Student Resources

Exams on Computer

On This Page

• Laptop Computer Requirements
• Laptop Computer Use Policies
• Pre-Exam Procedures
• Exam Day Procedures
• Post-Exam Procedure

Exams on Computer

The following policy applies to student use of computers in taking examinations that (1) are administered during business hours within the law school building and (2) restrict student access to some reference materials during the writing of the examination. It therefore does not apply to "take-home" examinations (since it is impossible for the Law school to provide staff support for the examination software in that environment), nor to examinations taken within the building with no restrictions on the use of reference material (since the examination software is not needed in that situation). With respect to examinations that do not fall within the present policy, individual faculty members may establish their own reasonable policies for use of computers. Any such policy should be announced to students and support staff early in the term.

Laptop Computer Requirements

In order to participate in exams on computers, you must meet the following requirements:

System and Hardware Requirements

The following requirements are specifically for laptops used to take exams:

1. 10 MB free hard disk space
2. 800 x 600 screen resolution (minimum)
3. All laptop computers must have a supported internal or PCMCIA Wireless Network card configured for the university's wireless network including current WEP key. The network card must be in current working order and configured correctly.
4. All laptop computers must have an available and functioning USB port. The USB port will be used ONLY in the event that an exam cannot be sent electronically. The law school will provide a USB flash drive in the event that an exam cannot be sent electronically.
5. All laptop computers must have a fully charged battery. A second fully charged battery is also recommended. NO AC POWER ADAPTERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ANY STUDENT DURING THE EXAM. While “external” batteries may be permitted, the power source which recharges the laptop’s internal battery or supplies external power shall be originally designed to operate a laptop computer substantially similar to the laptop it is proposed to now support.  For example… automotive, marine, motorcycle batteries, or UPS units for power outages and the like ARE NOT acceptable power sources. Exam proctors and MU IT staff are ultimately responsible for accepting or rejecting any “external” battery use during an exam and may reject any such use for perceived safety concerns.

Recommended system requirements for individual laptop computers may be viewed at the following URL: http://law.missouri.edu/library/technology/recommendations.html

Software Requirements

Students are required to have the most current version of the Exam4 software downloaded and installed succesfully on their laptops prior to taking the exam. Students arriving on the day of an exam without the curent software downloaded and installed will not be able to use their laptops for the exam and must complete the exam using a bluebook.

• Each exam cycle there is an updated version of the Exam4 software created for the MU School of Law. Thus, even if you have previously taken exams with Exam4, you will need to download the updated version of the software for the current semester. Thus, if you took a mid-term examination, you will need to download another version of Exam4 for finals for that semester. Similarly, if you downloaded Exam4 for Fall exams, you need to download a new version for mid-terms or finals for the Winter semester or Summer School.
• Notifications and specific instructions will be emailed to your university email account when the new version of Exam4 is available for each exam cycle.

Laptop Computer Use Policy

1. Use of computers to write an examination must be authorized by the individual faculty member teaching each course. Depending on the number of students in a course, exams on computer may not be offered. A faculty member may authorize computer use for all, part, or none of an examination. Faculty members should announce to students, early in the term, whether computer use will be permitted on the examination(s) in each course.

   To offer exams on computer, it must be feasible for the law school to do so. As a result, there must be sufficient student interest in exams on computer to allow such use. Accordingly, the following guidelines may be used:

1. In classes with less than 15 students, all students must opt in for an exam to be offered on computer.
2. Where the class size is 15 or more, but less than 25, no determination can be made until AFTER students make their selection about exams on computer. When those numbers are known, the law school will then determine if there are enough students wishing to take the exam on computer to make it feasible to so offer the exam.
3. For classes with 25 students or more, at least 25% of the students must elect to take the exam on computer for it to be feasible to be so offered.
4. These guidelines are just that: guidelines, and will be viewed as such.
2. No student will be required to use a computer for an examination. Whether an examination is offered on computer is subject to paragraph 1.
3. All students who use computers to write their examinations will be required to use the software approved by the Law school (Exam4) and follow the procedures established by the law school. Individual faculty members may impose supplemental procedures for examinations in their courses that are not inconsistent with those established by the School of Law.
4. AC power outlets WILL NOT be provided to any student taking an exam on computer and MAY NOT BE USED during the taking of an exam on computer. Students who use computers will be expected to furnish their own computers with a fully charged battery. An additional laptop battery (also fully charged) is highly recommended. NO AC POWER ADAPTERS WILL BE ALLOWED TO ANY STUDENT DURING THE EXAM. While “external” batteries may be permitted, the power source which recharges the laptop’s internal battery or supplies external power shall be originally designed to operate a laptop computer substantially similar to the laptop it is proposed to now support.  For example… automotive, marine, motorcycle batteries, or UPS units for power outages and the like ARE NOT acceptable power sources. Exam proctors and MU IT staff are ultimately responsible for accepting or rejecting any “external” battery use during an exam and may reject any such use for perceived safety concerns.
5. The Law school computer lab will not be available for examination use.
6. Proctors will be available during all periods that the examination software is in use by students. However, those providing assistance will not attempt to resolve technical computer problems, and will simply witness and log any restarting of a computer by a student. Students should understand that a technical failure is possible and in that event should be prepared to complete their examinations using bluebooks.
7. The implementation of this policy may involve use of software that will run only on English language-enabled Windows-based PCs and Macs with OS 10.4 or later operating systems only. While the UMC Law Help Desk does NOT CURRENTLY SUPPORT Apple or Macintosh computers, it will provide assistance with download, installation and troubleshooting of the Exam4 software on Macs with OS 10.4 or later. Mac users MUST use the Exam4 client developed for Macs. Apple or Mac users may NOT use Bootcamp, Parallels or any other Windows emulator for the Windows version of the Exam4 client.
   
8. Students will be required to download the examination software and MUST submit a practice exam before the examination begins in order to familiarize themselves with the software. Students will bear the risk that their computers are incompatible with the examination software.
9. Students will also bear the risk of a power failure or computer failure during the examination, and should therefore appear at the examination with a fully-charged laptop battery (again, a fully charged backup battery is highly recommended).
10. In the event I am a Non-Law student (a student not pursuing a J.D. degree at this time), I will pay a computing fee of $10 for a one-semester license to take law exams on computer.  I understand that I am subject to all School of Law exams on computer policies.

Pre-Exam Procedures

The individual instructors determine which classes will be available for exams on computers. Notice of those classes using computers will be published on this site.

• Carefully again review the Requirements and Policies contained on this page.
• Download the appropriate and current version of the exam software. A new version of the exam software will be available a few weeks before each exam period. At that time you will be notified via email, and directions will be posted in the News section of this page. You must download a new version of the software for each exam cycle. For example, the Exam4 software you download for mid-term exams CANNOT be used for finals in the same semester. Likewise, downloading for Fall finals will not suffice for Winter exams. Availability of the software for download will be announced on this site.
• Take and submit a practice exam (required). You MUST use your Pawprint as your Exam ID in order to receive email confirmation that your exam was successfully submitted. If you do not receive such a confirmation within 48 hours of submitting your exam, please contact the UMC Law Help Desk at 884-7800, or umclawhelpdesk@missouri.edu . PLEASE NOTE: The confirmation will be different from the Pop-Up screen that comes up immediately after you submit your exam. That Pop-Up screen will ONLY indicate that the exam has left your computer. It will NOT indicate your exam has been received. It is ONLY when you receive confirmation from the UMC Law Help Desk that we are sure you are communicating with us. YOU MUST submit a practice exam EACH SEMESTER and for Midterm exams. The practice exam MUST be submitted after students are advised that the current version of Exam 4 is available. Again, you MUST use your Pawprint as your Exam ID in order to receive email confirmation that your exam was successfully submitted.
• Attend a training session for taking exams on computer (optional). Times and dates for training sessions will be posted in the News section of this page.
• Submit a Notice of Intent to Take Exams on Computer by the published deadline. Failure to submit the notice by the deadline will result in inability to take exams on computers. There are absolutely no exceptions to this requirement. YOU MUST submit a separate Notice of Intent EACH SEMESTER. The Notice of Intent MUST be submitted after students are advised that the current version of Exam 4 is available.
• Monitor this site for announcements and deadlines.

Exam Day Procedures

Bring your laptop, fully charged battery (and backup battery) and wireless network card (if not internal) to the appropriate exam room. If you normally use an external keyboard and/or mouse, be sure to bring those as well. Arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the beginning of the exam. In the exam room, you will be provided with a bluebook for the exam, exam questions, pencils, and scrap paper. The proctor in your exam room will guide you through the following procedures -- you should practice them on your own prior to exam day:

1. Turn on your laptop, and start the Exam4 software
2. From the Exam4 software menu pick: Prepare to start a new exam
3. Pick the Next button
4. Enter your Exam ID from your bluebook twice in the fields shown
5. From the pull down menu select the exam that you will be taking.
6. From the pull down menu select the exam that you will be taking (again). The 2 selections must match or you will receive an error.
7. Pick the Next button
8. If you would like the set the optional timer and alerts do so. NOTE: The proctor will keep official exam time
9. Pick the Next button
10. Read the Notice of Instructions. Check to see that your computer's date and time are correct. If not, correct them per the instructions. Additionally, read the information for disabling your computer's hibernation and sleep settings and make the corrections necessary.
11. When you have read the Notice of Instruction, check the box labeled Got it?
12. Pick the Next button
13. On the Exam Mode screen type in CLOSED and then place a check in the confirmation box.
14. Pick the Next button
15. Review the next screen to make sure that your Exam ID and Course are correct. WAIT until the instructor/proctor gives you permission to begin the exam. If an exam is started before the instructor/proctor advises, an honor code violation will be issued.
16. When the instructor/proctor says to begin pick the Begin Exam button
17. The Exam4 software will perform a security scan for approximately 30-60 seconds on your computer, and will then display a basic word processor screen where you will type your answers.
18. Type your answer to question 1. When you have completed question one, insert an answer separation at the end. Go to TOOLS pull down menu, and select Insert Answer Separation.
19. Start typing the answer to question 2 and insert an answer separator, and so on.

NOTE THE FOLLOWING:

• In a computer exam room, after the proctor starts the pre-exam start-up procedure, a student who enters the exam room to take an exam on computer MAY NOT then take the exam on computer, because that person will delay the exam for other students arriving on time. The late arriving student MUST, however, remain in the computer room and will be allowed to write the exam.
• Time spent resolving computer failures will not be added to the time allowed to a student to complete an examination. However, individual faculty members will retain their traditional discretion in grading, including the making of such adjustments as they deem appropriate when grading examinations in which there has been a technical failure.
• Reasonable attempts will be made to separate those taking exams on computers from those who are writing their exams. It may not be possible to provide different rooms for both groups. During Make-up or conflicted exams, students taking exams on computers may be commingled with those who are writing exams.
• Earplugs are permitted in any exam room.
• Any attempt to disable or tamper with the security features of the examination software will be prosecuted as a violation of the honor code.
• Students who take examinations on computer will have the same length of time to take the examination as those who hand write their examination.

In Case of Problems

If your computer freezes during the examination contact the proctor immediately. DO NOT reboot your computer or attempt to close or re-launch the Exam4 software. When the proctor arrives you can restart the computer and reenter the exam in the amount of time it normally takes to reboot Windows. Upon reboot, the proctor will guide you through this procedure:

1. In the Exam4 dialog box choose Select previous exam
2. Highlight the exam you were working on
3. Pick Begin Exam
4. Enter the following start code: EXAM4MULCH
5. Type a brief reason for why the exam had to be restarted (i.e. computer froze up, battery died, etc.) The proctor will note the reboot procedure and attach a log sheet to your final exam
6. The Exam4 software will perform the security scan again, and will recover your exam up to the last automatic save. Pick OK to continue the exam
7. Continue with the exam until time is called.

If you are unable to get back into an exam after a lockup, battery failure, or other event, the portion of the exam that was completed prior to the freeze will almost certainly be recoverable for grading purposes. You will need to complete the rest of the exam by hand. Students should understand that an unrecoverable technical failure is possible and in that event should be prepared to complete their examinations using bluebooks. Exams will not be delayed or suspended due to computer problems. The proctor will not attempt to resolve technical computer problems, but will simply witness and log any restarting of a computer by a student. When the rest of the exam is completed you MUST take your computer to the IT staff of the law school for recovery of the typed portion of your exam. DO NOT attempt to recover the data yourself.

ANY ATTEMPT TO DISABLE OR TAMPER WITH EXAM4'S SECURITY FEATURES WILL BE CONSIDERED A VIOLATION OF THE STUDENT HONOR CODE.

COMMENCEMENT OR CONTINUATION OF AN EXAM WILL NOT BE DELAYED DUE TO A HARDWARE PROBLEM WITH YOUR LAPTOP.

Completing the Exam

When the proctor calls time you must stop typing immediately. Failure to comply will result in an honor code violation. To complete the exam process, the proctor will guide you through this procedure.

1. From the pull down menu select End Exam Now
2. Check the Confirm button
3. Pick OK, end exam
4. Select Submit Electronically. The law school WILL NOT accept submissions by floppy, USB flash drive, or cdrom unless your computer fails to send the exam electronically. (See ITEM 4 under the Laptop Computer Requirement's Additional Requirements section of this page).
5. After you pick the submit electronically button you will receive a message indicating that your exam was successfully sent to the server, pick OK.
6. A dialog box will appear with some information regarding your exam (i.e. number of sections and words per sections, etc.). Review the information then pick OK.
7. Close the status dialog box
8. From the File and Save Options pull down menu select Exit
9. Read the Exit Exam dialog box to make sure that your exam has been successfully sent and that you are sure you want to exit the Exam4. Check the I'm Sure dialog box, then pick Exit Exam.
10. Wait for any additional information from your instructor

Post-Exam Procedure