Proctored exam timing

Proctored exams are administered in-person at the Law School and promptly begin on the scheduled date at 10:00 a.m. (Central Time), unless otherwise indicated on the Exam Schedule. We suggest planning to arrive to your exam room at least 15 minutes before your exam begins.

Your instructor determines the exam duration, which is indicated on the Exam Schedule. 

Rules for proctored exams

Handwritten Exam Option

If your final exam does NOT include any objective questions (e.g., multiple-choice or true/false questions), you may opt to handwrite your exam using bluebooks provided by the Law School, instead of using the Exam4 software. However, if your final exam includes objective questions, you will be required to use the Exam4 software, so that you can submit your answers using the Exam4 Multiple-Choice feature.

The Exam Schedule will indicate whether you'll be required to use the Exam4 Multiple-Choice feature. Again, you will NOT be able to handwrite your exam if you are required to use the Exam4 Multiple-Choice feature for a particular exam. 

We do not recommend handwriting your exam, as handwritten exams can be more difficult for instructors to grade. Additionally, handwriting your exam may put you at a disadvantage if it's an Exam4 "open-mode" exam. This is because your classmates using the Exam4 software will be able to access electronic materials on their computers, but you will not be able to do so, because only computers running the Exam4 software may be used during the exam.

Proctored exam instructions

Before Exam Day

1. Review the Exam4 Software Instructions page carefully. 
2. Watch the Exam4 "How-To" Videos to prepare for exams.
3. Uninstall any previous versions of the Exam4 software installed on your computer. 
4. Download the updated version of the Exam4 software, which you must do every semester after the Law School notifies students that the Exam4 software is ready for the current exam period. If you have midterms that use the Exam4 software, you will need to download it twice per semester: once for midterms and once for final exams. 
5. Take as many practice exams as necessary to get comfortable with the software, and familiarize yourself with all of the Exam4 features. 
6. Familiarize yourself with the procedures for technical issues and personal emergencies, so that you know how to proceed in the event you encounter an issue before, during, or submitting your exam. 

On Exam Day

1. Arrive to your exam room at least 15 minutes before your exam begins. Proctored exams begin at 10:00 a.m. (Central Time), unless otherwise indicated.
2. Check-in with the proctor. Grab two pieces of scratch paper and the Exam4 instructions. Do NOT write on the Exam4 instructions, so we can reuse them.
3. Put away any unauthorized hardcopy materials and electronic devices. Turn off your cell phone. Turn off any alarms on your phone, watch, computer, etc.
4. Launch the Exam4 software and begin the appropriate exam in the Exam4 software.
5. Stop when you get to the screen that says, "WAIT!" Verify that you've entered your exam number correctly and that you've selected the correct course. If you've made an error, click the "Back" button and make any corrections. The proctor will notify you when you can click "Begin Exam."
6. The proctor will give you a copy of the exam. Keep the exam face down until you are instructed to turn it over. When instructed to turn it over, write your exam number on the cover page in the designated space. 
7.  Type your essay responses in the Essay window. Answer any multiple-choice and/or true/false questions in the Multiple-Choice window. 
8. Submit your exam electronically via the Exam4 software and exit the Exam4 software.  
9. Remain seated and keep your voices down after the exam is over. 
10. Follow the proctor's instructions for turning in your exam materials and signing the exam roster.
11. Leave the exam room. Please do not linger or talk in the hallways after the exam, as other exams will be ongoing. Even discussions in the Atrium can carry into exam rooms, so please do your best to socialize outside of the Law building after the exam to avoid disturbing exam-takers. 

Practice proctored exam

Review the practice exam information on the Exam4 Instructions page. After doing so, follow the proctored exam instructions above. You should select the practice exam in the appropriate Exam4 mode as the "course."

As a reminder, the exam questions will NOT appear in the Exam4 software. For proctored exams, the exam questions will be distributed in hardcopy form in the exam room, so there is no practice exam question provided for proctored exam modes. 

Procedures for Technical Issues

The following are procedures for various technical problems that may arise. And remember, taking a practice exam is the best way to troubleshoot before your exam starts!

• Technical issues at the beginning of an exam
  • Extra time will NOT be provided for preventable technical issues at the beginning of an exam, such as forgetting to download the latest version of the Exam4 software. Thus, be sure to take a practice exam before each exam period - once before midterms and once before final exams - with the latest Exam4 software version to address these common problems, and confirm that you see the correct semester and exam period (midterms v. final exams) listed in the Exam4 software. 
• Technical issues during an exam
• Technical issues at the end of an exam (submission issues)