Inspera Digital Exams
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Inspera Digital Exams
Inspera Assessment is the University’s Digital Exam system used for formal present in person secure online examinations. Your module tutor will inform you if you have an Inspera digital exam.
Exams may be scheduled in either a University PC Cluster or using ‘bring your own device’ (BYOD), which means that you will use your own laptop to take the exam. Module teaching teams will inform you of which method you will be using.
If you have a bring your own device exam read the section below carefully and follow the instructions to prepare for the exam on your own laptop.
Preparing for exams on your own laptop
Follow these instructions carefully if you have been informed by your module team that you will be taking an Inspera digital exam on your own laptop.
If you do not have a laptop you can use for the exam you need to complete a form to request a university laptop, click on I don’t have a laptop I can use for a Bring Your Own Device Exam below for details.
If you have a Bring Your Own Device exam you must install and test the Safe Exam Browser (SEB) software on your laptop before you come to the exam. Follow this 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 its use in via Canvas
You must make sure that your laptop is prepared before you bring it with you to the exam. Check that:
- You have installed the Safe Exam Browser software. Check that you have the latest version (link to Inspera guide).
- Your laptop is fully charged
- You have rebooted your laptop on the day of the exam before you come to the venue (turn it off completely, then restart it)
- Bring your laptop power cable with you
Remember to arrive at the venue in your exam timetable at least 15 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 laptop fully charged.
If your battery runs low during the exam raise your hand and wait for instructions from the invigilator. There will be power supply available in the exam room, and the invigilator may need to move you to another desk in the room in order to connect to the power.
If you have a problem with your laptop 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 anything you have already done.
Most problems can be solved quickly, and if your work on an exam is interrupted while a problem is resolved the senior invigilator will add on additional time at the end of the exam equivalent to the number of minutes when you were interrupted.
If a problem cannot be resolved there will be a limited number of spare University laptops available to move to.
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 laptop, or your laptop does not meet the system requirements, you must request a University computer to take the exam by completing the University computer request form (click the link to open the form in a new window).
You must comlete the form by the relevant deadline below:
- Semester 1 exam period deadline: Friday 12 November 2021
- Semester 2 exam period deadline: Friday 11 March 2022
Demo Exams
Inspera digital exams are accessed through Canvas. There are demo exams available that you can take to help you prepare for an exam using Inspera Assessment. The demo exams consist of general knowledge questions. Module teaching teams may also make subject specific practice exams available in your Canvas courses.
The demo exams are available in the Student Inspera Demo self-enrol course in Canvas.
If you require support accessing these demo exams or encounter technical difficulties please contact it.servicedesk@newcastle.ac.uk
Taking exams
Your live exam will be accessed through Canvas.
Ensure that you have taken the appropriate demo test/s. There is an open demo and a locked down demo for practicing using SEB on your own device.
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 using the demo tests.
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.