Frequently Asked Questions
-
Q: How secure is the testing, and what are we doing to make it secure?
A: Virtual testing does not have the level of security as face-to-face testing, mainly because of better access to all angles of the student experience. However,
WSU is using live proctors and is recording the sessions. This is superior to the record-and-review method of some institutions, which flags test sessions. With WSU’s method,
the proctor may more promptly clarify and ask questions.
-
Q: Is there a cost to students?
A: There is no cost to students for coursework exams. Placement tests will have the same charges as before.
-
Q: How are we going to handle the testing volume?
A: Faculty have been asked to limit their assessments for summer semester. Testing Services is using all available proctors to manage sessions, accommodating
upwards of 300 tests a day. At this point, faculty are not being asked to reserve times for their exams, but Testing Services will review such options if the load is unmanageable.
-
Q: Why do students have to make appointments 48 hours in advance? (note this has changed from 24 hours)
A: Testing Services is charged with proctoring hundreds of live exams. This means we must have proctors ready in advance to meet requests and can only handle
a certain amount at a time.
-
Q: Will we be doing paper testing?
A: No. The virtual environment does not lend itself to handing out, retrieving, or scanning paper tests. Security could not be assured. The instructor might
be equally served by a take-home, non-proctored exam. Testing with paper in a virtual setting would also require students to have a printer or a scanner at home, which would
create another barrier.
-
Q: How are you maintaining the security of the test so other students are able to get hold of it?
A: Testing Services will make the best effort to assure that students are not writing down questions. This will require faculty to consider limiting scratch
paper use because there is no way for Testing Services to have students turn it in at the end of their exams. The proctor will make sure students are on their assigned tests.
Cell phones are strictly not allowed. If a proctor detects a phone in any way, the exam will be ended. This is the same policy we observe for face-to-face testing, and the
student will receive notification about this rule.