize questions if possible
- Draw from large question banks to vary exams between students
- Balance high-stakes exams with low-stakes assessments
Minimize technical risks
- Request an exam settings review: Avoid preventable technical issues by requesting an Exam Settings Review by the Arts ISIT Learning Centre. This carefully designed service ensures that your online exam is thoroughly tested so you have the peace of mind that it is set up properly.
- Stagger exam start time: For courses that have 130+ students, it is recommended to stagger the start times of the exam by at least five minutes apart per group of students. This will help with performance and reduce load issues of the exam in Canvas. Please contact Arts ISIT for assistance on how to bulk assign your students for your upcoming exam.
- Know who to contact: If you come across any technical difficulty during your exam, support is available.
- During business hours, reach out to Arts ISIT.
- During final exams outside of business hours, you’ll need to contact UBC’s Learning Technology Hub (LT Hub).
- For issues with classroom equipment, please contact the AV number that is listed near the lectern.
Have a back-up plan
Have paper copies of the exam ready for individual students who lose connectivity mid-exam or have other device issues preventing them from starting or continuing their exam.
Arts ISIT has curated a list of FAQs covering common issues that can pop-up while administering an Online Exam.
Take time for post-exam reflection
- Check quiz statistics for unusually hard questions (very low success rate).
- Use student feedback to refine future online exams.
- Consider whether your exam design supported learning goals as well as secure delivery.
Follow our step-by-step guide
If you have decided to go for a Canvas exam, we recommend following our step-by-step guide for delivering an online exam with Canvas Quiz and Respondus Lockdown Browser. This article prepares you for a successful exam delivery.
