ARCHIVED: In Oncourse, how do I take a test using the Original Test and Survey tool?
Note: In combined course sites, you may be unable to access the Original Test and Survey tool between 6 and 7am; see ARCHIVED: Problems accessing the Original Test and Survey tool in combined course sites.
On this page:
Taking a test
To take a test using the Original Test and Survey tool:
- From the menubar of your course site, choose
Original Test and Survey.
- At this point, you can choose to take a test or
review your work on a previous test. To take a test, click the
pencil icon or
Take test or survey.
- From the list, select the appropriate test.
- Your instructor may have set restrictions on when, where, or how
many times you can take a test. If you're trying to take a test in a
way that is not permitted, you will see an error message with a brief
explanation. If this happens, click
OKand check with your instructor for details.If your instructor has set a time limit for your test, you'll see a dialog box telling you how much time you have to complete it. Click
OKto begin. (The countdown starts when the box appears, not when you clickOK.) To display a countdown clock with the time remaining, see the instructions below.Note: If you're using a Mac, and the test is set to autosubmit at the end, do not submit the test with less than two minutes remaining. Instead, let the autosubmit feature submit the test for you.
- To answer the questions in the test:
- Multiple-choice and true/false: Either click the radio button next to the correct option, or check the boxes next to all answers that apply.
- Fill-in-the-blank, short answer, and essay: Enter text into the boxes.
- Matching: Choose the correct option from the appropriate drop-down menus.
- Once you have finished answering the questions, click
Send. Then, clickOKto confirm. Finally, clickFinishat the bottom of the concluding page.
Note: Multiple-choice, true/false, fill-in-the-blank, and matching questions are graded automatically. Short answer and essay responses are sent to the instructor to be graded later. Your instructor may have set up the test to show you a page of results as soon as you finish your test. This "instant results" page displays only your score for automatically graded questions. If your test includes short answer or essay questions, your "instant results" score will not reflect these questions in its total.
Enabling a time remaining display in your browser
Internet Explorer
- From the
Toolsmenu, chooseInternet Options.
- In the dialog box, choose the
Securitytab, and thenCustom Level.
- Scroll down to "Scripting", and under "Allow status bar updates
via script", select
Enable.
- Click
OK, thenApply, and thenOK.
- When you start the test, the time remaining for the test will be displayed in the lower left corner of your browser window.
Firefox in Windows
- From the
Toolsmenu, chooseOptions.
- Click
Content. Make sureEnable JavaScriptis checked, and clickAdvanced.
- Check the box next to
Change status bar text. ClickOK, and thenOKagain.
- When you start the test, the time remaining for the test will be displayed in the lower left corner of your browser window.
Firefox in Mac OS X
- From the
Firefoxmenu, choosePreferences.
- Click
Content. Make sureEnable JavaScriptis checked, and clickAdvanced.
- Check the box next to
Change status bar text, and then clickOK. Close thePreferenceswindow.
- When you start the test, the time remaining for the test will be displayed in the lower left corner of your browser window.
Last modified on August 16, 2012.







