Tag Archives: exams

NOVA Online Testing Tips: Proctor U

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Be Prepared – Begin reviewing and studying well in advance. If you need assistance locating helpful study resources, contact your Student Success Coach at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or call 703.764.5076.

For a sampling of helpful study resources offered through NOVA Online, please click here.

Proctor U Guidelines

Some courses offer online testing through ProctorU. Courses offering this option will be listed in the Syllabus Section of your Blackboard Course site, in the folder labeled “Taking Exams and Using Exam Passes”. You can also ask your instructor if Proctor U is an option for your course.

  • You will need to create an account through Proctor U. Make sure you use your VCCS email address, and select Northern Virginia Community College as your institution.
  • You will want to schedule your exam(s) at least 72 hours prior to testing to avoid a late fee.
  • If it is your first time using ProctorU, sign in 15 minutes early to set up your computer.
  • Be sure to have your photo ID ready.

Good Luck on your exams!

NOVA Online Testing Tips: Proctor Request Form

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Be Prepared – Begin reviewing and studying well in advance. If you need assistance locating helpful study resources, contact your Student Success Coach at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or call 703.764.5076.

For a sampling of helpful study resources offered through NOVA Online, please click here.

Taking Exams at an Alternate Site

If you will not be in the area during your course or exam time, you will need to identify a proctor to supervise your exams. Some examples of approved proctors are a full time educator, a professional librarian, or a military educational officer. A VCCS College Testing Center or a college or university in your area are also good options when looking for a proctor. Once your proctor has been identified,  you will need to complete the Proctor Request Form.

As soon as you have identified your proctor, submit the form. The proctor will be approved for all your exams for that semester. Please allow 3-5 business days for your proctor request form to be approved.

  • Do not wait until the last minute to take your exam(s). If you are able, we advise that you take your exam early. You will need to schedule a time with the proctor to take your exam. If you are using a College Testing Center, you will want to check with them for any specific policies and procedures.
  • Be prepared to stow your personal items, not permitted during your exam, including your cell phone. If your exam allows notes, your proctor will be made aware and permit the appropriate items.
  • If your exam is not working properly in Blackboard (ex. unable to type in a textbox, audio files not working, images missing) or if you feel your exam did not submit properly, your proctor will be able to give someone at NOVA Online a call for assistance.

Good luck on your exams!

NOVA Online Testing Tips: Campus Testing Center

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When taking your exams, the NOVA Online Student Services Team encourages you to follow the tips outlined below:

Be Prepared – Begin reviewing and studying well in advance. If you need assistance locating helpful study resources, contact your Student Success Coach at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or call 703.764.5076.

Campus Testing Center Guidelines

  • Do not wait until the last minute to take your exam(s). If you are able, we advise that you take your exam early. Not only will you avoid long lines, you many also avoid a last minute unforeseen emergency that could prohibit you from getting to a testing center.
  • Verify the Testing Center Hours before you go, and make sure you look at the start times “NOVA Online/Faculty Referred/VCCS Proctored Exams/SDV Able” as well as the office hours for the testing center. All exams are collected 15 minutes prior to the closing of the testing center.
  • Do not forget to bring your completed Exam Pass for each exam and a photo ID. You may print your exam pass from the “Taking Exams and Using Exam Passes” section of the Syllabus button in your Blackboard course site.
  • Be prepared to stow your personal items, not permitted during your exam, including your cell phone (that must be turned off), in the manner required by the testing center (generally in a locker). Simply placing your phone on “silent” is not enough. You are not permitted access to anything other than your exam while testing, unless expressly stated in the exam instructions.
  • If your exam is not working properly in Blackboard (ex. unable to type in a textbox, audio files not working, images missing) or if you feel your exam did not submit properly, please notify testing center staff immediately so they may help you troubleshoot the problem.
  • If you are taking multiple exams, you will be required to go through the line for each exam that you are taking.

Be aware of the parking policies at each NOVA Campus. If you do not have a parking pass, you will need to pay by the hour when you are on campus. You can view the parking policies.

The better prepared you are, the more relaxed you will be and the better your testing outcome.

If you have additional questions, do not hesitate to contact the NOVA Online Success Coaches at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or call 703.764.5076.

Good luck on your exams!

(Updated 8/23/17)

Do you know where you will take your NOVA Online exam?

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All NOVA Online courses require at least two proctored exams or assignments. There are a couple of different ways to do this, depending on where you live, and what courses you are enrolled in.

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If you are in the Northern Virginia area, you are expected to take your exams at one of the six Campus Testing Centers. Each campus has a testing center, and it doesn’t matter which one you go to throughout the term. When you go to the Campus Testing Center, you will need to take your course Exam Pass and a Photo ID (your drivers license or other government issued ID will work, or your NOVA Card). Your course Exam Pass can be found in the Syllabus Section of your course. These are course and exam specific.

If you are out of the area, or planning to be out of the area at any point during your course, you will need to request a proctor using a Proctor Request Form. Please be sure to read the form carefully and submit it in a timely manner. It takes 3-5 business days for these forms to be processed so, don’t wait until the day before the test!

A third way to take an exam is by using a service called Proctor U. ProctorU is an online proctoring service that allows you to take your exams from your home computer, using a web cam and microphone. There is a fee for Proctor U, and currently it is $7.50. Proctor U is not available for all NOVA Online course, to see if is an option for your course, please check the Taking Exams and Using Exam Passes in the Syllabus Section of your Blackboard course, or ask your instructor. You must be 18 or older and meet minimum technical system requirements to use ProctorU. The specific requirements are listed on the ProctorU website.

Finals prep webinar!

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Finals are approaching quickly for your NOVA Online courses. Start preparing now!

now or later
Participate in a How to Prepare for Finals webinar. This 30 minute, live information session will focus on topics and strategies to help ease anxiety and help you study smart such as: Early preparation, planning your approach and taking the exam. Sign up here to participate in the session of your choice. 

If you need assistance locating helpful study resources, contact your Student Success Coach at elisuccess@nvcc.edu or call 703.764.5076.

Good Luck on your final exams and projects!