FAQ Index
What is ExamOnline?
How does it work?
Why should I choose ExamOnline?
Who uses it, and what for?
So exactly what support is there for essay and extended answer questions?
How are essays marked?
How can you include hand-drawn sketches in online examinations?
Why not let candidates use on-screen drawing tools?
Who hosts ExamOnline?
How much does it cost?
What is ExamOnline?
ExamOnline is a software platform which enables you to create and deliver on-screen examinations and tests securely and reliably. Like other systems it provides many computer marked question types (multiple choice, gap-fill etc.), but unlike other systems it has been specifically designed to support the kinds of examinations found in higher and professional education: extended answer and essay styles examinations. It even supports candidates submitting hand-drawn sketches or diagrams as part of their answer.
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How does it work?
ExamOnline is a web-based system, which means that you (and your candidates) can access it via any modern web browser (Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, Netscape etc.). Via your web browser of choice, you can:
- create questions
- assemble the questions into tests
- make the tests available to your candidates
Your candidates are able to access the test securely using our locked down browser technology, or if you prefer via a standard web browser (for low stakes examinations).
Once the examination is complete you can:
- human mark any extended answer or essay questions (or export them to PDF for paper-based marking if preferred)
- view the results online, or export to Microsoft Excel for further analysis or importing to your VLE.
Why should I choose ExamOnline?
There are quite a few reasons:
- It really does support higher level assessment. It is used in UK Universities to deliver tests in engineering, business, the life sciences, social sciences, and medicine. Practitioners choose ExamOnline because it does not limit them; it allows them to create valid assessments for their discipline.
- It makes online exam delivery secure and reliable. This is a big issue where high stakes examinations are concerned, and we have taken great care in the design of ExamOnline. Read more here.
- The interfaces are designed to make it easy to learn and easy to use. We have customers who use ExamOnline to create and deliver simple multiple choice tests. They chose it and stick with it because it is easy to use and reliable.
- It is built on an industrial strength Java web server designed to support thousands of concurrent connections. The upshot is that it can support as many candidates at one time as you care to throw at it. This simply isn’t true of most other systems.
- We keep making it better. We have designed the system to make it as easy as possible to run, manage and mark on-screen tests and examinations. However we routinely accept feature requests from existing clients to refine the system and make it fit better with their existing assessment practices.
Who uses it, and what for?
ExamOnline is predominantly used to deliver high stakes examinations in higher education and professional training environments. It is used in UK Universities to deliver tests in engineering, business, the life sciences, social sciences, and medicine. It is used by training providers to deliver professional and certification examinations globally. It is used by UK-based institutions to deliver examinations to geographically dispersed cohorts around the world.
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So exactly what support is there for essay and extended answer questions?
In brief, ExamOnline:
- provides a familiar word processor interface for candidates to enter their answers, supporting cut and paste and simple formatting
- automatically saves candidate answers as they type. This is a crucial feature in a test where a candidate may spend a long time answering just one question
- supports blind on-screen marking by question, by multiple markers, and supports insertion of comments for feedback
- supports paper-based marking (via export to PDF)
- includes support for hand-drawn sketches to be assessed alongside the online test
How are essays marked?
They must be human marked, but how is up to you. You (and your markers) can either mark on-screen or on paper. Both methods support blind marking. The on-screen method supports marking by question (i.e. view and mark all answers to question 1, then all answers to question 2 etc.), insertion of comments, and an audit trail of who marked what when. Paper-based supports marking by test. Most prefer on-screen marking (especially for shorter response questions), but paper-based marking also has it’s advocates.
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How can you include hand-drawn sketches in online examinations?
There is a page here which explains.
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Why not let candidates use on-screen drawing tools?
Candidates who are less IT literate and not skilled in the use of on-screen drawing tools would be disadvantaged if they had to use them. This would make the assessment less valid. Allowing the candidate to express their understanding with a free-hand sketch or diagram is a more valid approach, and is very popular with candidates.
Who hosts ExamOnline?
We can, or you can. If you want to run tests with large numbers of candidates at one time, then we would recommend that you host it (we will install and support it on your server). If your candidate numbers are low then you might want to have us host it for you. It’s up to you.
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How much does it cost?
There is a page here which can answer that for you.