Exam timing options

The exam timer imposes a time limit on the exam and can be used on either written exams or the remote OSCE. 

For iPad-based OSCEs the system does not control candidate progression through the exam. Instead the physical movement of candidates is controlled on the exam floor and therefore timing should be administered independently of the risr/ assess system.  

To enable timing on the exam, set the option to Enable on the exam settings page.

Several further configuration options then become available under Configure exam timing and these are different for written and remote OSCE exams.

Configuring exam timing for written exams

The following options are available for configuring written exam timing:

Setting	Options	Description
Exam start mode	Timer starts when user enters the exam Timer starts when session is started	The options here control how the timer behaves at the very start of the exam. The timer starts when user enters the exam option means that the candidate's timer starts to count as soon as they gain access to the exam. This means the start may not be exactly synchronous between all of the candidates, but it does ensure that all candidates receive the full duration. The timer starts when session is started options means the timer will start synchronously for all candidates, irrespective of whether they have gained access to the exam. It will start to count at the point the exam administrator starts the session and means that candidates may not receive the full duration if they are late gaining access to the exam.
Counting	Count down to 0:00 Count up from 0:00	Controls whether the timer descends from the total allowed time to zero or ascends from zero to the total allowed time.
Exam duration (in minutes)	value	The total duration of the exam expressed in minutes (e.g. 60)
Reading time (in minutes)	value	Reading time can optionally be added to the start of the exam. During this period the candidates will be able to read the paper but will not be able to provide answers or otherwise interact with the questions. This time is in addition to the total duration specified above and is expressed in whole minutes (e.g. 5)
Notification of the remaining time (in minutes)	value(s)	This option will display a notification to candidates at the specified intervals to say "n minutes remaining". Value are in whole minutes and several values (to produce several notifications) can be added separated by commas (e.g. 1,5,10)

Configuring exam timing for remote OSCE exams

The following options are available for configuring remote OSCE exam timing:

Setting	Options	Description
Exam start mode	Timer starts when session is started Timer starts on admin command - waiting room	The options here control how the timer behaves at the very start of the exam. The timer starts when session is started option means the timer will start synchronously for all candidates, irrespective of whether they have gained access to the exam. It will start to count at the point the exam administrator starts the session and means that candidates may not receive the full duration if they are late gaining access to the exam. The timer starts on admin command - waiting room option enables candidates to log in to the exam and gain access to a waiting room. The timer is then started when the exam administrator presses start. This approach helps ensure that candidates can gain access to the system and resolve any technical issues before the exam is started for everyone. The waiting room is essentially early access to the first station rather than a separate holding area. Station information can be displayed or hidden prior to the exam starting as a site configuration option.
Resource visibility in waiting room	Enable Disable	When the exam start mode is the timer starts on admin command - waiting room, resources can be restricted or accessible during the waiting room. If resource visibility in the waiting room is enabled, candidates can access resources at their starting station during the waiting room period. In contrast, if this setting is disabled, the resources will be blurred and the candidates won't be able to access the resources during the waiting room.
Each station consists of three distinct time periods; the reading time, assessment time and marking time. The total station duration is the sum of all three timing periods.
Reading time duration (in minutes)	value	The amount of time (expressed in whole minutes) allotted for the candidate to review station content before the start of the interaction with the examiner. If no reading time is required set as 0.
Assessment time duration (in minutes)	value	The amount of time (expressed in whole minutes) allotted to the main candidate/examiner interaction. Must be greater or equal to 1 minute.
Marking time duration (in minutes)	value	The amount of time (expressed in whole minutes) allotted for examiners to complete any marking. If no marking time is required set to 0.

In the remote OSCE, if both reading and marking time are set, they do not overlap like they might in an on-site exam. The full duration of the station is conducted before the candidate rotates to the next station.