Suffolk University Law School allows students to type examinations on laptops. Students participating will be required to use special software, entitled Examsoft. The purpose of the software is to allow students to type examinations on their personal laptop computer in a secure, limited, word processor-like environment. While running, Examsoft prohibits access to all laptop's other programs and files. Students may not access computerized notes, outlines or materials during the exam. The typed examination is saved in an encrypted format. Once the examination is ended, the examination may only be opened and printed by authorized personnel.

Exam Log. Any attempt to access other computer files or programs will be logged and reported to the proctor. With the examination answer file, a separate file exists which maintains a record of certain examination data. In addition to providing a log of examination settings, this file also records the time the student started the exam, the time the examination was ended by the student and any irregularities that might have occurred. The irregularity report will include any proctor restart, total lapsed time and if the examination was exited normally. This information may only be accessed through a special decrypt utility provided by Examsoft and available to authorized personnel.

Autosave. This feature automatically saves two separate encrypted copies of the examination answer file every minute, on a rotating basis during the exam. This ensures that no work will be lost in the event of a power outage or computer shutdown. When the examination is completed and the examinee exits Examsoft, a final single encrypted copy of the answer file is saved to the hard drive of the computer. This redundancy is provided to ensure a copy of the original exam answer file is available if needed. The copy of the answer file may only be opened with a special decrypt utility available to authorized personnel.

Limited word-processor. Examsoft's program will operate much like a word processor. No spell check, grammar check or thesaurus function will be available.

Restricted Printing and Exam File Access. Once the examination is complete, the student will return all examination materials to the proctor. The Registrar will print the exam using a decrypt key and will deliver the hard copy to the professor for grading. Students will not have an opportunity to review their exam in printed form.

For back-up purposes only, a copy of the examination will remain on the laptop. The back-up copy will be encrypted and accessible only with a decrypt key. Students will not be provided with the decrypt key for any reason.

The encrypted examination will be printed within 24 hours of the administration of the examination, and should a problem occur with a student's printed examination, the Registrar will notify the student.

Vista OS & Examsoft:

The Suffolk University IS department is still testing the VISTA OS on the Suffolk Network and is not supporting it at this time. However, ExamSoft has completed their testing and has approved the use of SofTest on VISTA 32 bit OS for the July 2008 exams.

If you choose to use SofTest on a VISTA laptop for your July 2008 exams, the Law School Computer Services recommends taking a few practice exams (be sure to use the upload feature) before exams begin.

PC System Requirements:

• CPU = 450 MHz Pentium III or Industry Equal
• RAM = 256 MB
• Drives = 50 MB of free space
• Operating System = English versions of Windows 2000 (Pro)
  or XP (Home, Pro or Tablet PC)
• Software = Internet Explorer 5.0 or greater
• Internet Access for Sign Up, Registration, Exam Download & Upload
• Screen Resolution must be 1024 x 768 or higher

Apple Macintosh Requirements:

• MacBook or MacBook Pro with the Intel Chip running Leopard OS
• Purchase and install the Windows XP OS. We recommend Windows XP Professional
• During exam period, the Windows OS must be set as your default OS.
• Windows OS must be certified as well.

LAPTOPS MUST BE SCANNED

Your laptop must have a certification sticker from Computer Services prior to exam day.
Please call Computer Services for an appointment (617) 573-8352.

Last day to make appointment for scanning is July 14, 2008. No scanning will be conducted during the examination period.

To use your laptop for exams the following three steps must be completed:

1. Complete the online training between July 1, 2008 and July 8, 2008 on Campus Cruiser. The training video can be found under the Student Services Tab>Examsoft Menu >Examsoft Training Video. Proceed to step #2.

 

Please read the following information carefully.

2. Campus Cruiser Course Registration (July 1 - July 8)

Select your courses for which you will use Examsoft between
July 1 and July 8, 2008 on Campus Cruiser:

Login to Campus Cruiser
Go to Student Services Tab
Examsoft>Course Registration

Course Registration
select the courses for which you will be using Examsoft by checking the box to the right of each course and click submit.

Please Note: Only those courses for which you are curently enrolled and eligible for Examsoft usage will appear.

To continue your Examsoft Course Registration for the May 2008 exams, please select Course Confirmation after you have "checked" all of your courses and hit "submit" to ensure that all of your Examsoft exams have been selected properly.

3. Examsoft Download of Software - NEW USERS (July 14th - July 20th)

(Students who used Examsoft for the May 2008 exams do not need to re-download the Examsoft software and should proceed to Step #4)

Download the Examsoft software (SofTest) & the course exam files from Examsoft between July 14 and July 20, 2008 at http://www.examsoft.com/suffolklaw

NEW EXAMSOFT USERS ARE EXPECTED TO COMPLETE THE PRACTICE EXAM.

Examsoft Download

Go to http://www.examsoft.com/suffolklaw
Click Examtaker tab
Log in with first initial, middle initial, and last name
Password: Student ID

Follow Examsoft Steps for SofTest installation

The steps include: download and installation of software, complete a qualification exam and register the software.

After installation, a SofTest icon will appear on your desktop.

4. Course Exam File Download - ALL USERS (July 14th to July 20th)

Download the course exam templates prior to July 21, 2008.

Download Course Exam Files

Launch SofTest (double click on SofTest icon)
Click on Download Exam Files
Enter username & password, Click Next
There is no download password, Click Next
Highlight you exams and click download

If any of these steps are not fulfilled, you will be ineligible to use Examsoft.

 

Students may choose not to use Examsoft and to handwrite their examinations after downloading the Examsoft software and selecting course exams. Students must formally notify the Registrar's Office of this decision no later than July 11, 2008.

Students who do not deregister their examinations prior to July 11, 2008, 12:00p.m., will be required to handwrite exams in the Examsoft classroom.

NO EXCEPTIONS CAN BE MADE SINCE EXAM CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENTS ARE MADE WELL IN ADVANCE OF EXAM DAY.

1. All instructions for new and returning users must be completed.
2. Any attempt to launch, copy, move, or delete a downloaded exam file prior to entering the exam will cause the file to be disabled.
3. All Mac users must have their default OS set to Windows.
4. All students must be checked in with the proctor at the assigned examination room at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the examination. (For example, a student must be checked in at 9:15am for the 9:30am examination) Students who are not checked in at this time must handwrite the examination.
5. The proctor may impose seating arrangements in the examination room to facilitate the examination process.
6. Disable all screen savers.
7. Software must be opened within 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start of the examination. If the student is unable to open the software within 15 minutes of the scheduled start of the exam, the student will handwrite the examination. The starting time of the examination will not be delayed nor will the ending time of the examination be extended.
8. The proctor must be notified immediately when a laptop freezes or crashes. Students may not attempt to reboot or otherwise trouble shoot computer problems during the examination.
9. Should any hardware/software problems occur during the examination that cannot be immediately remedied, it will be necessary for the student to handwrite the examination.
10. All students must remain in the classroom until the successful upload of the file is completed.
11. The Law School is not responsible for any computer hardware/software problems that may arise, or any damage which may occur to student property.
12. Any attempt to bypass or disable the security features of the Examsoft software will subject the student to disciplinary action as described in Rule XI, Suffolk University Law School Rules and Regulations.
13. All students are subject to the Suffolk University Law School's Examination Regulations.
14. I have read and understand all details of Examsoft/laptop examination usage described on the Suffolk University Law School website: http://www.law.suffolk.edu/offices/registrar/exams/examsoft.cfm

• Laptop - Students must provide their own Examsoft compatible laptop.
• Power cord
• Fully charged laptop battery
• Pens to write the examination, should a problem arise.
• Pencils for taking multiple choice portions of examinations.
• Network Cable
• Earplugs if the sound of others typing will be distracting to the examinee

 

(Please note that the following is provided for informational purposes only.)

Rentex Computer & AV Rentals
337 Summer Street
Boston, MA 02210
(800) 288-1303

Students with technical questions, not addressed at the Examsoft web site, should contact Gina Doherty, Director of Computer Services at 617-573-8352 or gdoherty@suffolk.edu.

All other questions regarding the laptop examinations should be referred to the Registrar, Lorraine Cove at 617-573-8160 or lcove@suffolk.edu.

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