A checklist for teachers when preparing for exams

Source: https://teachwell.auckland.ac.nz/assessment/tests-exams/preparing-for-exams/ Parent: https://teachwell.auckland.ac.nz/

Assessment

Home — 2. Assessment — 3. Tests and exams — A checklist for teachers when preparing for exams

A checklist for teachers when preparing for exams

We hope that you will find this checklist helpful to prepare both yourself and your students.

Prepare yourself

We encourage teachers to familiarise themselves with the following information.

Check out the exam modes on the Inspera Online Assessment Hub.*
Find out when requests for invigilated exams or changes to exam modes need to be submitted to Assessment Services.
And when exam questions should be submitted.
See when the exam is scheduled via the exam timetable information.
Open or closed book? See book designations as defined by Assessment Services.
See when final results are due.

* Invigilation is needed for external accreditation, professional registration, paper-based exams with high volume of hand-written answers, or specific academic integrity concerns.

Additional support is available:

Prepare your students

In addition, you may want to incorporate the following items into your students’ communication to support and facilitate a successful exam experience:

Let students know at the start of semester how the exam will be delivered, i.e., the exam mode. If you request a change of exam mode, inform students once your request is approved.
Inform students about the relevant regulations, statutes and guidelines on academic integrity and the expectations on academic integrity in online assessments, and in particular, guide them to advice on academic integrity in exams.
Provide students with resources on how to prepare themselves for exams, where to find a study space on campus and to sign up for academic skills workshops (which includes exam preparation), run by Te Tumu Herenga, Libraries and Learning Services.
Ask students to view the short video on sitting the exam using Inspera.
Advise students about the Inspera assessment platform in advance and to check that they can gain access. Note that the recommended browser is Chrome.
Advise students to complete a practise assessment. They can do this by logging into Inspera using their University sign-in, selecting the Demo tests tab, then Demo Test 1. Alternatively, you can create your own mock exam for students or consider converting a Canvas course quiz into an Inspera practise exam so students can experience ‘real-world conditions’.
For exams that require learners to submit some answers via a scanned image or photograph (e.g., diagrams, equations, etc.), students need an opportunity to complete a practise exercise beforehand to ensure they are familiar with the technological requirements for uploading images. Further, students should be advised at least two weeks before the exam of any necessary equipment or technology. Examples include pens, paper and access to a digital camera.
Ensure that the exam expectations and instructions are clear and unambiguous.
Where relevant, ensure that students understand what is meant by an open-book exam.
Provide a space where students can ask questions about the exam process, e.g., allow time in class and/or set up a Canvas Discussion. Questions may relate to aegrotat and compassionate consideration or special conditions, general questions about exams, and student support during the exam.

Guidelines for use of generative AI tools in exams

The University of Auckland allows for differences in policies on use of artificial intelligence tools across faculties, departments, schools and courses. For this reason, students should follow the instructions set out by their Course Directors. Make sure you communicate expectations to students in a reasonable period prior to the exam:

Make it clear whether AI tools are allowed in the exam.
If AI tools are allowed, give detailed instructions on how the tool(s) can/cannot be utilised in the exam.

Note: When students log into Inspera to sit their exams, they agree to an academic integrity statement, which includes no unauthorised use of AI.

Other advice for students

Preparing for your online exam (student-facing advice).
During exams: Exam allocations and information to support you during exams (Student-facing help).
Inspera online assessments (Student-facing information, including how to prepare for assessments on Inspera).
Exams and final results: Prepare for exams, see your timetable or access your final results (Student-facing help).

Page updated 04/03/2026 (fixed broken link to exam modes)