Info: This guidance only applies to Blackboard Test exams taken in a Blackboard Ultra course. If you are taking your test in a Blackboard Original course, you can find the correct guidance here. If you are unsure which course type you are taking the test in, contact your school far in advance to clarify.
Keep this checklist to hand to help you resolve any issues quickly. Contact your school office well in advance of the exam date if you have any questions.
This guide doesn’t cover taking exams using a Proctoring service.
- Read the instructions very carefully. Contact your school if you have any problems or questions regarding the exam, for example about the timetable or the technology you will need to use.
Info: To take the exam, you MUST log into the online system using your UoB credentials. Try to do that now, by logging onto Blackboard. If you can’t remember your password, you can re-set it from the IT services page.
- Your school will let you know the location of the exam within your Blackboard course: make sure you know where it is so you can find it easily on the day.
- Chrome and Edge are the supported browsers. Ensure that you have the latest version installed on your computer. You can check if your browser is supported on the Blackboard Browser Checker.
- You are expected to take the mock to familiarize yourself with the format of the exam. Try this out as soon as possible using the recommended devices and check the navigation options, the type of questions, and ensure that any multimedia content is accessible on your computer.
- If you feel that you need more help with taking online exams generally, work through the Study Skills resource on online open book exams. For step-by-step help with understanding your Assessment and Feedback Area in Blackboard, and for further help and support, go to your Digitally Ready course.
- Plan where you will be physically when you take your exam. Can you find somewhere quiet? Does it have a power supply if you are using a laptop? Is the chair comfortable for long periods of time? If you are in a shared environment, talk to the people around you, and make sure they know when it will be. Perhaps arrange for some quiet time if that’s possible.
- If something goes wrong on the day or during the exam contact your School.
- Read the troubleshooting guide below and keep it to hand for when the exam begins.
- If you are unable to take the exam during the scheduled exam session, let your school know as soon as you can.
- Re-read the exam instructions and make sure you know how much time you have to complete the exam.
- Set up your physical space and gather together what you will need (computer and charger, water, snacks, etc).
- If you are using a laptop, ensure that it is plugged in and not running from the battery.
- Get your contact list to hand know who to contact if anything goes wrong.
- Open Chrome. Close all tabs, windows and programmes other than the ones you will use for the test.
- Log in to Blackboard, find the exam and click on its name.
- When you are ready, click Start attempt. If your test is timed, a banner will appear asking you to confirm whether you want to start the timer. If your test is not timed, you’ll be taken directly to the test page.
- Once on the test page:
- You will see a status bar at the top of your page showing you how many questions are remaining. The status bar changes colour to green to show that you’ve answered all of the questions. If your test is timed, the status bar also shows how much time you have left. If you’d prefer not to see the timer, click the eye icon to the right of the time remaining.
- The system tracks which questions you have completed and automatically saves your answers. Depending on the settings, you may be able to click Save and close to exit the page and come back to complete your attempt later.
- If the test is timed and you click Save and close without submitting, the timer will continue counting down.
- If you click Submit before you’ve finished the test, a warning banner will pop up asking you to confirm that you want to do this.
- You will see a status bar at the top of your page showing you how many questions are remaining. The status bar changes colour to green to show that you’ve answered all of the questions. If your test is timed, the status bar also shows how much time you have left. If you’d prefer not to see the timer, click the eye icon to the right of the time remaining.
- To complete the test and send it to your instructor for grading, click Submit. If the test is Turnitin-enabled, you will receive a pop-up asking if you are happy to agree to the End User License agreement. Provided you are, click Submit. If the test is Turnitin-enabled, you will receive a pop-up asking if you are happy to agree to the End User License agreement. Provided you are, click Submit again.
- A box will appear telling you that your submission was successful. We recommend using the Download button to download your submission receipt: a copy of this will also be sent to your university email address.
I accidentally came out of the exam
Don’t panic! Log back in and resume the exam. The exam system auto-saves answers every few seconds, but you should check the questions you have already answered before submitting.
The exam doesn’t look right or isn’t working properly
If you’re not using Chrome, try switching to that browser. Refresh your browser if you have been inactive for a while. If you are unable to take the exam during the scheduled exam session, let your School know as soon as you can.
My internet connection dropped
If you lose your internet connection for a couple of minutes during the exam, don’t worry. Refresh your browser, log back into the exam and resume. The system auto-saves answers every few seconds, but you should check the questions you have already answered before submitting. After submitting your exam, contact the school office to let them know that you lost your internet connection and for how long.
My internet connection failed completely
If you lose your Internet connection and you are not able to complete the exam, contact your school.
My computer failed completely
If your laptop/computer fails and you don’t have another to use to complete the exam, contact your school.
I’m having a problem with an exam question
If you have an issue with a question in the exam, note down the issue and let the school know after submitting the exam.
The colour of the status bar keeps changing
In a timed test, the remaining time appears next to the status bar. You will see time warnings appearing with different colours indicating how much time you have left. When the time expires, you will get the following message ‘Time is up! Your work was automatically saved and submitted.’