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Configure Exam Mode and Test Duration

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Good to know

For a secure e-exam, three independent Layers must be configured correctly:

  • Assessment mode (Administration → Assessment management): Controls the locking of OpenOlat as well as the Prep, Exam, and Follow-up time.
  • Test period (Test course element → Test configuration): Defines the from-to time window during which the test can be accessed. The end time is a hard cutoff – after this time, the test is withdrawn from everyone.
  • Time limit (Test editor → Test configuration): Defines the individual time allowed for completing the test. The timer only starts when the test is actually started.

Important: The test period should be chosen generously so that late starts and disadvantage compensations are not cut short by the end of the test period.

Pre-exam and post-exam periods in manual mode

The pre-exam period starts automatically at the configured time and does not shift if someone starts late. In manual mode, the actual exam is started and ended by the invigilator. The post-exam period begins after the exam is manually ended.

Disadvantage compensationcan and manual assessment mode

A disadvantage compensation can be added for individual participants in the assessment tool (However, you must first define the test period as described in step 8 below). To do this, go to the Test section in the assessment tool. In the Participants tab, you can add a disadvantage compensation for individual users via the three-dot menu next to their name.

For large groups or particularly extensive adjustments, it may also make sense to create two separate assessment mode configurations: one for the standard group and one for the group receiving disadvantage compensation with an accordingly  later end time. OpenOlat allows differently configured exams to run simultaneously for different user groups within the same course.

Warning: End assessment mode after the exam!

As long as assessment mode is active, students cannot access any other OpenOlat courses or content. This also applies after logging in again. Therefore, always make sure that assessment mode is ended in good time and does not cause conflicts with other events.

How to proceed

  1. Open the exam course and click the Administration menu.
  2. Go to Assessment management and create a new assessment mode configuration by clicking Add assessment mode.
  3. Configure the start and end of the exam.
    • Example for a 90-minute exam: 14:00–15:30.
    • For an invigilated exam, select Manual as the exam type.
  4. Set the Prep time.
    • Example: 30 minutes.
    • With a Prep time of 14:00, assessment mode will already become active at 13:30.
  5. Set the Follow-up time.
    • Example: 90 minutes.
    • In manual mode, this starts after clicking the Stop button.
  6. In the Element restriction tab, select the test course element intended for the exam and save the settings.
  7. Open the corresponding test course element in the Course editor and switch to Test configuration.
  8. Define an assessment period.
    • Example: 14:00–17:00.
    • Deliberately allow sufficient buffer time, as the end time is a hard cutoff.
    • A test period is also a prerequisite for adding a disadvantage compensation in the assessment tool.
  9. Open the test via the Edit learning resource button and, via Edit content in the Administration menu, switch to the test editor.
  10. At the very top of the list on the left, click the test title to open the Test configuration.
  11. Activate the Time limit checkbox and enter the duration of the test.
    • Example: 90 minutes
    • This time only starts when the respective person actually starts the test.
  12. Use the Administration menu to go to Settings. In the Options tab, select Limit Number of test attempts and set it to 1.
  13. Before the exam, check all three time levels again:
    • Assessment mode: 14:00–15:30, manual, 30-minute pre-exam period, 90-minute post-exam period.
    • Test period: 14:00–17:00.
    • Time limit: 90 minutes.
  14. Test the complete configuration in a test course before the exam date.
    • In particular, check the Prep and Follow-up time, manual start and stop, time limit and disadvantage compensations.
  15. Inform students that while assessment mode is active, they will not have access to other OpenOlat courses or content.

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