Online Exams Advice

Online Exams Practice Module

IT Services has created a practice module for students to practice submitting attempts using the assessment tools in Blackboard. You will need to self-enrol on this module before you do this; please see the instructions below.

Joining the Online Exams Practice Module - Full Steps

1. Log in to Blackboard via mymodule.tcd.ie
2. On the Institution Page, under Blackboard Guides for Students, click the link for the Online Exams Practice Module.
3. Click on the Enrol button.
4. Click on the Submit button on the bottom right of your page.
5. Your page will then say you have been enrolled. Click on the OK button on the bottom right of the page to access the module.
6. You will be able to access the module from your Module List.

Alternatively

1. Log in to Blackboard via mymodule.tcd.ie
2. Click on Module in the left navigation, then select Module Catalogue from the top right corner.
3. Use the search bar
4. Click on Enrol
5. The Online Exam Practice Module will appear on your module list.

Preparing yourself, your computer/device and internet connection

• Pick a comfortable and quiet spot where you can use WiFi without any issues and have access to an electrical plug (in the event you’ll need to plug in your laptop)
• Set up well before the start of the online exam; if you are using a laptop, then ensure it is plugged into electrical power
• Limit distractions on your device by turning off notifications or anything else that may disrupt your concentration during your exam
• Make sure you can access the relevant online service or website and log in.  Be aware of the Blackboard browser support advice, or similar advice for the service you will be using.
• If you are sharing WiFi in your house, it would be worthwhile to ask others to limit their use of online services that require a high amount of WiFi during your exam.

Submitting your assessments and assignments online

You will need to upload your assessments and assignments in the correct formats:

• For online exams that require typing long essay-style answers, use MS Word to type your responses into the provided Answer Booklet. Do not type long essay answers directly into Blackboard. You will upload the MS Word Answer Booklet to Blackboard at the end of your online exam.
• For online exams that require handwriting answers, such as writing formulas and equations or drawing diagrams, you will need to take photographs of your answers. You will copy the photographs into an MS Word Answer Booklet provided for the exam. The Answer Booklet should clearly indicate where to paste your uploaded photograph answer for each question. You will upload the MS Word Answer Booklet to Blackboard at the end of your online exam. Ensure that all your photographs are in focus, well-lit, and fully capture your work.
• For online exams where you are writing and submitting computer code, you will need to zip the files before you upload them to Blackboard at the end of your online exam. You can find the list of supported file types by clicking on this link.
• As it may take additional time to upload your online exam answers as Blackboard Assignments or via Turnitin in Blackboard, allowances have been made, and you have extra time to submit your answers.
• Don't refresh the page, close the window, or use the browser's back button while you take a test. If you encounter any issues during a test, please contact your instructor immediately.

Important - What to do if you have issues on the day

Document everything. If you encounter technical issues on the day of the exam or during the exam, it is important to document them in detail.  Take screenshots of errors, note the times of any incidents and record what actions you took.

If you encounter any issues with your Blackboard Module, such as submitting or accessing an assignment or test, please contact your module instructors, as they are the only ones who manage the assessment settings. 

Your WiFi Connectivity isn’t working?

Look for the simple fixes first:

• Check that all cables and wires are connected and that your broadband is properly plugged in.
• Reset your internet connection by turning it off, then turning it back on. Unplug the electrical plug, wait for a minute, and then plug it back in. It may take another minute for service to be restored.

What if we have a power outage?

If your home experiences a power outage and you need to access the Internet, you can try connecting your laptop to your phone's Wi-Fi hotspot.

Using your smartphone as a hotspot: what to know beforehand & instructions

You can use the data on your smartphone by turning your device into a ‘hotspot’.

Things to Know about Using Your Phone as a Hotspot

• Tethering uses the data bundle of your mobile phone plan
• Protect your hotspot with a password so that others cannot use your data
• Hotspots use a lot of power, so your phone’s battery can run down quickly. Keep your phone plugged in while using it as a hotspot
• Turn the hotspot off when you are done using it
• If you are in an area without a mobile phone signal, your phone's hotspot will not be able to connect a device to the Internet.
• Test your hotspot before you need to use it. Ensure that both your phone and service provider allow hotspot connections.
• You may be able to connect multiple devices to your hotspot, but please note that the more devices connected, the faster your data allowance will be used.

Supported Browsers

IT Services recommends Google Chrome or Firefox for accessing Blackboard.

For Blackboard Learn, Anthology supports Google Chrome™, Mozilla® Firefox®, Apple® Safari®, and Microsoft® Edge® desktop and mobile browsers. Most users can apply updates automatically for these browsers. Anthology makes every effort to support the most recent version upon release. For these supported browsers, these are the supported versions:

• Google Chrome™, most recent version and two preceding versions.
• Mozilla® Firefox®, most recent version and two preceding versions.
• Apple® Safari® for MacOS and iOS, two most recent major versions.

Run the Browser Checker to see whether Blackboard supports your browser

If you are experiencing issues accessing Blackboard or specific modules, please contact the Teaching & Learning IT team via the IT Service Desk by one of the following methods.

When you log a ticket, please include the module ID, name, and your instructor's contact details. Often, for issues related to accessing content, assessments, etc., within a module, we need to contact the instructor to verify, as they manage the settings for all content in a module.

You can email the service desk at itservicedesk@tcd.ie. Please ensure you fill in the 'Subject' field with Ultra: when emailing.

Email the Service Desk

Phone: +353 (01) 896 2000
Web Portal: assist.tcd.ie

Service desk opening hours are:
Monday - Friday: 09:00 - 17:00