What’s happening with my exams this year?
Please be advised that Semester 1 and Semester 2 2021 final examinations will be held online or in an alternative format.
Student Central
Exams
Everything you need to know about sitting exams at CDU.
Most units require you to sit a final exam at the end of each semester. For 2021 these exams will be held online or as an alternative assessment.
Exams are held during a 14 day period that commences one week after teaching ends.
An exam timetable is published two weeks prior to the exam period.
Semester 1 exam period will be held between 7 - 18 June 2021.
The final exam timetable will be available no later than two weeks before the examinations commence.
All timetables will be set according to Australian Central Standard Time (ACST gmt+9.5).
Well connected
You will need reliable access to Learnline for the duration of the exam. Make sure you have a stable internet connection and that your computer or laptop is running well.
We assume that most of you will take your exam at home, but, subject to the social distancing requirements in your state or territory, you could also arrange to sit your exam:
- at your workplace
- at a friend or family member’s house
- at a university campus library near you (check availability in advance)
Well timed
You will be able to access your exam questions at the advertised start time. Be ready to focus from the beginning. Try and minimise any unnecessary breaks. Just like other exams, you must have finished and uploaded your questions by the end time, or your answers won’t count.
Take some time before the exam begins to collect your thoughts. Think about how to organise the time period. Spend some time making sure you understand the questions. Allow some time to attempt all sections or questions.
Well organised
Try and create an environment as close to exam-like conditions as you can. Make a clutter and distraction-free space. Make sure you have everything you need to hand. Sharpen those pencils and charge those devices – plug your laptop in so it doesn’t power down mid-exam!
If you need specific equipment or resources, your unit coordinator will let you know in advance.
Well-practiced
There will be a practise exam prior to you sitting your final exam where you will have the opportunity to test your equipment. For further information on the practise exam, please contact your unit coordinator.
Lastly, don’t panic!
Your unit coordinator will be on hand throughout the exam in case anything goes wrong, and our tech team will be on standby to make sure there are no issues with Learnline.
We know that despite excellent preparation, lots can happen to impact your ability to take the exam. Just like other exams, we will still use the existing processes to:
- apply for a reasonable adjustment, or
- sit a special exam at a later date.
See here for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions (Respondus) (FAQ)
Frequently Asked Questions (Respondus) (FAQ)
It is strongly recommended that you complete a practise exam through Respondus Lockdown Browser software, prior to your actual exam.
You should complete the practise exam using the same computer, webcam and microphone, and internet connection you will be actually using for the actual exam.
Your lecturer will advise when you will be able to complete your practise exam.If you have issues with your practise exam, please contact the appropriate area as you will need to address these issues prior to the actual exam.
- ITMS – Technical issues with your computer/webcam/microphone, call 08 89466600
- Respondus – Difficulties connecting to Respondus 24/7 chat is available
- Learnline – Learnline related queries, call 1800 984057
- Exams Team – General queries, call 1800 061963
The Start Up Sequence (the pre-exam steps) are completed before the student sees or starts the exam; the timer for the exam does not start until students complete these steps.
No. Do not use links to access your exams. You will need to log onto Learnline so you have direct access to the unit and its exam.
Yes. Please follow the Lockdown Browser link here.
Or
Open a standard web browser and type the following URL https://download.respondus.com/lockdown/download.php?id=674838253
An error message can occur during installation if you are running the High Sierra (10.13 to 10.13.6) version of OSX on your computer. To fix this error, ensure all updates have been actioned so your system is up to date
Yes. Any Bluetooth devices that you have paired with your computer should still work. Your equipment can be double checked when you complete the practice exam
No, you will not require a password. If you are prompted to enter a password, you can safely ignore.
When you run the Lockdown Browser you may be prompted to perform a webcam check if your subject coordinator has activated this option. If the browser check fails to detect your webcam you can try the following options:
- If you are using an external webcam, ensure that it is plugged in properly and working (for Windows users you can run the Camera application to see if your webcam is operating).
- For Mac users: Check that permission has been granted for the browser to access your microphone and webcam. Further troubleshooting information can be found on the Respondus website MAC webcam and microphone troubshooting
- Further troubleshooting information is available on the Respondus website Webcam troubleshooting
No, LockDown Browser is a required component of Respondus Monitor.
Other computer applications cannot be used while LockDown Browser is in use to complete a test.
This message indicates that your computer cannot establish the necessary connection to the Respondus media servers in order to record video for your test. There are several possible factors that can cause this connectivity problem. Visit this link for a detailed list and solution addressing the problem.
The Lockdown Browser will automatically detect applications that are not allowed and you will be notified to close these applications (‘close the process’ in Windows and ‘kill the application’ in Mac) This may be required several times depending on the number of applications open.
If there are still active applications, you will need to exit the Lockdown Browser and manually close the applications prior to attempting to access the exam again.
If you receive this error you should first contact your lecturer as they may need to ‘open the LockDown Browser Dashboard for the course’. If the lecturer has opened the Dashboard but the error persists, please follow the link -problem with settings- to the Respondus website for troubleshooting tips
Depending on the type of problem you are experiencing, there are several troubleshooting steps you can take. If the issue is related to:
Connectivity Issues
- Your computer should be positioned as close as possible to the wireless router to ensure the best connectivity or use a wired network to connect with the best strength and speed.
- Close down other applications that may be running in the background as these will slow down your connection.
- To get the best possible connectivity, close all other home network connections that may cause the internet to run slow.
- Respondus internet connectivity Tips
Nothing happens or there are error messages
- Check that you are running the latest version of the Lockdown Browser. Follow the link for instructions on how to perform this check and run any necessary updates.
- Temporarily disable any anti-virus applications running on your computer and reactivate once the Lockdown Browser isn’t in use.
- Close any other communication or cloud storage programs running in the background (e.g. Spotify, Facebook, Skype, Dropbox).
- Uninstall and reinstall the Lockdown Browser on your computer.
Once you have reached your time limit, the programme will automatically close and the work you have done so far will be submitted. There is a timer on the bottom left hand side of the screen which indicates the remaining exam time. The time at the bottom right hand side indicates when the exam was last automatically saved.
This may be an issue with your security settings. If you have a security/anti virus program installed, it would be recommended to allow temporary access to Lockdown Browser. If you are using a MAC you may need to run in Safe Mode.
Your exam will save at regular intervals when using lockdown browser and monitor. If you experience a power outage during your exam and are unable to gain access back into your exam, please contact Respondus 24/7 chat
Alternatively
- Reboot your computer
- Close all applications except for Respondus Lockdown Browser. This will help reduce the bandwith being used by other applications running in the background
- Use a high bandwith internet connection. If possible, plug an Ethernet cable into the computer to ensure the best possible network connection/speed. Otherwise, be as close to the WIFI router as possible.
- Request that other members of your household refrain from using the internet for high bandwith activities like gaming or movie streaming.
- Save your answers every 10-15 minutes
You will need to sit your exam under exam conditions which means you need to undertake your exam in a space where you will not be interrupted. A coffee shop, park or a public space in a library would not be suitable. Suitable spaces would be:
- At home, in a room where you will not be disturbed.
- At work, in a quiet area where you will not be disturbed
- In a library, in a private room where you will not be disturbed.
- At a friend’s house, in a location where you will not be disturbed
The equipment that you intend using for your exam will need to be tested first during your practice exam. Some public and workplace computers do not allow you to install software or have firewalls which may prevent you from accessing your exam online. If you have exhausted all options and still think you will be unable to complete your exam online, please email examinations@cdu.edu.au.
Students with an access and inclusion plan should contact their advisor for further information on how Respondus fits into their plan.
The Exams team, the unit lecturer and unit coordinator have access and can view the recording of your exam. No other CDU staff member or Respondus staff will have access.
Please dress appropriately as you will be recorded and the recording may be viewed by CDU exams staff. However, Pajamas and other comfy attire is acceptable.
Please do not wear hats or sunglasses during the online exam. If you are required to wear dark prescription glasses that could be mistaken for sunglasses, please let us know in advance so we can make arrangements for you prior to the exam.
Respondus Inc has created a statement to explain their commitment to your privacy. They seek to protect your private information so that you have an enjoyable experience on their website. They will not sell, rent, trade or disclose your personally identifiable information to anyone except as explained in the policy.
Additional details on privacy can be viewed in the Respondus Privacy Policy and Students Terms of Use
Please also see CDU Privacy and Confidential Policy
When opening up Respondus LockDown Browser you get the message as per the image below:
There can be a number of causes for this error. In the first instance of getting this message, please contact your lecturer, in case they can see an error on their end that can be easily fixed. If there is no visible error on the lecturers view of the exam then see if the below helps fix your issue.
- The error is often caused by the student accessing the exam through a "reminder" entry in a toolbar or calendar. It's important for the student to access the exam by first navigating to the course and then going to the appropriate test area or content area.
- If the student is going first to the course, then to the content area, but the problem persists, the error could be caused by security settings on the computer, ISP, or network. In most cases, the problematic settings are on the computer itself. Please do the following steps one at a time and afterwards verify if the problem persists.
- Your computer, ISP, or network might be blocking access to the Respondus servers. Temporarily shut down all anti-virus and firewall software on the computer and try the exam again. If the problem persists, try using the computer on a different network, or using a different computer on your main network. Keep in mind that the block could be in the router itself. Bypassing the router and plugging straight into the modem may help.
- If the error persists, reset your computer's internet options. For Windows users, go to control panel and select "Network and Internet." Once there, click on "Internet Options". On the "Security" tab, ensure that your settings are not higher than "Medium". On the Advanced tab, click "Reset" located under the header "Reset Internet Explorer Settings". In the window that opens, select "Delete Personal Settings" and then click on the Reset button. Doing this will impact all client browsers, not just Internet Explorer.
- After resetting the internet options, restart your computer and try to access your exam again.
Ensure that you have the correct time and time zone set for your computer.
On submitting your exam within Respondus you receive an error:
‘Unexpected error. Please contact the system administrator’
If this occurs:
- Close down Respondus Monitor and go back into your unit in which the quiz was taken.
Go to the quiz tool and check that your attempt was submitted. You can do this by selecting the Submissions option from the drop-down next to the quiz name. You will see all your attempts in a list here. For more information on the attempt - such as the date and time submitted, as well as any score and feedback released by your lecturer can be found by pressing on the attempt link.
These error codes indicate a problem with your network, not with LockDown Browser. They will often be accompanied by a message that says "Failed to load page. Please check network connection."
If you receive any of these errors, we suggest that you use a different network to take your exam.
Errors that indicate a network problem include:
* The network changed. (-21)
* The host name could not be resolved. (-105)
* The Internet connection has been lost. (-106)
* The proxy requested authentication (for tunnel establishment) with an unsupported method. (-115)
* A connection attempt timed out. (-118)This error indicates the Respondus Monitor start-up cannot access the Respondus servers to retrieve certain settings established by the instructor. Sometimes, you will see various error codes accompany the error, such as: 0x0002
1) The error is often caused by accessing the exam through a "reminder" entry in a toolbar or calendar. It's important for you to access the exam by first navigating to the course and then going to the appropriate test area or content area.
2) If you are sure that you are accessing the quiz following the instructions in step #1 above, the problem could be caused by security settings on your computer, ISP, or network. In most cases, the problematic settings are on the computer itself. Please do the following steps one at a time and afterwards verify if the problem persists.
3) Your computer, ISP, or network might be blocking access to the Respondus servers. Temporarily shut down all anti-virus and firewall software on the computer and try the exam again. If the problem persists, try using the computer on a different network, or using a different computer on your main network. Keep in mind that the block could be in the router itself. Bypassing the router and plugging straight into the modem may help.
4) If the error persists, reset your computer's internet options. For Windows users, go to control panel and select "Network and Internet." Once there, click on "Internet Options". On the "Security" tab, ensure that your settings are not higher than "Medium". On the Advanced tab, click "Reset" located under the header "Reset Internet Explorer Settings". In the window that opens, select "Delete Personal Settings" and then click on the Reset button. Doing this will impact all client browsers, not just Internet Explorer.
After resetting the internet options, restart your computer and try to access your exam again.
1) Ensure that you have the correct time and time zone set for your computer.2) Sometimes a slow network connection can cause a timeout to occur, resulting in the error. Using a faster connection might help.
If you start an Exam using Respondus LockDown Browser and you find the font too small to read, you can increase the zoom level in your browser. Just click on the “i” icon in the toolbar at the top of the screen.
This will open a new window (titled “Respondus LockDown Browser – Information”), where you can adjust the zoom level. Select your preferred zoom level, and then click “Apply,” and click “OK” to close the information window.
