Check your IT set up for online exams

Access to online exam systems

Check:

Your usernames and passwords are correct for each system you will use.
You can access Learn.UQ (Blackboard) (Original and Ultra) and Inspera.
Your browser is compatible and updated to the latest version. Recommended browsers are Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox.
All non-essential browser extensions are disabled, especially JavaScript blockers.

Your computer and equipment

Check that:

Your operating system and software are up to date
All antivirus security and firewalls are set to default settings
Your laptop and any other devices (e.g. keyboard, mouse, camera or docks) are connected properly and have sufficient power
Your internet is stable:
- If you have access to a wired internet connection, it is recommended you use it as they tend to be more stable.
- If you have mobile data, practice hotspotting before the exam as a backup option if you lose your connection -
  - iPhone - How to set up a personal hotspot
  - Android - Share a mobile connection by hotspot.

Visit or contact AskUs for a computer check if you find any issues that could affect your exam.

Save your work progress and evidence during your online exam

During your online examination, you should regularly:

save your work
take timestamped photos or screenshots of your progress, preferably showing your name or student number. Check how to take a screenshot and practice it on your device.

This is very important in the event that technical issues delay or prevent your submission. You have 15 minutes submission time for exams that require you to upload and submit your work.

Upload handwritten exams

Follow these steps to upload your handwritten or drawn responses (e.g. maths and chemistry equations, hand-drawn pictures, or diagrams) to Learn.UQ (Blackboard) for online exams and assessments. Make sure you:

Check all the requirements before your assessment date.
Use the time allocated for submission to complete the upload process.

Step 1 - Take a photo or scan your document

Use your phone to scan

There are free applications that you can use on your phone or tablet to scan a document and create a single PDF file.

Android - try Google Drive or Microsoft Lens
iPhone - try the Notes app to scan documents and convert them to PDF

Scanning tips

Scan in a well-lit environment
Use high contrast settings to improve clarity
Avoid using OCR tools in these apps, as this may lead to errors in the file

Step 2 - Transfer the photo or scan to your computer

Use a cable or cloud storage to transfer the photo or scan. There are many free cloud storage options you can use.

There is a file size limit of 10MB for UQ email. If the email exceeds this size it will not be delivered.

Step 3 - Reduce the file size, if necessary

You may need to reduce the file size of your document before you are able to submit it.

Create a small file size explains how to compress images in Microsoft Office applications to reduce the file size of a document and how to convert a Word document into a PDF.

Turnitin Assignment (Original and Ultra) submissions must be less than 100MB.

Step 4 - Check the file before submission

Check your photo or PDF file is clear and legible before submission. Files that are illegible may not be able to be marked.