Based on the services we provide, we define a proctored exam as an online or paper-based exam that is monitored by an artificial Intelligence or a live proctor via webcam or an in-person proctor on or off-campus. UA Online Proctored Testing administers exams to students enrolled in courses facilitated by UA Online or to on-campus students taking online courses.

How does it work?

Notice of the possibility of proctored testing is in a course’s description during registration. The instructor will inform you of how proctored exams will be administered in your course. The instructor may select all or some of the testing options below and inform you of which testing options are available for that particular class.

  • Off-Campus In-Person (additional fees may apply)
    • Institutional testing center at a 2-4 year regionally accredited college with a testing center or a library with an employed librarian that offers proctored testing at that institution.
    • A local library that offers proctoring services via an employed librarian.
    • A testing center such as Sylvan Learning.
  • On-Campus
    • UA Testing Services office (UA Testing Services, Houser Hall, Room 2040 (located on the second Floor). No fees are required.
  • Online
    • Online proctoring using Examity (additional fees apply)
    • A laptop or desktop computer is required
    • Chromebooks, iPads, or mobile devices cannot be used

NOTE: The availability of these options will be decided by the instructor. Please confirm testing options for each course in your syllabus or with your instructor.

All exams will be scheduled through your Blackboard course page through a tab called Proctored Exam Scheduling. Please keep in mind it’s your responsibility to schedule your exams with a proctor online, on-campus, or off-campus. Exam extensions have to be approved by your instructor and we must receive confirmation directly before making any date changes in the scheduling portals.

Proctor Approval

All in-person proctors are required to have an account with SmarterProctoring in order to be approved as a proctor for your exams. Exam details, such as passwords or exam files, will not be sent via email or phone. If your proctor needs to set up an account, they can refer to our Proctors page for assistance.

Students can search for a proctor through SmarterProctoring for each of their exams. Once you have located a proctor in your area that you would like to use, we advise that you contact them directly to confirm that still offer proctoring services at that location and still have access to their SmarterProctoring account, before attempting to schedule. If you find a proctor that is not already approved in the system, you will need to request for the proctor to be approved before attempting to schedule. All approval requests will go to UA Online Testing Services staff for verification, and a notification of the final decision will be sent back to you.

NOTE: Proctor approval is not related to account setup/account activation. Account setup and activation is done via SmarterProctoring

Students enrolled in an online course (OL) have three proctoring options for testing.

  • Off-Campus (additional fees may apply)
    • A local library that offers proctoring services via an employed librarian.
    • A testing center such as Sylvan Learning.
    • Institutional testing center at a 2-4 year regionally accredited college with a testing center or a library with an employed librarian that offers proctored testing at that institution.
  • On-Campus With UA Testing Services (no fees required)
    • Houser Hall, 301 7th Ave, Suite 2040 (second floor).
  • Online With Examity (additional fees apply)
    • An internal or external webcam is required.

Please be aware that the available proctoring options are subject to change based on the options that instructors choose for their courses.

How to Schedule

All students can schedule their exams in their Blackboard course page through the Proctored Exam Scheduling option on the left-hand side of the page. Students with multiple courses must schedule through each Blackboard course individually.

Any fees, such as exam proctoring fees and postage, are the responsibility of the student.

Students testing with an in-person proctor (on or off campus) will need to schedule their exams through SmarterProctoring via the On-Campus and Off-Campus In-Person links provided in your course page. Students testing online with Examity must schedule through the Online Proctoring link in their course page.

Students enrolled in an online main (OLM) course have two proctoring options for testing.

  • On-Campus With UA Testing Services (no fees required)
    • Houser Hall, 301 7th Ave, Suite 2040 (second floor).
    • No walk-ins are allowed.
    • A physical ID with a photo, such as a physical UA Action card, driver’s license, work ID, pistol permit, etc., is required. A second form of ID is also required, such as a digital UA Action card, debit/credit card, work ID, insurance card, hunting/fishing license, pistol permit, or any other form of government ID.
    • Pictures of IDs will not be permitted.
  • Online With Examity (additional fees apply)
    • An internal or external webcam is required.

Please be aware that the available proctoring options are subject to change based on the options that instructors choose for their courses.

How to Schedule

All students can schedule their exams in their Blackboard course page through the Proctored Exam Scheduling tab on the left-hand side of the page. Students with multiple courses must go through each Blackboard course page to schedule.

Any fees, such as exam proctoring fees and postage, are the responsibility of the student.

Students testing with an in-person proctor (on or off campus) will need to schedule their exams through SmarterProctoring via the On-Campus and Off-Campus In-Person links provided in your course page. Students testing online with Examity must schedule through the Online Proctoring link in their course page.

Students currently enrolled in UA Early College will have three proctoring options.

  • Off-Campus Proctor
    • Educational Professional – A principal, advisor/counselor, or a teacher at the high school where you’re currently enrolled.
    • A local library that offers proctoring services via an employed librarian (additional fees may apply).
  • UA Testing Services On-Campus
    • Located in Houser Hall, Room 2040, on the second floor (no fees).
  • Online with Examity
    • An internal or external webcam is required (additional fees apply).

Please be aware that the available proctoring options are subject to change based on the options that instructors choose for their courses.

How to Schedule

All students can schedule their exams in their Blackboard course through the Proctored Exam Scheduling option on the left-hand side of the page. Students with multiple courses must go through each Blackboard course individually.

Any fees, such as exam proctoring fees and postage, are the responsibility of the student.

Students testing with an in-person proctor (on or off-campus) will need to schedule their exams through SmarterProctoring via the On-Campus and Off-Campus In-Person links provided in your course page. Students testing online with Examity must schedule through the Online Proctoring link in their course page.

How Can I Test At My High School?

Your proctor will need to have an account set up with SmarterProctoring if they don’t already have one. If they already have an account, search for your proctor’s account in SmarterProctoring and request for their account to be approved for your exam(s). You will receive an email verification decision from our staff.

If your proctor doesn’t have an account, they can view the proctor information located on our website to learn how to sign up and get their account activated by SmarterProctoring.

If you are a military student, you have four proctoring options for testing.

Service Members

  • Military Personnel (active-duty only)
    • Education center at the soldier’s installation
    • Commissioned officer (0-1 and above)
    • Warrant officer (W-1 and above)
    • Senior NCO (E-7 and above)
    • Military Base Testing Center

Service Members, Spouses, and Dependents

  • Off-Campus (additional fees may apply)
    • A local library that offers proctoring services via an employed librarian.
    • A testing center such as Sylvan Learning.
    • Institutional testing center at a 2-4 year regionally accredited college with a testing center or a library with an employed librarian that offers proctored testing at that institution.
  • On-Campus With UA Testing Services (no fees required)
    • Houser Hall, 301 7th Ave, Suite 2040 (second floor).
  • Online With Examity (additional fees apply)
    • An internal or external webcam is required.

Please be aware that the available proctoring options are subject to change based on the options that instructors choose for their courses.

How to Schedule

All students can schedule their exams in their Blackboard course page through the Proctored Exam Scheduling option on the left-hand side of the page. Students with multiple courses must schedule through each Blackboard course individually.

Any fees, such as exam proctoring fees and postage, are the responsibility of the student.

Students testing with an in-person proctor (on or off campus) will need to schedule their exams through SmarterProctoring via the On-Campus and Off-Campus In-Person links provided in your course page. Students testing online with Examity must schedule through the Online Proctoring link in their course page.

If you are a UA athlete, you will have two proctoring options available for use for your exams.

  • On-campus with Alabama Athletics Learning Services Team
    • This option is only available to UA athletes.
  • Online with Examity
    • An internal or external webcam is required (additional fees apply).

Please be aware that the available proctoring options are subject to change based on the options that instructors choose for their courses.

How to Schedule

All students can schedule their exams in their Blackboard course page through the Proctored Exam Scheduling option on the left-hand side of the page. Students with multiple courses must schedule through each Blackboard course individually.

Below you’ll find helpful videos on how proctored testing works and how to take a proctored test on or off campus.

We all know that technical glitches, connection issues, or computer errors can be frustrating and time-consuming, especially when taking an exam. While no amount of preparation can account for all possible issues, we’ve got a few tips and tricks to help minimize the chance of experiencing a technical problem and some troubleshooting tips for those with online exams as well as in-person exams. First things first, know your support resources.

Support Resources

Examity

Technical issues can come up when using Examity and nothing is worse than having something go wrong in the middle of your session. So, before starting a session with Examity, please go through this checklist below to make sure you have everything in order.

  • Make sure you are not using a Chromebook or iPad (must be a laptop or desktop computer)
  • Make sure your computer and browser are up to date with system updates
  • Check to make sure your internet connection is good
  • Google Chrome is preferred
  • Make sure Screen Sharing/Screen Recording computer settings is enabled for Google Chrome (see Examity Troubleshooting Guide)
  • Clear your cookies and cache as well as browsing history
  • Enable pop-ups and allow cookies in browser settings
  • Log into Blackboard directly at ualearn.blackboard.com and not through myBama
    • myBama is a timed portal that can log you out of your exam and prevent your answers from saving
  • If you are still having issues after going through this checklist and you are using Google Chrome, try signing out of your account and try going through your session signed out

Examity Troubleshooting Guide

Examity offers a troubleshooting guide to help students through their online proctoring process. Similar to the checklist above, there are instructions and tips about common issues you may have with beginning your exam, Chrome Extensions, exam passwords, etc. Before starting your session, take a look at the guide to make sure you’re prepared.

Online Exams

A majority of you are going to have exams in Blackboard and WebAssign (Math), and technical issues can come up, whether it’s a service issue or human error. While no amount of preparation can account for all possible issues, we’ve got a few tips and tricks to help minimize the chance of experiencing a technical problem and some troubleshooting tips for those with online exams as well as in-person exams.

Use a wired internet connection

  • If you’re not testing at an in-person location, don’t try to use a wireless or satellite connection, if you can help it. Wireless or satellite connections aren’t always reliable. If there’s bad weather or if your wireless internet connection isn’t strong enough, you could have technical issues. If you’re not the only one connected to the internet, like if you’re in a house with other people or in building with other people and you’re using the same wifi/internet connection, you could experience delays or things not loading properly, and that’s not something you want to deal with during your exam.

Close/Quit other computer programs

  • Be sure to close or quit any programs not needed for exam completion.

Read the test Instructions

  • Always read the instructions.
  • Be sure to confirm that you are taking the correct exam. Make sure you understand how long you have to take the exam so you can manage your time, know what you’re allowed to have with you. If your exam is in Blackboard, make sure you pay attention to instructions, for example ”questions must be answered one at a time and backtracking is not available”.

Check your computer settings before your exam

  • If you are using a computer that is not your own, check the settings before you start an exam because you never know what the default settings might be or what another person has set them to, such as the mouse scroll sensitivity and direction.
  • Be proactive and adjust your browser size and screen size before your exam. Screens can be zoomed in or zoomed out to your needs, so take the time to do that before you start your exam, so you don’t have to readjust during your exam.

Take your time

  • If you’re taking an exam where you have to click through each question one at a time, try not to rush through each question, clicking several buttons at once without giving it a chance to load. Always wait for Blackboard to finish processing a request before clicking another button.
  • Make sure you’re using the navigation buttons in Blackboard and not any shortcut keys for going backward and forwards or the Backspace button. Using those could potentially send you back too far or take you out of the exam.
  • Blackboard has a Remaining Time drop-down feature that will allow you to show or hide your exam timer. If you’re someone that doesn’t like having a countdown or the timer is actually a distraction, you can just hide it from your view. However, you may want to unhide it from time to time so you know how much time you have left on your exam.

Save your Answers

  • Always make sure your answers save. Usually, answers will save automatically in Blackboard but sometimes it may not always be immediate. So, if you notice it hasn’t changed to show as saved, go ahead and click it before moving on to the next question.
  • Blackboard has a Question Completion Status drop-down arrow that will allow you to see all of the questions you have for the exams, which questions have been answered and saved, and what questions you have left in the exam.

Submit

  • When you’ve finished your exam, don’t refresh or exit out of anything until you’ve submitted your exam. When you click Submit, it will ask you to confirm if that’s what you want to do. Then you’ll see a report of the submission with your student information and the exam information along with the date and time of the submission. Some instructors may ask students to print or email a screenshot of the report as verification.

Although you may be enrolled in an online course, some courses may require a paper exam that has to be completed with an in-person proctor.

NOTE: The available proctoring options are subject to change based on the decision of the instructor and what options they choose for their course.

In-Person Proctoring Only

When testing in person for a paper exam, once you’ve officially scheduled your exam with a proctor and the exam becomes available, a PDF file of your exam will be sent to your proctor’s SmarterProctoring account. After you’ve checked in with them, your proctor will print out the exam and administer it to you. At the completion of your exam, your proctor will scan all exam pages and used scratch paper into one PDF file, then upload it back to SmarterProctoring or email it to testing.services@ua.edu. You will also be required to provide postage to your proctor, so they can mail your exam back to our physical address.

Important Reminders

  • Confirm with your proctor that they have received your exam before arriving to test.
  • Put your name and CWID on the exam.
  • Read all instructions.
  • Do not write on the back of your pages to make scanning easier.
  • After completion, confirm with your proctor that they have scanned all pages and either uploaded everything to SmarterProctoring or sent them to UA Online Testing Services.

Online Version of a Paper Exam

Some students may have the option to take an online version of a paper exam. However, that option depends on what proctoring options the instructor has allowed for their course. If you have the option to take an online version of a paper exam, the process is slightly different from testing in person and there are a few guidelines you’ll need to follow.

Testing Guidelines

  • An internal or external webcam is required. During the session, you must be visible at all times.
  • A printer with scanning capabilities is required.
  • You must log into Blackboard directly and not through myBama. myBama is a timed portal and will log you out of your exam and prevent your answers from saving.
  • Exam sessions must be completed in one session. Once the exam timer has started, it cannot be stopped.
  • All answers and scratch work must be done on blank paper. You are NOT allowed to print off the exam.
  • Once the exam is complete, all answers and scratch work must be scanned and uploaded into one PDF file. The file will then need to be uploaded to the Blackboard exam BEFORE submitting the exam.

Students will have a specific amount of time for the exam and for scanning and uploading. It will be your responsibility to monitor your time and use it wisely.