ExamSoft

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 = tamucvm
• Student ID = TAMU UIN
• Password

Trial Exam

• Once registered, please take a trial exam to familiarize yourself with Examplify.

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 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.
• Large questions (questions with substantial text, such as cases)
  • Create a scenario page to accompany the questions.
  • Number or letter the scenarios and put the number or letter on the page, and in the question.
• Vignettes/Dependent questions
  • If you have a set of questions that are dependent on one another, such as a question that references a scenario in a prior question, use the “Group” feature to force those questions to appear together on an exam.
  • Give the same unique name to all the questions that should be grouped.
  • When adding them to the exam, make sure the items appear in the same order you would like to see them within that group set.
  • ExamSoft will then randomize question order, but keep the groups together.
• 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.

Posting an Exam

• Name your exam (e.g., Course Name, Course Number, Exam Number, Semester, and Year) and organize it in the appropriate folder for easy access in the future.
• Use the Blueprint feature to ensure adequate coverage of material, based on outcomes, and other established categories.
• Add the Aggie Honor Code and other pre-assessment notices.
• Select your Security and Scoring options.
• Enable Exam Taker options, including the option to use iPads.
• 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.
• Select the appropriate 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.

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.
• IPad Users: make sure your device has at least 500 MB of free space.
• For additional information, see Getting Started with Examplify.
• For assistance with troubleshooting visit Exam-Taker Help.

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 computer/iPad 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

1. Open Examplify using the icon on your desktop.
2. Select “Download Exam Files”.
3. Login with your Institution ID, Student ID, and password.
4. Select the Trial Exam from the list of available exams, then hit the “Download” button.

Taking the trial exam

1. Enter the Exam Password: T3stDVM
2. Read any notices that display, then select “Next.”
3. Enter the code displayed, then select the “Start Exam” button.
4. Respond to the first question.
5. Explore the tools and options within Examplify (navigation, filtering, alarms, highlighting, eliminating distractors, viewing attachments, etc.)
6. Respond to all remaining questions so that you are familiar with the question and answer formats (e.g., T/F, multiple choice, essay, etc.).
7. When complete, select the option to “Submit Exam” under the Exam Controls drop-down.
8. Confirm by checking the box, then choosing the “Exit” button.
9. When you see the “Congratulations!” screen, select the “Close Exam” button.

Uploading the trial exam

1. The upload should begin automatically.
2. Once uploaded, the green “Congratulations” screen should display. During semester exams, you will need to show this screen to one of the proctors.
3. 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”.
4. Once you have confirmed that your exam has been uploaded, select “Close Exam.”