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1. What does it mean when an exam is secured or unsecured? Do professor let the class know which one before the final?

2. What does it mean when an exam is unlocked (if the test were given through an online software program)?

HarlandBassett wrote:1. What does it mean when an exam is secured or unsecured? Do professor let the class know which one before the final?

2. What does it mean when an exam is unlocked (if the test were given through an online software program)?

Dunno about 1, but as to 2, the software we used for exams has two modes, locked and unlocked. Locked shuts down the rest of your computer: you cannot use anything but the test software while you're taking the exam. Unlocked lets the test taking software operate like any normal program, so you can (for example) minimize it and bring up your notes or Google and try to find some info. Unlocked is usually for take-home exams, locked for ones you take at school.

JusticeHarlan wrote:

HarlandBassett wrote:1. What does it mean when an exam is secured or unsecured? Do professor let the class know which one before the final?

2. What does it mean when an exam is unlocked (if the test were given through an online software program)?

Dunno about 1, but as to 2, the software we used for exams has two modes, locked and unlocked. Locked shuts down the rest of your computer: you cannot use anything but the test software while you're taking the exam. Unlocked lets the test taking software operate like any normal program, so you can (for example) minimize it and bring up your notes or Google and try to find some info. Unlocked is usually for take-home exams, locked for ones you take at school.

So I'm guessing spellcheck/grammar check can't be used in whatever test taking software they distribute?

FiveSermon wrote:

JusticeHarlan wrote:

HarlandBassett wrote:1. What does it mean when an exam is secured or unsecured? Do professor let the class know which one before the final?

2. What does it mean when an exam is unlocked (if the test were given through an online software program)?

Dunno about 1, but as to 2, the software we used for exams has two modes, locked and unlocked. Locked shuts down the rest of your computer: you cannot use anything but the test software while you're taking the exam. Unlocked lets the test taking software operate like any normal program, so you can (for example) minimize it and bring up your notes or Google and try to find some info. Unlocked is usually for take-home exams, locked for ones you take at school.

So I'm guessing spellcheck/grammar check can't be used in whatever test taking software they distribute?

Nope. At least not in my experience - we use software called Exam4 for laptop finals, so yours might be different. I've always been really great at spelling and shit, so luckily that part didn't drive me nuts lol

FiveSermon wrote:

JusticeHarlan wrote:

HarlandBassett wrote:1. What does it mean when an exam is secured or unsecured? Do professor let the class know which one before the final?

2. What does it mean when an exam is unlocked (if the test were given through an online software program)?

Dunno about 1, but as to 2, the software we used for exams has two modes, locked and unlocked. Locked shuts down the rest of your computer: you cannot use anything but the test software while you're taking the exam. Unlocked lets the test taking software operate like any normal program, so you can (for example) minimize it and bring up your notes or Google and try to find some info. Unlocked is usually for take-home exams, locked for ones you take at school.

So I'm guessing spellcheck/grammar check can't be used in whatever test taking software they distribute?

The software my school used had spellcheck, so I guess it just depends on the school and the software they use.

sethc wrote:

FiveSermon wrote:

JusticeHarlan wrote:

HarlandBassett wrote:1. What does it mean when an exam is secured or unsecured? Do professor let the class know which one before the final?

2. What does it mean when an exam is unlocked (if the test were given through an online software program)?

Dunno about 1, but as to 2, the software we used for exams has two modes, locked and unlocked. Locked shuts down the rest of your computer: you cannot use anything but the test software while you're taking the exam. Unlocked lets the test taking software operate like any normal program, so you can (for example) minimize it and bring up your notes or Google and try to find some info. Unlocked is usually for take-home exams, locked for ones you take at school.

So I'm guessing spellcheck/grammar check can't be used in whatever test taking software they distribute?

Nope. At least not in my experience - we use software called Exam4 for laptop finals, so yours might be different. I've always been really great at spelling and shit, so luckily that part didn't drive me nuts lol

Exam4 DOES have a spell-checker built in. So does Securexam.

Renzo wrote: Exam4 DOES have a spell-checker built in. So does Securexam.

Really? Are you sure about Exam4? I'm almost positive that it didn't when I took exams about a month ago. I never took the time to investigate the issue though so you might be right. I don't really need it and since my profs aren't really grammar/spelling sticklers, it didn't cross my mind. I did take a quick look while I was writing my essay during Torts final though, but didn't waste more than like 20sec when I couldn't immediately find it.

sethc wrote:

Renzo wrote: Exam4 DOES have a spell-checker built in. So does Securexam.

Really? Are you sure about Exam4? I'm almost positive that it didn't when I took exams about a month ago. I never took the time to investigate the issue though so you might be right. I don't really need it and since my profs aren't really grammar/spelling sticklers, it didn't cross my mind. I did take a quick look while I was writing my essay during Torts final though, but didn't waste more than like 20sec when I couldn't immediately find it.

Many exam programs have a built in spellcheck, but schools can disable it.

Ahhh.. gotcha - that could be the explanation. Our exams are all closed-book so I suspected as much.

It's also worth mentioning that some schools simply use honor codes and let you: (a) use Word, (b) take the exam anywhere in the law school, and (c) [for non-1L required courses] take the exam anytime during the exam period.

vamedic03 wrote:It's also worth mentioning that some schools simply use honor codes and let you: (a) use Word, (b) take the exam anywhere in the law school, and (c) [for non-1L required courses] take the exam anytime during the exam period.

Whoaa. Didn't know that.

vamedic03 wrote:It's also worth mentioning that some schools simply use honor codes and let you: (a) use Word, (b) take the exam anywhere in the law school, and (c) [for non-1L required courses] take the exam anytime during the exam period.

which T14s?

FiveSermon wrote:

JusticeHarlan wrote:

HarlandBassett wrote:1. What does it mean when an exam is secured or unsecured? Do professor let the class know which one before the final?

2. What does it mean when an exam is unlocked (if the test were given through an online software program)?

Dunno about 1, but as to 2, the software we used for exams has two modes, locked and unlocked. Locked shuts down the rest of your computer: you cannot use anything but the test software while you're taking the exam. Unlocked lets the test taking software operate like any normal program, so you can (for example) minimize it and bring up your notes or Google and try to find some info. Unlocked is usually for take-home exams, locked for ones you take at school.

So I'm guessing spellcheck/grammar check can't be used in whatever test taking software they distribute?

On ExamSoft, the spellcheck feature was an option they could enable or disable. I believe it was enabled for every test at my school this year (or so some email they sent out said).

sethc wrote:

Renzo wrote: Exam4 DOES have a spell-checker built in. So does Securexam.

Really? Are you sure about Exam4? I'm almost positive that it didn't when I took exams about a month ago. I never took the time to investigate the issue though so you might be right. I don't really need it and since my profs aren't really grammar/spelling sticklers, it didn't cross my mind. I did take a quick look while I was writing my essay during Torts final though, but didn't waste more than like 20sec when I couldn't immediately find it.

I don't know about the ability of schools to disable it, but it's there. Now, it won't underscore words like normal programs; you actually have to manually run the spellcheck, like in olden days, but it exists.

Renzo wrote:

sethc wrote:

Renzo wrote: Exam4 DOES have a spell-checker built in. So does Securexam.

Really? Are you sure about Exam4? I'm almost positive that it didn't when I took exams about a month ago. I never took the time to investigate the issue though so you might be right. I don't really need it and since my profs aren't really grammar/spelling sticklers, it didn't cross my mind. I did take a quick look while I was writing my essay during Torts final though, but didn't waste more than like 20sec when I couldn't immediately find it.

I don't know about the ability of schools to disable it, but it's there. Now, it won't underscore words like normal programs; you actually have to manually run the spellcheck, like in olden days, but it exists.

Yeah, that little red squiggle is a handy-as-hell crutch lol.. but I'm not worried enough, personally, to try to figure it out & manually run it. The fact that they *can* disable it is enough of a deterrent for me haha

Anyone know the answer to #1?

HarlandBassett wrote:Anyone know the answer to #1?

I think secured/unsecured is the same as locked/unlocked. Our exams were all "secured." Maybe I'm wrong though.

Also, if I remember correctly, Exam4 has spell check.

vamedic03 wrote:It's also worth mentioning that some schools simply use honor codes and let you: (a) use Word, (b) take the exam anywhere in the law school, and (c) [for non-1L required courses] take the exam anytime during the exam period.

Some also leave out the [for non-1L required courses] part of (c)