How to prepare for a remotely supervised exam
On some courses you are expected to write exams remotely via a digital tool such as Inspera or Canvas. When sitting a remote exam, you may be supervised by invigilators via a video tool. This page will guide you through how a Zoom-monitored examination works and what you might need to take into consideration.
Zoom is the most common tool used for monitoring exams at Lund University, but you may encounter other tools. Ask your lecturer or course administrator if anything is unclear before the examination.
Prepare your workspace
In order for the invigilators to see both you and your screen, you will often need two different cameras during an exam, one in your computer and one in another device (such as your mobile phone) that films you from the side or from behind. The set-up might look like this.
You may be asked to turn your microphone on so that the invigilator can hear if someone starts talking. Your speaker will be turned off, however, so that you will not be disturbed by other students mumbling or coughing. You may also be asked to check the chat at regular intervals so as not to lose contact with the invigilator. If you have multiple devices connected to Zoom, you may also be instructed to have the microphone muted on one of them to avoid crosstalk.
Make sure you have access to the hardware you need to take the exam, for example two different devices, a working camera and a working microphone. Also ensure you know what you are allowed to access in the room you are sitting in and what you are allowed to have on your virtual desktop on your computer.
Be ready to identify yourself
You must always identify yourself in some way so that the University can ensure that the right person is sitting the exam. A common way of carrying out identification is to be asked to show your ID in Zoom. This can be done either in private in a breakout room to which you are invited or by asking you to show your ID while covering the last four digits with your finger so that the others in the room cannot see your full personal identity number.
Find out how to submit your answers
If you sit your examination in a digital tool like Inspera, there is a button that you can press to submit your answers. You are also expected to inform the invigilator when you are finished. There might be specific instructions for when you are allowed to submit your answers, so read the instructions carefully.
If you are writing with pen and paper, you will be given instructions about what to do when you are finished. Sometimes you might be expected to take a photo of your answers using a mobile phone and then send them before a certain deadline. You might also be asked to send the original via the post. The invigilator will take note of when you inform them you are finished and will then compare the pictures with the pages you send in. In order to prepare, you can download a PDF scanner onto your phone that will help you convert photos into a PDF.
Information about scanner apps
It is especially important to keep track of the time if you have your speaker turned off, as you risk missing reminders that your time is almost up. Plan your time well so that you do not have to wrangle with technology at the last minute.
Support in Zoom for students with disabilities
If you have learning support and the right to an adapted form of examination, there are several possibilities in Zoom. You may be given more time, or have your examination split into sections with pauses in between. You can have your own room in Zoom or be examined in a smaller group. There might also be the possibility of being examined orally rather than in writing.
In order for your course to be able to arrange an adapted form of examination, it is important that you communicate this need in good time. It is always up to the examining lecturer to decide on the basis of the learning outcomes to be examined whether it is possible to implement the recommended adaptation.
Read more about learning support for students with disabilities
Zoom also includes a number of accessibility features. You can change the font size for the chat, use your keyboard to navigate between the buttons and use a screen reader, among other things. If you would like to know more, visit Zoom’s accessibility guide via the link below.
Accessibility guide för Zoom – zoom.us