While many instructors feel more confident about the integrity of in-class exams, there are a number of best practices that decrease opportunities for academic dishonesty.
Exam Design Tips
Create multiple versions of the exam (questions, order, color, letters)
Use TurnItIn in Bright Space
Use tools like Lockdown Browser, Respondus Monitor, Zoom.
Randomize questions and answers
Show one question at a time
Set time limits
Mix objective and subjective questions, and require shown work.
One week prior to exam...
Talk with students about the testing process. Don’t assume that everyone understands your vision and procedures for the test. Be clear about what is and isn’t allowed in the exam room. Prepare them for the procedures you will implement.
On exam day...
Use an appropriate number of proctors (1:35 or fewer).
Proctor from the rear of the room if you don’t have many proctors. Even with two proctors, one should remain at the back and one should circulate.
Assign seats for exam day and space students out as much as possible. Do not announce seating beforehand or let students sit anywhere.
Create a signal for proctors that might call attention to a particular student to watch, but won’t disturb the entire room.
Check student IDs and entrance materials.
Have students leave all personal belongings, including phones and watches in their bags. Ask students to make sure all their alarms are turned off.
If taken on computers, ask students to close all open tabs prior to starting.
Have an honor statement at the beginning of the exam and remind students to uphold their own integrity by completing the exam by themselves.
Remind students that once they finish, they are prohibited from discussing test questions or sharing information about the test in any way (verbally, on social media, etc.).
Hand out tests individually. Do not pass down rows.
Upon completion of the exam, collect all materials, including the exam questions and answers, scratch paper, test-taking aides, etc.
During the collection of the exam, have a proctor visually confirm submission of the exam prior to leaving the exam room.
Make an emergency plan. Think through what might happen if the room looses power, the fire alarms go off, there is a disturbance in the classroom, etc. Although you can’t prepare for everything, be prepared to deal with last minute challenges.
