Congratulations to you all! It’s been yet another challenging school year with construction in the building, but we’ve persevered. Before heading into exams, there’s a few things you’ll need to do to ensure that you and your computer are up for the challenge.
Download Exam4
Every exam period, there is a new copy of Exam4. Download the software from exam4.com.
- Go to Exam4.com
- On the left you will see a Search box. Just search “Richmond”
- Select the “University of Richmond School of Law”
- Follow the prompts to download and install the newest version of the software.
You do not have to uninstall the old software. The install will update the old copy. The final exam copy of Exam4 expires May 31, 2023.
Okay – the software has been installed. Now what?
Take a practice exam. Built into the software are three practice exams – Closed (this locks down your computer completely), Open (you’re able to get to your hard drive but not the internet), and Open + Network (the world is your oyster). Complete a practice exam in the modes in which your exams will be.
I’m a 2L or 3L and plan to take my Open + Network exams remotely. Anything special I need to know?
Yes – you’ll want to do a practice exam in Open + Network mode and pay special attention to the “Set font size and contrast” options. Each computer is unique with regards to graphic cards, and the same applies to external monitors. If you plan to use an external monitor for exams, you will want to see how the exam renders in Exam4. For your practice exam, go to exam4.com and get the document ID code for the practice exam. Click “Exam Info” in the toolbar, then “Exam Document” – type in the number you retrieved from our Exam4 website and “fetch” the exam. You can complete multiple tests – if you don’t like how the document looks when you click “side by side,” exit the exam and open the software again and pick a different font size.
Of note – you can not use two monitors with a closed mode exam. If you wish to use your external monitor, just shut the lid to your laptop
What about 2L and 3L students that are required or opting to take an exam on campus?
If the exam is Open + Network, you have the option of retrieving your questions via the software (like you’ve done in the past – see above) or you can pick up printed copies of the exam from the Dean’s office.
If you’re choosing to take the exam with the remote exam (Open + Network exams), get settled in your testing spot. Open the software and type in your Exam ID/Anonymous number in the appropriate fields (this number starts with an 8 or a 9) and click through the prompts until you get to the screen that says “begin exam” and Wait! (in bold red letters). DO NOT click “begin exam.” Make sure you’ve selected the correct exam AND that you’ve typed in your Exam ID number correct (you can always go back and correct both the exam choice as well as change the number you’ve typed for your Exam ID if it’s incorrect). Launch Exam4.com and go to our website. On the right hand side, you’ll see all the exams listed. Find your exam and start your time. Write down the Document ID number and what time your exam is due. Close your web browser and click Begin Exam on the software. Click Exam Info then Exam document and type in the code to “fetch” the exam.
If you’re required to take an exam on campus (all Closed and Open exams), get settled in your testing spot. Open the software and type in your Exam ID/Anonymous number in the appropriate spot (this number starts with an 8 or a 9) and click through the prompts until you get to the screen that says “begin exam” and Wait! (in bold red letters). DO NOT click “begin exam.” Make sure you’ve selected the correct exam AND that you’ve typed in your Exam ID number correct (you can always go back and correct both the exam choice as well as change the number you’ve typed for your Exam ID if it’s incorrect). Go to the Dean’s office to pick up your exam. The Dean’s office will have an iPad available for you to start your time, and note the time the exam is to be submitted via the software. When you get back to your test taking location, click “begin exam.”
What about the 1L’s? What are we doing?
All 1L’s are required to take their exams on campus. 1L exams will be on 4/24, 4/27, 5/1, and 5/4. Refer to the email you received from Dean Sklut on where to pick up your paper questions.
When you get to school, set up at your test taking location. Open the software and type in your Exam ID/Anonymous number in the appropriate spot (this number starts with an 8 or a 9) and click through the prompts until you get to the screen that says “begin exam” and Wait! (in bold red letters). DO NOT click “begin exam.” Make sure you’ve selected the correct exam AND that you’ve typed in your Exam ID number correct (you can always go back and correct both the exam choice as well as change the number you’ve typed for your Exam ID if it’s incorrect). Open your favorite web browser and go to exam4.com and browse to our website. Take your computer to the classroom you’ve been assigned to pick up your exam. Once you’ve been given the paper copy of the exam, start your time on Exam4.com (there will be proctors in the room to help). Note the time your exam is to be submitted. Take your computer and exam to your test taking location.
Do we have a grace period this semester?
Indeed! All students get a 10 minute grace period. If your exam is due at 4:17, you have until 4:27 to both submit your exam electronically as well as turn in your paper copy of the exam (if applicable). Note that this is a hard deadline – there’s no grace period for the 10 minute grace period. Your exam will be counted as late.
Explain to me again about multiple choice and true/false questions.
Sure – simply put, if you have any multiple choice questions or true/false questions, you must use the multiple choice answer sheet to input your answers. If you type the answer into the essay portion of Exam 4, your professor will not grade your answer. CAVEAT: Your professor may have instructions in their exam that says something like, “you may answer these questions in the essay portion of the Exam 4 software so you can then explain why you chose that answer.” Basically, if a professor doesn’t say you can explain a multiple choice or true/false answer choice, always use the multiple choice answer sheet.
Also of note – if you’re taking your exam remotely (upper level Open + Network exams only), the multiple choice and true/false questions will be embedded in the PDF with the essay questions. You do not need to put in the Document ID number into the answer sheet to get the questions – simply refer to the exam you already have.
If you need to change an answer, click unlock (you can’t accidently change an answer, thankfully!). When you’re done with the multiple choice or true/false questions, click “hide” to get back to your essay questions.
I have a word limit on my exam – how do I know how many words I’ve typed?
Word count is built into Exam4. On the right hand side of your essay answer sheet, you’ll see buttons you can check to see the word count. You’ll want to answer each question with an answer separator so the software correctly counts the words per question – click the box that says “Insert Answer Separator” before you type each essay answer.
What about formatting?
You do not need to worry about things such as double spacing or choosing a font – that type of formatting is done when the exams are processed for the professor (either by printing or providing PDF’s). However, you can do things like bold, underline, insert section symbols, etc., by clicking the Format button:
What’s the most common thing the exam administrators see that students do incorrectly?
We’re so happy you asked! Students putting in the Document ID code in the Exam ID block in Exam4 instead of their Exam ID/anonymous ID number that is four digits and starts with an 8 or a 9. Please don’t do this. And when this happens, it’s typically more than one student who does so, and then we have two exams with the same number and have to figure out to whom each exam belongs. If you follow the instructions laid out above (open Exam4 and follow the prompts to the “Begin Exam” and Wait! screen before going to the Exam4.com website to start your time), you will get it right EVERY time!
What time are exams due at the end of the day?
5:00 pm – all exams are due by 5:00 pm – please plan your time accordingly. Any exam turned in past 5:00 pm will be counted as late.
If I have my notes saved in Google Drive, Drop Box, Box, or another cloud location, will I be able to get to them in Open mode?
Take a practice exam in Open mode and see how it works. For safety’s sake, you may want to download anything you’ll need for your exam to a folder on your hard drive.
What else do we need to know?
This is all we can think of – but if you have any other questions, please reach out to your Technology Services team (Kim Edwards or Eli Anderson), or the Dean’s office (Katy Olney, Alex Sklut, Will Thompson) and we’re happy to help.
And remember: “Believe in yourself” – Ted Lasso