Exams without Proctoring⁠

You can start your exam during the start window set by your instructor. Your timer begins when you click Start exam, and you receive the duration shown on your reservation, including any time accommodation.

Getting ready for an exam⁠

1. Go to the PrairieTest Home page

   • You will be able to see any current and future exam reservations.
   • If one of your courses offer exams with self-scheduling option, you will see a list of the exams available for reservation.
   • Check if you have your special exam accommodations entered correctly in your reservation.
   • Check the exam's start window and your assigned duration. You must start before the start window closes.
   • Contact your instructor if you believe your reservation is incorrect (and you do not have the option to self-schedule)

2. Plan your testing space. Here we provide some general guidelines. Your course instructor may have other specific policies.

   • find a quiet space without others around you.
   • plan to have scratch paper and any other allowed materials or resources nearby. Your instructor should have provided you with a list of allowed materials.

Before starting the exam⁠

1. Get yourself and your work space ready:

   • Use the restroom beforehand.
   • Make sure you have all the items you will need (loose-leaf scratch paper, pencils, other course-approved materials)
   • Make sure you do NOT have any unauthorized materials in your work area. This includes smart watches and electronic headphones.
   • Make sure you are alone and others will not enter the room.
   • Put your phone in Do Not Disturb mode (you are not supposed to be using your phone during the exam).

2. Go to the PrairieTest Home page from your computer/laptop and open your reservation. If your session requires LockDown Browser, click Open in LockDown Browser before entering the password or starting the exam. You will see one of the following messages:

   • "Your exam is scheduled to start at [exam time]": you can start once the session's start window opens. Your timer has not started yet.
   • "Your exam is now ready": enter the session password if one is requested. Click Start exam when you are ready to begin.

3. Once you click Start exam, your timer begins and you will get the link to your exam. Open the link and start taking the exam.

4. When you complete your exam, go back to PrairieTest and click End exam for self-checkout.

   • The exam will close automatically at your start time plus your assigned duration.
   • Students can find their exam scheduled duration from the Reservation panel in PrairieTest.

5. The start window determines when you may begin, not how long you have to finish. Starting later within that window does not shorten your assigned duration. Once the window closes, you cannot start an exam that you have not already begun.