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Academic Testing Services
Student asks a question of PAMS professor Kay Sandberg in Scale-Up class.

Instructor Expectations

General Expectations

  • Before submitting the exam information request form, review the Service Level Agreement, which establishes a clear and mutually beneficial understanding between NC State University instructors and Academic Testing Services (ATS).
  • Input applicable sections of our syllabus statement in your syllabus.
  • Place a link to our official website, go.ncsu.edu/testing, in your LMS.
  • All testing is by appointment only. To help students get acclimated to making appointments, go over the steps found at Make an Appointment with them at the start of the semester.
  • In the event of an academic integrity violation, the instructor is responsible for initiating and completing the academic integrity process with the Office of Student Conduct.

Exam Expectations

Online Exams

  • Exam Visibility: Exams must be visible before the window opens; hidden exams block student access.
    • All exams should open at 8 am on the first day of each testing window and close at 11:59 pm on the last day of the exam window.
  • Date Restrictions: Exam dates, times, and passwords should match the exam information submitted to Academic Testing Services and should not have restrictions set. Embedded links/documents should not be Google resources.
  • User Overrides: Instructors must add individual user overrides for students with approved testing accommodations (e.g., extended time) or students taking an exam outside the scheduled exam window.
  • Safe Exam Browser (SEB) and Other Lockdown Tools
    • ATS test centers use specific lockdown browsers that are not compatible with LMS lockdown tools such as SEB, Respondus LockDown Browser, or Proctorio.
    • Instructors must provide a version of the exam without any lockdown browser enabled for students testing at ATS.
    • This version can be secured with a password, which ATS staff will enter when students log in.
    • For guidance, instructors should refer to the “Duplicating Moodle Exams and Quizzes” article linked on the ATS resource site.
  • The use of TI-Nspire™ calculators or any other device with similar capabilities, such as file storage and internet connectivity, is not permitted. However, the test center can provide calculators for students to use during their exam time.

Paper-based Exams

  • Paper-based exams may be uploaded at the time of submitting exam information or emailed to Academic Testing Services.
    • Send exam materials to testing-services@ncsu.edu at least two business days before the exam start date.
  • Completed paper-based exams will be delivered electronically through the Instructor Reports.
  • Exam Revisions
    • Due to the high volume of exams administered by Academic Testing Services, timely and accurate information from instructors is essential to ensure exams are delivered efficiently and correctly.
    • During the regular semester, any changes to exam content, allowed materials, or other exam details must be submitted at least two business days before the exam starts.
    • During final exams, changes must be submitted no later than ten business days before the start of the exam window.
      • Note: Changes to the exam time limit or dates may result in the cancellation of student appointments
    • Instructors must submit all exam changes via email to testing-services@ncsu.edu