Follow these steps to get ready for taking your Online Exams.
- Get your computer ready
- Practise submitting to exam submission points
- Know where your exam is located on your Blackboard course
- Read guidance for the submission point you will be using for your exam
- Turnitin
- Blackboard Assignment
- Blackboard Test
- Gradescope
- Handwritten exams/elements of exam (tips for if your exam is handwritten or has handwritten elements)
- Reduce file size
Get your computer ready
It is important that you mitigate any chance of technical problems during your exams by following this check list:
- Make sure you can log in to Blackboard.
- Check your device and browser settings. Use the Blackboard Browser checker to check your browser’s compatibility with Blackboard. Make sure that ad-blockers and pop-up blockers aren’t causing any issues. Update your browser to latest version.
- Most technical issues can be resolved by following guidance on How to resolve third party cookie issues.
- Download Microsoft Office 365 to your computer (Window or Mac) using University of Reading Office 365 account or use the web version of Office 365.
- If you use any assistive technologies, please access the online exam practice area when available and allow time to test this works.
- Use your Online Exams Practice course to get familiar with the tools (mode of submissions e.g. Turnitin, Blackboard Assignments, Blackboard Tests or Gradescope).
Practice submitting to exam submission points
An Online Exam Practice area has been set up in Blackboard Learn Ultra for each School. Each practice area is intended to give you the opportunity to test downloading and uploading documents and understand what instructions you will see on exam papers, as well as to identify and resolve any technical issues ahead of the exam period.
All types of submission points (Turnitin, Blackboard Assignments, Blackboard Tests or Gradescope) are available, and this will allow you to test the different exam types your School will have set. The practice areas will be open throughout the exams period and you can access it as many times as you like.
If you use any assistive technologies, please access the online exam practice area when available and allow time to test this works.
You can access the practice area by following these instructions:
- Log in to Blackboard Learn as usual.
- Your Online Exam Practice course will be listed on the ‘Courses‘ tab of the main Blackboard menu, search for “practice area” if you are having trouble locating the course. (Available now)
Know where your exam is located on your Blackboard course
For any module where you have an online exam, go to the Blackboard course for that module, then the Assessment area.
You will find all information and guidance in the “Important Exam Information” folder ((a) in image). Please read through all the instructions carefully before you start your exam.
For each exam there will be a folder named “Online Exam [title of your exam]”((b) in image), this folder will not be available to you until the start time and date of your exam. You will see a padlock icon and the text “Content isn’t available” before and after the exam time and date.
The text below the folder will give the date and time the exam folder will open and close. It will also indicate which type of submission point will be used for your exam, you can use this information to practice with that submission type in your Practice Area (listed in your enrolled courses list on Blackboard).
Exams may be a standard 9am to 5pm or a fixed start/end time window, please check in advance of the exam day ((c) in the image).
You will need to refresh the page at the exams start time if waiting for the folder to open.
If you have difficulty accessing the Online Exams folder, please log a support call as soon as possible.
Turnitin submission point
A Turnitin submission point will be used for most essay style exam questions. You may have a separate submission point for each question on the exam.
| Function | Key Information |
|---|---|
| Open submission point | Click on the Turnitin submission point. From the panel in Blackboard click Launch. |
| Upload | Turnitin will only except one document per submission point. Insert any images of handwritten work to your word document, see Capture and insert images into a Word document for online submission. |
| File size limit | Turnitin has a 100mb file size limit. |
| Preview submission | In Turnitin click Upload and Review, this will allow you to preview your document, check that it is the correct version of your exam answer. |
| Submit | You will need to Submit to Turnitin as a final step in uploading your document. |
| Receipts | Turnitin receipts can be downloaded after a successful submission. Receipts will not be emailed to your. |
Exams setup for Turnitin
For exams the Turnitin submission point will be set:
- To not show students the similarity report.
- To allow unlimited attempts before the deadline
- To mark anonymously (only use your candidate number on your work)
Blackboard Assignment
Blackboard Assignment is used where you are required to submit more than one file or a large file.
| Function | Key Information |
|---|---|
| Open submission point | Click on the Blackboard submission point. From the panel in Blackboard click View Instructions. |
| Upload | Drag and drop files into the box provide or click on the box, this will open the text editor allowing you to attach files. |
| File size limit | Blackboard has a 250mb file size limit. |
| Preview submission | Once you have uploaded the file you will be able to preview it. Check it is the right file. If submitting multiple files check each one as you upload them. |
| Submit | You have not completed your submission until you click Submit. |
| Receipts | You will be given an opportunity to download the receipt. The receipt will also be emailed to you. |
Exams set up for Blackboard Assignments
For exams the Blackboard Assignment submission points will be set:
- To not show students the similarity report
- To allow unlimited attempts before the deadline
- To mark anonymously (only use your candidate number on your work)
Blackboard Test
Blackboard Tests are used for more Multiple Choice Question (MCQ) type tests and some essay style questions.
- Online Exams: Blackboard Tests (How to take your Test – includes essential technical advice and information on how tests work).
| Function | Key Information |
|---|---|
| Open submission point | Click on the Blackboard Test. From the panel in Blackboard click Start attempt. Click Start Timer. If you have extra time due to reasonable adjustments this will be added to the time showing on your timer. |
| Upload | For essay questions you will have access to the text editor and can cut and paste your answer or attach a file, check to see if the question stipulates where to type or attach your response. For MCQ questions, select the correct answer. |
| During the Test | The progress bar at the top of the screen will track your progress through the questions. You can hide the timer if you find it distracting. It is possible to Save and Close during the test, the timer will continue while the test is closed. |
| Submit | Test will be set to automatically submit when the timer runs out. A pop up window will alert you to this. You can submit at anytime before the timer runs out. |
| Receipts | You will be given an opportunity to download the receipt. The receipt will also be emailed to you. |
Exam set up for Blackboard Tests
For exams Blackboard Tests will be set up:
- To allow only one attempt.
- To auto-submit when the timer runs out.
- To not allow students to view their submission.
Gradescope
Gradescope is used for specific online exams:
- The submission of handwritten work, typed or a mixture of both in Maths, Sciences and Languages,
- And time-limited exams.
Your lecturer will inform you if it is being used for your exam.
Please see our Gradescope help page.
This table refers to Gradescope “Variable Length Assignments“, please see the Gradescope guidance for Online Assignment submissions or Programming Assignments.
| Function | Key Information |
|---|---|
| Open submission point | Click on the Gradescope submission point. From the panel in Blackboard click Launch. When Gradescope launches click Start Assignment. |
| Upload | Use the advice to scan and submit handwritten answers, see Scan and submit handwritten exams to an assessment in Blackboard. |
| Preview submission | Your scanned work will appear as images, tag which questions are answered on each image. Your exam has been uploaded at the point so you can take time to tag your questions. See Tagging Pages in Gradescope Assignments |
| Submit | Once you have completed the tagging task click Submit. |
| Receipts | A receipt will be emailed to you. |
Exams set up for Gradescope
- Most exams using Gradescope are time-limited, once the exam is started you must submit your work within the specified time frame.
Handwritten Exams/elements of Exam
Handwritten exams will use either Turnitin or Gradescope depending on the type of handwritten exam.
There are two main types of handwritten work,
- inserting elements (images) of handwritten work to your word document, see Capture and insert images into a Word document for online submission (usually Turnitin)
- or handwriting your whole exam, scanning it and submitting it, see Scan and submit handwritten exams to an assessment in Blackboard. (usually Gradescope)
Reduce File Size
If required, you can reduce the file size of a document by compressing the size of images in it, without losing the quality of the images. Doing this makes it easier and quicker to upload and submit.