Configure Exam Mode and Test Duration

Good to know

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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 time window during which the test can be started. When the end time is reached, the test is automatically terminated. Only in the case of disadvantage compensation, the additional time is added after the end time.
• 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.

The individual test end time is therefore determined as follows:
The shorter of two periods applies: either the time limit or the time from the actual test start until the end time of the test period. An accommodation is added on top of this.

Example:

• End time: 3:30 p.m.
• Test time limit: 90 minutes
• Actual test start: 2:05 p.m.

Without an accommodation, the test ends at 3:30 p.m.; with a 30-minute accommodation, it ends at 4:00 p.m.
You should therefore choose a sufficiently generous test period, as a delayed start may otherwise result in lost processing time.

Pre-exam and post-exam periods
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.
If OpenOlat should not be locked before or after the exam, enter 0.

Who can start and end the exam?
The Start exam and Finish exam buttons in the Assessment tool overview are only available to course owners and tutors who have been granted the additional course right Assessment Tool. Tutors without this additional right can see the exam there, but cannot start it. You can assign this right under: Administration → Member Management → Rights
There, you can either grant the right to all course coaches or to a specific person.
The Start button is available throughout the entire exam day, not only from the configured start time. If the exam is started earlier or later than planned, the end time shifts accordingly. The duration of the exam remains unchanged.

Disadvantage compensationcan
A disadvantage compensation can be added for individual participants in the Assessment tool. 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. The option appears as soon as either a time limit or a test period with an end time has been defined for the test.
The accommodation is added both to the time limit and to the end time of the test period (see example above).

Important: 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.
When clicking Finish exam, participants with accommodations remain in exam mode by default, even if they have already submitted their test.
To end the exam mode for them as well, select the checkbox nest to “x exams also finish” in the dialog. This can be done either when ending the exam for the first time or later by clicking Finish exam again.
The individual test end time is displayed in the End date column of the test in the Assessment Tool, provided that interrupting the test is not permitted.