Best Practices for Tests Written in the Test Centre

This article outlines best practices for setting up Moodle tests for students writing in the Test Centre. It covers accommodations, Respondus LockDown Browser, User Overrides, test availability, passwords, and Test Centre instructions.

When a student is writing a Moodle test in the Test Centre, the setup will depend on whether they require accommodation software and whether Respondus LockDown Browser is enabled.

If the Student Requires Accommodation Software and the Test Uses Respondus

Some accommodation software cannot be used with Respondus LockDown Browser. In this situation:

1. Duplicate the Moodle test. Keep the original test unchanged for the rest of the class.

2. Disable Respondus LockDown Browser on the duplicate. Save your changes and check the Respondus Dashboard to confirm there are no errors. If you encounter an error, see Fixing the Copied Quiz Error.

3. Set the duplicate test's availability dates to the past. This prevents other students from accessing it.

4. Create a User Override for the student. Set the date and time they will be writing in the Test Centre and adjust the time limit based on their approved accommodations.

This keeps the non-Respondus version unavailable to the rest of the class while allowing the accommodated student to access it at their scheduled time.

If the Student Does Not Require Accommodation Software

You do not need to create a second copy of the test.

Use a Moodle User Override to provide the student's required accommodations. A User Override can be used to:

• provide additional writing time, such as time-and-a-half;

• allow the student to write on a different date; and

• change the test's opening and closing times for that student.

See Setting User Overrides for instructions.

If the student can use Respondus LockDown Browser, Respondus can remain enabled.

Test Centre Best Practices

Check the open and close times. When providing additional writing time, make sure the test remains open long enough for the student to use their full accommodation. For example, a student receiving time-and-a-half on a 60-minute test requires 90 minutes. Increasing the time limit does not automatically ensure the test will remain open for the full 90 minutes.

Remove the password when possible. If you are already creating a User Override because the student has additional time or is writing on a different date, you can also remove the password within that override. Managing access through the student's date and time settings instead of a password can reduce confusion in the Test Centre.

Add instructions in ClockWork. Use the Instructions section to provide information the proctor may need. For example, if you created a second version of the test without Respondus, indicate which version the student should use. You can also include password information or other special instructions.

Print a test when needed. If a paper version is required, see Retrieving a Moodle Quiz Using Respondus 4.0 Campus-Wide.