Wednesday 18th August 2021 Prepare your exam environment Your supervisor will examine your workstation via the webcam/ camera during the inspection process to ensure that you do not have any unauthorised materials in your immediate working area. You must prepare your workstation in advance of your testing window, both to ensure that you meet this requirement and to create an environment with minimal distractions to your exam performance. To prepare your workstation: ● ● ● ● ● ● ● ●
Clear your workspace of all papers, books, and clutter. Have the writing booklets that were posted to you placed on your desk and a black pen only for writing. Reading time is for READING ONLY. No writing allowed. The total exam time allowed gives you sufficient time to plan and map out your answers before starting the exam. Make sure your device is charged or that you are near a power source. Arrange for animals and siblings to be cared for somewhere away from where you are working. Advise the other people in your household that you will be taking an exam and cannot be interrupted. You may wish to ask the people who share your internet connection to limit their use (e.g. Netflix) while you complete your exam. Your phone may be used for the exam inspection process, however it cannot be on your desk during the exam, and will need to be placed out of reach (i.e. on the floor under your chair). You may login to your exam session using your mobile phone if you don't have speakers or a camera on your computer. The online supervisor will instruct you about the position of your phone.
Just as you would for an on-campus exam, you will: need to have your student ID and student NESA # be advised by your supervisor when you can commence the exam be asked to remove any non-permissible materials (e.g. a mobile phone or smart watch, pencil case) from reach before commencing the exam. ● be inspected for headphones, writing on hands, arms. ● be allowed a clear water bottle only. ● ● ●
You will be assisted through this process by your online supervisor, who will communicate with you using your computer’s webcam/ camera, microphone and speakers. There is also a chat facility to chat to your supervisor should you have any technical issues or problems with the exam. You will be given instructions on how to record your computer screen prior to commencing the exam. The recorded file will be saved at the conclusion of the exam and emailed to the trials inbox along with your file for exam responses trials@bellfield.nsw.edu.au Once you start your exam, your supervisor will continue to monitor you and any use of the applications on your computer. Their presence will not be intrusive so that you may focus fully on your exam. They will continue to monitor you during the full exam, and just like in an on-campus paper-based exam, they will flag unusual activity and intervene if necessary. Leaving the view of the screen during the exam and reading the questions aloud is not permitted. The supervisor is assisted by a virtual invigilator who will monitor unusual activity such as lighting changes, unusual noises, and consistently looking to a specific location off screen while taking the exam. In these instances, the invigilator may request that you show them the room with your webcam/camera to confirm that you are not seeking assistance with the exam (for instance with unpermitted notes). The exams will have the online supervisor and virtual invigilator connected for the entire exam. The whole exam-taking process is recorded and will be reviewed for academic integrity in the event unusual activity is reported. Incidents would be investigated under usual curriculum procedures, in the same way that an incident is reported from a pen/paper exam and then investigated. Student queries on exam content during the exam Academic assistance will not be available during the exam. Late submission penalties If you submit your online exam after the specified exam duration (including any allowed submission or upload time), the following penalties for late submission will be applied to the total mark available for the exam: • Between 5 minutes to less than 15 minutes late: 20% penalty • More than 15 minutes late: 100% penalty. These penalties will be applied unless there is sufficient evidence that the late submission is beyond your control.
Post exam All recordings may be viewed after the examination by the Head of Senior School. The Head of Senior School will be contacted directly in the event unusual testing behaviour is recorded. Authorised staff only will have the ability to view recorded exams. Any suspected breaches of academic integrity will be reviewed under the Stage 6 Assessment and Reporting procedures. Your exam recording will be deleted at the conclusion of term 3. Only authorised staff with roles in the maintenance of academic integrity will have access to the recording only for the purposes of maintaining academic integrity. The recording will not be provided to any other parties for any purpose. A student will be ineligible for a modified arrangement or misadventure if their circumstances were avoidable and the student had reasonable opportunity to make alternative arrangements.
Kind regards Ms Mouina Ramadan Head of Senior School