ExamSoft
About ExamSoft
ExamSoft is a computer-based testing application that enables test creation, secure test administration through Examplify, exam scoring, and robust assessment at the item, student, and program levels.
The VMBS uses ExamSoft for the DVM Professional Program and provides support to both faculty and students, including training, technical proctoring for exams, installation, and troubleshooting.
- DVM students should review the device requirements for the DVM Professional Program to ensure compatibility with Examplify for test-taking on their mobile devices or laptops.
- Log in to the VMBS ExamSoft homepage.
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VMBS Support Administrator:
Laura Hammons, PhD | Manager, Instructional Design
Tel: 979.458.1089 | Email: lhammons@tamu.edu
Examplify Updates
Examplify is the ExamSoft application that allows for secure, offline exam-taking using your own laptop or tablet device.
- Students are required to download the latest version of Examplify and ensure compatibility with their device and operating system.
- Always ensure compatibility with Examplify before installing any operating system updates.
For additional information about software requirements and updates:
- View the Examplify Minimum System Requirements, and
- DVM Professional Program Student Device Requirements.
Windows
- Download the latest version of Examplify for Windows.
Macintosh
- Download the latest version of Examplify for Mac.
Examplify Registration/Log-In
Once downloaded on your testing device, Examplify will require you to register the device and log in by inputting:
- Institution ID = vmbs
- Student ID = TAMU UIN
- Password
Trial Exam
- Once registered, please take a trial exam to familiarize yourself with Examplify.
Faculty & Administrator Best Practices
General
- Use Firefox or Google Chrome as your web browser. Internet Explorer is not a supported browser.
- ExamSoft has an excellent resource library for help. Access it by selecting Resource Library under the “Help Guide” tab in the upper right-hand corner after logging in to the ExamSoft website.
Question Creation
- Assign one (and only one) New Graduate Outcome or CBVE category to EACH question.
- Questions with attached images:
- Use jpeg images instead of pdfs for attachments.
- Use Microsoft PowerPoint to assemble and export images.
- Pull images into PowerPoint.
- Go to the File menu, select Export, and select JPEG as the file type.
- Select “Every Slide” when asked if you want to export every slide in the presentations or only the current slide.
- Attach the files to the corresponding question in ExamSoft.
- Fill-In-the-Blank (FITB) questions
- Use the “Rationale” field when creating or editing questions to show the correct answer.
- This can be included on exam reviews to communicate the correct answer to students efficiently.
- You can use partial credit on fill in the blank, but only if blanks are specific to answers.
- FITB is good for questions of the type: “The three _1_ found _2__ sleeping in their bed when they returned home.”
- The answer is bears, then goldilocks. In this case, order matters.
- You could give partial credit in this case.
- FITB is bad for questions of the type “List the three….”; use an Essay question instead.
- Use the “Rationale” field when creating or editing questions to show the correct answer.
Creating and Posting an Exam
- Create your draft exam in the Content Banks area, under Exams.
- Name your exam (e.g., Course Name, Course Number, Exam Number, Semester, and Year).
- Search for and add questions from the Items area of the Content Bank.
- Add the Aggie Honor Code as a pre-assessment notice.
- Select your Security and Scoring options.
- Enable Exam Taker options, including backward navigation, highlighting, calculator, missing answer reminder, and 5 minute alarm.
- Re-order questions, if needed, by dragging and dropping them to their new order.
- Preview the exam (using the Preview function) prior to posting.
- If you make any changes to your questions, be sure to Approve the revision, Update the question in the assessment, and hit the Save button.
- Check with edtech@cvm.tamu.edu to ensure students with time accommodations are coded appropriately.
- Duplicate the draft exam to the Course, then post within the Course.
- Choose a Download Time that accounts for students who may need to download during the Exam Time, as well as for students taking make-up exams.
- Download and Upload Dates may be adjusted after posting, but not exam questions or other exam options.
Student Best Practices
Before the Exam
- Make sure your device and operating system are compatible with the current version of Examplify.
- Take a trial exam using Examplify.
- Download the exam at least one day prior to the exam.
- Make sure your device is adequately charged.
- For additional information, visit the ExamSoft Exam-Takers page.
During the Exam
- Exam takers can highlight text. Some students have found highlighting helpful in their thought processes during exams.
- You can include/exclude question distractors (choices on multiple-choice) to include or exclude them in your thought process.
- This is helpful when using a process of elimination to answer a question.
- To do this, tap the “X’ to the right of the distractor.
- You can zoom, pan, resize, move, close, and reopen images. They will not disappear permanently if you close them.
- You can navigate using the next and previous buttons, but you can also navigate using the navigation sidebar.
- Upload the exam before you exit the exam room.
- Don’t be concerned if you can’t upload it immediately. It may take a little while for your testing device to reconnect to the network, especially when many people are trying to do so at once.
- Contact an administrator if you need assistance.
Trial Exam
Mac or PC
Downloading the trial exam
- Open Examplify using the icon on your desktop.
- Select “Download Exam Files”.
- Login with your Institution ID, Student ID, and password.
- Select the Trial Exam from the list of available exams, then hit the “Download” button.
Taking the trial exam
- Enter the Exam Password: T3stDVM
- Read any notices that display, then select “Next.”
- Enter the code displayed, then select the “Start Exam” button.
- Respond to the first question.
- Explore the tools and options within Examplify (navigation, filtering, alarms, highlighting, eliminating distractors, viewing attachments, etc.)
- Respond to all remaining questions so that you are familiar with the question and answer formats (e.g., T/F, multiple choice, essay, etc.).
- When complete, select the option to “Submit Exam” under the Exam Controls drop-down.
- Confirm by checking the box, then choosing the “Exit” button.
- When you see the “Congratulations!” screen, select the “Close Exam” button.
Uploading the trial exam
- The upload should begin automatically.
- Once uploaded, the green “Congratulations” screen should display. During semester exams, you will need to show this screen to one of the proctors.
- If you receive a yellow screen, your exam has not successfully uploaded. Follow the on-screen directions to adjust your computer settings, then select “Retry”.
- Once you have confirmed that your exam has been uploaded, select “Close Exam.”