- Recommend settings for Online Exam Submission Points
- Permissible exam options (Online, time-limited, fixed start/finish)
- Types of submissions (Written, Scanned, MCQs etc)
- Type of exam, and recommended assessment tools (Table)
Recommended Settings for submission points
The recommended settings for each of the possible assessment tools are laid out step by step in the document Recommended settings for Online Exam submission points 2025, this is a word document, which will download.
This is designed as a working document for Programme Administration teams, to help them apply consistent settings for the Exam submission points and tests. The document details recommended settings. Some settings are marked ‘Essential’ – they have been agreed at University level and must be applied to all Online Exams, and ‘Critical’ – technical steps that must be taken to avoid issues.
Permissible exam options
Standard Online Exam
Exam opens at 9am with all submissions due by 5pm the same day. No timed assessments.
Module Convenors can choose an assessment tool which best meets requirements for their exam.
Other than very exceptional circumstances, no requirement to grant extra time for students entitled to Reasonable Adjustments.
Flexible time-limited
Exam opens at 9am with all submissions due by 5pm the same day. Timed test completed within this window.
Only Blackboard Tests and Gradescope offer timer functionality to allow the timed exam with the flexible window.
Extra time must be allowed for students entitled to Reasonable Adjustments and requires manual input for each student entitled to extra time.
Fixed Start/Finish
Exam opens at 9am or 2pm and closes at a set time on the same day (for example, 9am – 10.30am).
Module Convenors can choose an assessment tool which best meets requirements for their exam.
Extra time must be allowed for students entitled to Reasonable Adjustments and requires manual input for each student entitled to extra time.
Types of submitted work
Within the permissible Online Exams options there are four main types of exam/submitted work.
- Essay Type – Word processed, possibly with some handwritten / hand-drawn elements.
- Handwritten – Mostly or entirely handwritten/hand-drawn.
- MCQ (Multiple Choice Questions) – Can include multiple-choice, multiple-answer, fill in the blanks, short answer / essay questions.
- Multi-part – An exam where separate elements need to be submitted of different types e.g. Part A is MCQ test, Part B is Essay-type paper.
Type of exam, and recommended assessment tools
The tables below list different types of exam (essay, MCQs etc.) and lists suitable assessment tools, depending on what time restrictions are applied.
Standard Online Exam
| Type | Assessment Tool | Similarity Checking | Accommodates SLD students? | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay Type | Turnitin | Yes | No (N/A) | RECOMMENDED |
| Handwritten | Gradescope | No | Yes (N/A) | RECOMMENDED |
| Handwritten (alternative) | Turnitin | No (not for scanned work) | No (N/A) | Need to apply “Allow any file type”. Schools may prefer familiar tools if Gradescope is not used for coursework. |
| MCQ | Blackboard Test | No | Yes (N/A) | RECOMMENDED Always use Blackboard Test where tests consists entirely of MCQs. |
| MCQ (alternative) | Gradescope online assignment | No | Yes (N/A) | Some staff may prefer marking options provided by Gradescope for exams with short answer and file upload questions. |
| Multipart (a) | Separate submission points, using most appropriate tool for each part e.g. Blackboard Test for MCQ Turnitin for essay questions. | Yes (essay questions only) | N/A Test – Yes Turnitin – No | Students can spend as long they like on each section. MCQs marked automatically. Turnitin provides good and familiar experience for markers marking “essay” paper. |
| Multipart (b) | Blackboard Test (mixture of MCQs and essay questions) | No | Yes | MCQs marked automatically. Markers have to download uploaded papers individually; no online marking facility. Need to be clear if you wish students to type responses in the text editor. |
| Multipart (c) | Gradescope online assignment (mixture of MCQs, short answer and File Response questions) | No | Yes | MCQs marked automatically. Some staff may prefer marking options provided by Gradescope for exams with short answer and file upload questions. |
Flexible Timed Online Exam
| Type | Assessment Tool | Similarity Checking | Accommodates SLD students? | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay Type | Blackboard Test (Essay questions) | Not for attached files | Yes | Markers have to download student papers individually; no facility to annotate uploaded papers within Blackboard. Need to be clear if you wish students to type responses in the text editor. |
| Handwritten | Gradescope | No | Yes | RECOMMENDED |
| Handwritten (alternative) | Blackboard Test (Essay questions) | No (not for scanned work) | Yes | Markers have to download papers individually; no online marking facility. |
| MCQ | Blackboard Test | No | Yes | RECOMMENDED Always use Blackboard Test where tests consists entirely of MCQs. |
| MCQ (alternative) | Gradescope online assignment | No | Yes | Some staff may prefer marking options provided by Gradescope for exams with short answer and file upload questions. |
| Multipart (a) | Blackboard Test (mixture of MCQs and essay questions) | No | Yes | MCQs marked automatically. Markers have to download student papers individually; no facility to annotate uploaded papers within Blackboard. Need to be clear if you wish students to type responses in the text editor. |
| Multipart (b) | Gradescope online assignment (mixture of MCQs, short answer and File Response questions) | No | Yes | MCQs marked automatically.Some staff may prefer marking options provided by Gradescope for exams with short answer and file upload questions. |
Fixed Time/Finish Online Exam
| Type | Assessment Tool | Similarity Checking | Accommodates SLD students? | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Essay Type | Turnitin | Yes | No | Requires separate assignment for students allowed extra time. |
| Essay Type | Blackboard Test (Essay questions) | Not for attached files | Yes | Markers have to download student papers individually; no facility to annotate uploaded papers within Blackboard. Need to be clear if you wish students to type responses in the text editor. |
| Handwritten | Gradescope | No | Yes | RECOMMENDED |
| Handwritten (alternative) | Turnitin | No (not for scanned work) | No | Need to apply “Allow any file type”. Requires separate assignment for students allowed extra time. Schools may prefer familiar tool if Gradescope is not used for coursework. |
| MCQ | Blackboard Test | No | Yes | RECOMMENDED Always use Blackboard Test where tests consists entirely of MCQs. |
| MCQ (alternative) | Gradescope online assignment | No | Yes | Some staff may prefer marking options provided by Gradescope for exams with short answer and file upload questions. |
| Multipart (a) | Separate submission points, using most appropriate tool for each part e.g. Blackboard Test for MCQ and Turnitin for essay questions | Yes (essay questions only) | Test – Yes Turnitin – No | MCQs marked automatically. Turnitin provides good and familiar experience for markers marking “essay” paper. Turnitin requires setup of separate assignment for students allowed extra time. |
| Multipart (b) | Blackboard Test (mixture of MCQs and essay questions) | No | Yes | MCQs marked automatically. Markers have to download student papers individually; no online marking facility. Need to be clear if you wish students to type responses in the text editor. |
| Multipart (c) | Gradescope online assignment (mixture of MCQs, short answer and File Response questions) | No | Yes | MCQs marked automatically.Some staff may prefer marking options provided by Gradescope for exams with short answer and file upload questions. |
Recommendation: Wherever possible, use the assessment tool with which students and markers are most familiar.
If using a tool unfamiliar to students – especially Gradescope, but also Blackboard tests with a single essay question – it is vital that students are given the opportunity to familiarise themselves with the tool before the exam. Module convenors are strongly encouraged to set a full mock or mini practice exam using the chosen tool, replicating exam conditions as far as possible.
Guide last updated on December 10, 2024
