Tips on Taking Quizzes in Blackboard

Things to AVOID when taking a quiz or exam in Blackboard:

• Don't click on the back button on your browser while taking a quiz. Use the provided navigation buttons.
• Don’t double-click on the submit button after taking a quiz/exam. Click the submit button ONCE, and wait. (It may take a few minutes.)
• Don't refresh or reload your browser when taking a quiz/exam.
• Don't resize your browser window when taking a quiz/exam.
• Don’t use Bookmarks. Access quizzes/exams through Blackboard links.
• Don’t attempt to print the quiz/exam.
• Don't attempt to access other web pages or files while taking the quiz. This may cause the quiz to fail.

Make sure to:

• Only click the Quiz link when you are ready to complete the quiz.  You will not be able to "back out" of the quiz once it has been selected.
• Disable any browser "pop-up blocker" tool before clicking the quiz link.
• Single-click (do not double click) the link to start taking the quiz or to go to the next question (if the quiz is administered one question at a time).
• Only use the navigation links and buttons within Blackboard, and click them with the mouse.  Do not hit the "Return" key or use the browser navigation buttons ("Back", Reload", etc.).

Also make sure:

• You are fully prepared to take the quiz in one sitting and without being interrupted
  Note: If the quiz is timed, the time remaining will appear in the left hand corner of the browser.
• All other computer applications are closed.

If you experience a problem during the quiz, email the instructor explaining exactly what happened.

Reasons that your connection may be interrupted might include:

• The student's ISP timing their connection out after a certain amount of inactivity. (Because filling in forms does not generate traffic back and forth across the Internet connection, it is not viewed as "activity" for the purpose of automatic time-outs.)
• Blackboard timing their connection out after three hours of inactivity. After three hours Blackboard will end the user's session automatically, because the Internet connection does not count clicking in a quiz answer as "activity". Only loading a new page will be seen as "activity" on the Internet. 
• Modem problems or interruptions (such as call waiting).
• Power failures
• System crashes

If the connection is terminated you should:

• NOT close the assessment browser window
• Attempt to re-connect immediately
• If the browser is not closed and the connection can be re-established, the student may be able to successfully submit the quiz. Obviously, this would not apply to a power failure or system crash.

If such problems do occur, a grading error will be displayed as a red question mark in the Blackboard Online Gradebook. You will not be able to take the assessment again until the attempt is cleared. You should contact the Instructor, explain in detail what occurred, and ask the Instructor to clear the assessment attempt. It is up to the Instructor to decide whether to allow the student access to the assessment a second time.