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Online Exam Information and Resources

The TLC supports instructors in designing and delivering online exams through the Canvas learning management system (LMS). 

For technical support with exams, including Respondus LockDown Browser, please connect with IT services.

Communications

Clear communication with students about exam details helps them feel prepared and reduces the likelihood of issues on exam day. Share key details through multiple channels, such as Canvas announcements and in-class reminders.

Key details to include:

  • How will the exam be delivered?
  • What technology will be used?
  • What resources can the students use?
  • What content will be covered?
  • How can students connect with you?

Students experiencing technical issues during the exam should contact the IT Service Desk (servicedesk@dc-ot.ca). 

Student Accessibility Services

Students registered with Student Accessibility Services can use the SAS Portal to review their accommodations and to request to take an exam in the Test Centre. 

Final exams must be booked a minimum of three (3) weeks in advance of the final examination period. Assessment booking deadlines for final exams can be found on the Test Centre and Integrated Services web page.

If students miss the assessment booking deadline, they must contact the Test Centre (testcentre@ontariotechu.ca).

Preparing for Exams

Early preparation can help reduce disruptions during online or in-person exams. Before the exam, review your settings, communicate expectations clearly with students, and consider what steps you will take if technical issues occur.

Set up a manual grade posting policy

At Ontario Tech, final grades may not be released to students before they are officially published by the Office of the Registrar.

Before the exam:

Request technical support in advance 

Technical Support Analysts (TSAs) can assist with online exams through Google Meet or attend midterm and final exams in person to help address technical issues.

If you would like technical support during an exam, submit an exam support request at least 10 business days before the exam date.

EXAM SUPPORT REQUEST

Review your exam settings carefully 
  • Review all questions and answer choices for clarity and accuracy
  • Confirm the correct answer is selected for automatically graded question types
  • Check timing, availability dates, accommodations, and attempt settings
  • Preview the exam using Student View when possible

There are limited regrade options once students have completed an assessment, so reviewing settings in advance is important.

Provide a practice/test exam

Practice exams can help students familiarize themselves with the exam environment and identify technical issues before the actual assessment. We also recommend sharing the IT Exam Preparation Checklist with students.

Have a backup plan

Consider creating a backup copy of your Canvas exam in case technical issues occur during the assessment. You can duplicate the quiz and leave the backup version unpublished unless it is needed.

Practice/Test Exams

A practice or test exam is a low-stakes quiz designed to help learners become familiar with the exam environment, settings, and technology before the scheduled assessment. While some instructors use test exams for content review, they are often most useful for helping learners identify and resolve technical issues in advance.

Providing a test exam can help reduce disruptions during the actual assessment and give learners an opportunity to practice navigating the exam process.

Why provide a test exam?

Practice or test exams can help learners:

  • Become familiar with the exam environment
  • Test their technology and internet connection
  • Practice using specific exam tools or question types
  • Identify technical issues before the scheduled assessment
  • Reduce uncertainty and exam-related stress

Test exams can also help you identify configuration issues before the actual exam takes place.

Can I combine a test exam with a content practice exam?

Yes. Some instructors choose to combine a test exam with content-focused practice by including relevant course questions or exam-style problems. This approach allows learners to practice both the course content and the exam environment at the same time.

Whether the test exam is used primarily for technology testing, content practice, or both, it is recommended that the practice experience closely reflects the settings, tools, and question types learners will encounter during the actual assessment.

When should the test exam be available? 

Consider making the test exam available several days before the scheduled assessment. Leaving the test exam open for multiple days may help ensure more learners have an opportunity to access and complete it.

Best Practices

Verify Exam Settings

Ensure the test exam uses the same quiz engine and settings as the scheduled exam. This may include:

  • Availability dates
  • Time limits
  • Question ordering
  • Answer shuffling
  • Feedback settings
  • Navigation flow
Include Various Quiz Question Types

If the exam includes multiple question types, consider including at least one example of each type in the test exam. This can help learners practice interacting with different question formats and identify any issues with question functionality or embedded materials.

Include Technology Requirements

If your exam requires specific tools or software, such as Respondus LockDown Browser, include opportunities for learners to test and practice using those tools in advance. Further information about Respondus LockDown Broswer is available.

 

 

Respondus LockDown Browser

Respondus LockDown Browser is a tool that helps support closed-book online assessments in Canvas by limiting access to other applications, browser windows, and certain computer functions during an exam.

If you plan to use Respondus LockDown Browser for an exam, consider:

  • Clearly communicating expectations and requirements to learners in advance
  • Providing a practice or test exam so learners can test the software beforehand
  • Sharing instructions for downloading and launching the browser
  • Informing learners what to do if technical issues occur during the exam

Providing opportunities for learners to practice using Respondus LockDown Browser before the scheduled exam may help reduce technical challenges and exam-related stress.

Respondus LockDown Browser

Respondus LockDown Browser is a tool that helps support closed-book online assessments in Canvas by limiting access to other applications, browser windows, and certain computer functions during an exam.

If you plan to use Respondus LockDown Browser for an exam, consider:

  • Clearly communicating expectations and requirements to learners in advance
  • Providing a practice or test exam so learners can test the software beforehand
  • Sharing instructions for downloading and launching the browser
  • Informing learners what to do if technical issues occur during the exam

Providing opportunities for learners to practice using Respondus LockDown Browser before the scheduled exam may help reduce technical challenges and exam-related stress.

Resources for Instructors

You can enable Respondus LockDown Browser for online exams and quizzes. Please visit our Educational Technology site for for additional information, instructor resources, and student support guides.

Resources for Students

Below are some resources you can share with students ahead of the exam to ensure that their devices are prepared and to minimize potential issues.

 Additional student resources can be found on the TLC's Respondus LockDown Browser resource page.

Time Accommodations

Some students require additional time for exams due to academic accommodations. You can refer to the Test/Exam Extra Time Calculation Sheet to determine the appropriate time adjustments based on the student's accommodation letter.

In New Quizzes, extra time accommodations must be configured manually. This is a two-step process:

  1. Add time extensions on the Moderate page. Once added, these accommodation settings are retained across all quizzes in the course.
  2. Adjust the availability window on the Quiz Settings page. This step must still be completed manually for each individual quiz or exam.

IMPORTANT: If the availability window is not adjusted, the quiz will automatically submit once the "Available Until" date and time is reached, regardless of any additional time accommodations or multipliers assigned to the student.

If you have any questions or concerns about exam accommodations, please reach out to sasexams@ontariotechu.ca.

Troubleshooting 

How do I request IT support for my in-person or online exam?

Technical Support Analysts can attend online or in-person exams to assist with software and technical issues. You must complete the Exam Support Request Form at least 10 business days prior to the exam. 

How can I help my students prepare their laptop, tablet, or computer for their exam?

IT Services has developed an Exam Preparation Checklist to help learners prepare their devices before midterm and final exams. The checklist guides learners through important preparation steps, including software updates and exam setup.

It is also recommended that instructors provide a practice or test exam so learners can confirm that their technology and exam tools are functioning properly before the scheduled assessment.

A student contacted me about technical issues while writing their test. Where do I direct them?

Students requiring technical support during an exam should contact the IT Service Desk by phone at 905.721.3333 for the fastest assistance. Students may also visit the IT Support location in the Gordon Wiley building, Room SW100.

For other contact options and hours of operation, visit the IT Service Desk Contact Page.

How do I give more time to a student who was taking the test but had technical issues?

Additional time can be added through the Moderate Quiz page, after selecting the Build button. In New Quizzes, you can also remove the time limit if appropriate for the situation.

 Quiz availability dates still apply when moderating a quiz. If the "Until" date passes before a learner completes an extended-time or extra-attempt quiz, any in-progress attempts will automatically submit and the quiz will close, even if the student's accommodated time has not expired.

My student says that their accommodations didn't apply and they were kicked out. What happened?

If you are adding accommodations for a student, there are two steps to ensure that the accommodations work properly. If you added their accommodations for additional time through the Moderate Quiz settings, it is possible that their accommodated time exceeded the access availability in the quiz configuration.

If the "Until" date passes before the learner's extended-time or extra attempt quiz is completed, any in-progress quizzes will be auto-submitted by the system and the quiz closes. This will happen regardless of their accommodation or in-progress status.

To ensure an accommodation is successful on a time-limited exam, you must extend the availability window of the quiz to cover the total amount of time afforded to the student to write their exam, including the additional time added through accommodation. You can create a separate Assign To to extend the time for only the student(s) with the time accommodations. 

I have a student writing in the Test Centre who doesn't need Respondus Monitor. How can I turn it off for them while leaving it active for everyone else?

Respondus Lockdown Browser can be configured to require Respondus Monitor for remote automated proctoring. In the Advanced Settings section that appears once Respondus Monitor is enabled, select "Allow this exam to additionally be delivered in a proctored lab (no webcam recording)." This allows students taking the test in a proctored lab to engage with Lockdown Browser only and removes the Respondus Monitor requirement.

For this to work properly, a password or access code must be configured and should only be shared with the Test Centre or Proctor. Further details regarding this setting can be located at the Respondus Monitor Technical Support website.

Do I need to turn on iPad access in Respondus Lockdown Browser?

For exams that require only LockDown Browser, iPad access is now automatically enabled. To allow iPad use with a Respondus Monitor (automated proctoring) exam, select it from Advanced Settings for Respondus Monitor.

Note: Screen recording is not supported for iPad, so if an exam has Webcam+Screen enabled, it will not produce a screen recording if the student uses an iPad.

Grading

Final grades for the Winter 2026 term must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29.  

Final grades for students writing a deferred examination must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar no later than 10:00 a.m. on the fifth calendar day after the scheduled deferred examination. 

At Ontario Tech, faculty and instructors may not post final grades before they are released by the Office of the Registrar.

Please ensure you have set a manual grade posting policy for your course. We also recommend hiding grade total summaries from students.

Uploading Grades through My Ontario Tech

The Faculty Grade Entry process allows you to import your grades using an Excel spreadsheet from either Canvas or your own files. Instructions on submitting your grades through Canvas are provided below:  

UPLOADING FINAL GRADES MANUALLY ENTERING GRADES

If you have any technical difficulties with grade entry, please email studentsystems@ontariotechu.ca and copy Adam.Wingate@ontariotechu.ca.