Documentation:Distance Learning Support/Exams
Preparing Exams
If your course has an online exam, you will work with your instructional designer and web programmer to ensure exams are prepared, online, scheduled to open, and listed on your course schedule or course calendar for students. Online exams should be scheduled during weekday hours whenever possible to ensure help desk coverage. If this is not possible, let your instructional designer know as soon as possible so that we can make other arrangements.
If your course has an invigilated, print-based exam, you will need to prepare the exam and submit it to the CTLT Course Scheduling Coordinator at ctlt.csc@ubc.ca for delivery to distance learners and those who may be in another part of the province, country, or world. You will not need to invigilate exams for your distance courses. Enrolment Services provides for this.
Please note the following specifications for exams:
- exams should be prepared to fit a 2.5 (preferred) or 3 hour time slot
- exams should be Word docs or PDFs, submitted to ctlt.csc@ubc.ca for preparation
- exams need to be received at least one month prior to the tentative exam dates for distance education
- if the course is new, please submit at least 2 different exams to accommodate different exam sittings (you will also need to submit copies of these exams to your instructional designer at the beginning of the course development process)
Any questions about examinations for distance education courses should be directed to your instructional designer or ctlt.csc@ubc.ca.
Invigilated Exams
Distance education exams are currently scheduled and invigilated by Enrolment Services. This does not apply to online exams.
For information on exam procedure and processes for distance learners, please see the Final Examinations page at UBC Student Services.
Note: Instructors are not required to invigilate exams for their distance courses. Enrolment Services arranges for exam invigilation for distance education.
Online Exams
Online final exams can be scheduled by you in the month in which the course ends. You may want to consult with Enrolment Services regarding this date as it will be important to try to avoid the exam weeks where exams for other courses are held.
Typically, online exams should be scheduled on a weekday unless there are specific requirements to schedule on a weekend. You should discuss your exam schedule with your instructional designer to be sure that dates are established for the selective release and that help desk support is available during the established time frame.
You will also want to ensure that the exam date is posted on the course schedule and that any special instructions (e.g., open book, the day and time that the exam will be available online, the duration of the exam, etc.) are clearly outlined.