Summary Exams Notices
A summary of the Exams Regulations for online exams are provided below. Please refer to the Exam Regulations for more detailed information.
Exams Regulations
Detailed instructions to students regarding exam regulations and Academic Impropriety can be found in the DBS Exam Regulations 24-25 document below.
Important Exams Information
Except for specific exams, students must type their answers directly into the exam platform. All work entered into the platform will be saved automatically and can be recovered if you become disconnected, or experience technical issues. Work entered on the platform will be automatically submitted at the end of the exam time.
For specific exams, students must upload files as part of exam requirements, usually in Excel format. Students are advised to upload these files during the exam as they complete each question - do not leave the uploading of files till the end as you may run out of time. Files that have not been submitted by the end the exam time will not be accepted.
Students who must submit any part of their answers by uploading files must be aware of the following file limitations:
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The maximum individual file size that can be uploaded is 30MB
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The maximum number of files that can be uploaded for each question is FIVE
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Files will need to be uploaded to the platform individually (there is no bulk upload availability)
Do not finish your test until you have completed all questions to your satisfaction and uploaded any files correctly. You will not be allowed to resume your test or make any changes to your submission (including where the wrong files have been uploaded) after you have finished your test.
Files that have not been submitted by the end of the exam time will not be accepted.
Technical issues during an online exam
The vast majority of students do not experience any technical difficulties during their online exams. If you do have a technical issue you must report it to the exam team immediately using the Chat with an Expert Live Chat function on your Moodle page.
The exams team will attempt to assist you with your issues. Please be aware that support may not be possible if the issues originate outside of the College’s own systems.
The exams team may not be able to resolve issues that occur outside of the college's systems, e.g. hardware or software issues on a student's personal laptop, or supply outages caused by the student's internet or power providers).
If the issue can not be resolved or if you experience multiple recurring technical issues you will not be able to complete your exam. It is therefore essential that you take all reasonable actions and precautions to avoid potential issues during your exam. These include but are not limited to:
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Having all the necessary equipment to sit an online exam (laptop, webcam, etc).
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Ensuring that you are using reliable equipment.
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Ensuring that you have the latest version of Google Chrome installed and that you use this browser to access your exam.
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Ensuring that any software updates have been installed before your exam.
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Completing the mock exam (which confirms your system's compatibility with the online exam platform) in advance of the exam period and resolving any problems found.
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Ensuring that you have a strong, stable, and sufficiently fast internet connection.
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Ensuring that you have a mains power lead for your device and access to a mains power supply.
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Ensuring that any files you need to upload comply with the size limitation of the invigilation platform.
Files not uploaded due to being too large, due to poor connectivity/transfer speeds, or due to students not allowing themselves enough time to complete the upload will not be accepted.
Being Disconnected from the Invigilation Platform
To maintain the integrity of the exam students must remain under invigilation for the duration of their exam time.
If you are disconnected from the Invigilation platform for any reason during your exam you must inform the Exams team immediately via the Chat with an Expert facility. The exams team will attempt to reconnect you to your exam.
If you have not reported that you have been disconnected within 10 minutes you may not be permitted to resume your exam. (The exams team can verify the time a student disconnects from the invigilation platform).
Any work entered or uploaded to the platform before you were disconnected will be submitted for marking. Any files not uploaded will not be accepted.
Academic Impropriety in Online Exams
Students must adhere to the exam regulations and the College's policy on Academic Integrity, available in the Quality Assurance Handbook.
Copies of the Summary Exams Instructions to Students and the Exams Notice to Students can be found above. Here you will find detailed information on the exam regulations and requirements. Copies are also available on the Online Exams page of the Exams Office webpage
Breaches of exam regulations and the college's Academic Integrity policy will be referred to the Academic Integrity Committee for investigation and may result in your submission being deemed inadmissible. Where impropriety is confirmed you will be required to repeat the exam.
Please refer to the Colleges Quality Assurance Handbook (QAH 3.3 Pg.17) for more information on the Colleges Academic Integrity policy.
Additional information on Exam regulations can be found in the Summary Exam Notice to Students and the Exam Instructions to Students documents available above.
You should also review our Online Invigilation FAQs in advance of your exam for more tips on successfully using the invigilation platform.
Personal Mitigating Circumstances Form (Ticketing System)
If circumstances have impacted a student's ability to undertake an assessment (such as an exam or an in-class test), requiring them to defer the opportunity, a PMC form must be submitted with supporting documentation to request this. Deferrals cannot be processed without this documentation, and are still subject to approval before these can be processed.
PMC forms must be submitted by no later than 7 days following the original assessment opportunity.
Deferred sittings will be hosted at the next available sitting of an exam - additional exams will not be hosted outside of their scheduled sittings for learners who were unable to sit the main scheduled sittings.