Inspera Digital Exams
Inspera Digital Exams
Inspera Assessment is the University’s Digital Exam system used for present-in-person secure online assessments. Your module team will inform you if you have an Inspera digital exam.
Exams may be scheduled in either a University PC cluster or a ‘Bring Your Own Device’ venue (which means you will be able to use your own device such as your laptop computer to take the exam). Module teams will inform you of which method you will be using before your exam.
Taking an Exam
Your live exam will be accessed through Canvas, and full instructions will be provided on the day.
Most question types will be straightforward to navigate and answer; however, you may be asked to type an answer to a short or long essay question. There is specific guidance on the tools available within the essay question type which you should familiarise yourself with.
One of the most common concerns with typing essay answers is the possibility of losing work or overtyping. The essay question in Inspera is designed to deal with this and there is guidance on how to refer to back up versions of your answer.
Demo Exam
Inspera digital exams are accessed through Canvas. To help you prepare for your assessment, you can try out a demo exam via Canvas. Module teaching teams may also make subject specific practice exams available in your Canvas courses.
If you require support accessing these demo exams or encounter technical difficulties please contact it.servicedesk@newcastle.ac.uk or digital.exams@newcastle.ac.uk.
If you have a Bring Your Own Device exam you must install and test the Safe Exam Browser software before you come to the exam. Please follow the Inspera guidance to install the latest version of Safe Exam Browser. Note that you will never need to open the Safe Exam Browser directly; it will launch when you access an exam that requires it via Canvas
When you have installed the SEB software, you can test it out by trying the Inspera Digtial Exam - Safe Exam Browser (locked down) Demo exam available in the Student Inspera Demo self-enrol course in Canvas.
If you need help installing the Safe Exam Browser on your device, you can bring it along to a drop-in session.
- 10 May 2-3pm - Henry Daysh Building G.11
- 11 May 4-5pm - Dame Margaret Building G.01
- 17 May 2-4pm - Dame Margaret Building 2.07
- 18 May 2-4pm - Henry Daysh Building 2.13
Venues can be found on the campus map.
If you have a Bring Your Own Device exam you must follow our Inpsera guidance to install the latest version of Safe Exam Browser. Note that you will never need to open the Safe Exam Browser directly; it will launch when you access an exam that requires it via Canvas.
If you need help installing the Safe Exam Browser on your device, you can bring it along to a drop-in session.
- 10 May 2-3pm - Henry Daysh Building G.11
- 11 May 4-5pm - Dame Margaret Building G.01
- 17 May 2-4pm - Dame Margaret Building 2.07
- 18 May 2-4pm - Henry Daysh Building 2.13
Venues can be found on the campus map.
For Bring Your Own Device exams, please make sure your device is prepared before arrival at the exam venue.
Check that:
- You have installed the Safe Exam Browser software. Check that you have the latest version.
- Your device is fully charged
- You have restarted your device on the day of the exam (turn it off completely, then restart it)
- You have your power cable(s) with you
- You have your mobile phone in case you need to authenticate before the start of the exam. However, you MUST switch your mobile phone off and leave it in your bag or outdoor jacket/coat in the area designated for personal belongings as instructed by the invigilators.
NOTE: authentication will not be required once you have launched the Safe Exam Browser and are ready to start the exam. If you need to use your phone to authenticate your login before the start of the exam, raise your hand and an invigilator will supervise while you retrieve it and authenticate.
Remember to arrive at the venue in your exam timetable at least 20 minutes before the exam start time. If you arrive later than this you may not be able to begin your exam on time.
You should arrive at the exam room with your device fully charged.
If your battery runs low during the exam, raise your hand and wait for instructions from the invigilator. There will be power supplies available in the exam room, but the invigilator may need to move you to another desk to connect to it.
If you have a problem with your device during the exam, raise your hand and an invigilator will be able to help you. Your work is saved continuously in Inspera so there is no need to worry about losing your work.
Most problems can be solved quickly, and if your work on an exam is interrupted, the senior invigilator will add additional time to the end of the exam (equivalent to the number of minutes you were interrupted).
If a problem cannot be resolved there will be a limited number of spare University laptops available to use.
Inspera provides guidance on the system requirements for using SEB. If you have a Bring Your Own Device exam and you do not have a device you can use, or your device does not meet the system requirements, you must request a University computer to take the exam.
Please complete our request form.
You must complete the form by:
- Friday 11 November 2022 for a semester 1 assessment period digital exam
- Friday 10 March 2023 for a semester 2 assessment period digital exam
If you have a requirement in your Student Support Plan (SSP) to use assistive technology such as text-to-speech software, you will be scheduled to take the exam on a University computer, and the required software will already be available for you to use.
Inspera Take Home Exams
There is no requirement to download any software to take an Inspera Take Home Exam. The exam will be accessed through Canvas.
Please familairise yourself with the Inspera Take Home Exam Student Instructions.