Frequently Asked Questions

On this page, we have compiled questions that we are frequently asked by students on the topic of e-exams.

Before the exam

1. Where can I find my seat?
You will find large monitors displaying the e-exams taking place that day and your assigned seats directly in front of exam rooms EPR I (MZG 1.116) and EPR II (ZHG 1.140). Please note that some exams take place on several floors. Information about the floor and room number is also noted on the digital notice board. You will also find an overview of the seats in both e-exam rooms here. For exams in the CIP pools (MZG 5.111, 6.111 & 7.111), we will inform you via physical notices. You will also find an overview of the seats in both e-exam rooms here.

2. There are many participants in the exam, and we have divided them into two or three cohorts. Which cohort will I be writing in?
If the instructor has not already informed you, we will send you an email on the day before the exam containing the exam cohorts and the distribution of surnames in each cohort (e.g., EPR 1: 8-10 a.m., surnames A-M; EPR 2: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., last names N–Z). On the day of the exam, you can also see which cohort is writing when on the monitors in front of the e-exam rooms.

3. I am entitled to extra time for an electronic exam. What do I need to do?
If you require additional time to complete the exam, it may be necessary to assign you to a quieter location or even a separate room to avoid disruption from participants who finish the exam earlier. The examination offices do not automatically inform the examination supervisors and us about this. Therefore, please always inform the responsible examination supervisors at least one week before the exam so that we can arrange a more suitable seat for you or contact you if necessary. If you only notify the examination supervisors or room supervisors of this request shortly before the start of the exam, it is unlikely that a change of seat will be possible. For organizational reasons, an extension of the writing time must be announced in advance!

4. I am entitled to a separate room or other individual accommodations, which have been medically documented and confirmed by the examination office. Who should I inform?
Here, too, it is important to contact the teaching staff, who will in turn inform us of individual needs. The rooms are equipped with individual height-adjustable tables and separate seating, which means that most disability requirements can be met—provided we are informed in good time.

5. Can you test the computers or applications before the exam?
Since there are several e-exams per day, especially during the exam period, we do not usually offer prior tests on the computers here in order to avoid delays in the exam process. In the case of a complex exam scenario, mock exams/tests are usually offered or the details are covered in the lecture.

During the exam:

6. Are participants allowed to leave the room before the end of the official exam time if they finish early and another cohort is scheduled to take the exam afterwards?
Within reasonable limits, namely the officially announced processing time and the time required for the proper and controlled completion of the examination for a cohort, students must remain in the room to prevent collusion between members of the cohorts regarding the examination content. This does not apply to cases of hardship, which must be clarified with the examination supervisors before the start of the exam. However, it is usually the supervisory staff or the teaching staff who decide whether and when exam participants may leave the premises early.

7. What happens if a computer/screen/keyboard fails during the exam?
First, we ask you to remain calm and quietly draw attention to yourself. Members of the e-examination team are regularly on site at our premises to help with any problems that may arise. In the unlikely event that the technical problem cannot be solved on site, you will be moved so that you can continue with the exam. We will then add extra minutes to your exam time.

8. Do I need to save my answers?
Automatic saving takes place during every exam written in the ILIAS exam system. If you are also using documents or other applications (e.g., QGIS, RStudio), we ask that you save your interim results regularly. Even in the extremely unlikely event of a complete system crash, your data can usually be recovered or at least reconstructed. At the end of the e-exam, you must click on “End test” three times (!) to finally submit the exam.

After the exam:

9. What happens if you forget something (pens, jackets, calculators, etc.) in the e-exam room during all the exam stress?
We secure all lost property and store it in the e-exam room, where it can be collected (by arrangement). If we can identify the owner based on where the item was found, we will contact the person concerned. If no one comes forward after 7 days, we hand the items over to the “lost property office” at the gate in the entrance area of the ZHG. Please note that the gate no longer accepts bottles. Bottles found in the rooms used for e-exams (including high-priced ones) will therefore be disposed of after a reasonable waiting period (approx. 4 weeks). Please do not hesitate to contact us if you think you may have forgotten a bottle during an e-exam. We will be happy to show you our current inventory.

10. What is the “checksum protocol” that the last two participants in the audit must sign?
Since this is an e-exam, all digital content is automatically stored and archived in the system. At the end of the exam period, the e-exam team documents the exam by saving all entries, generating a checksum, and printing a physical log. The checksum is a long code that reflects the exam results and participants and would indicate any subsequent changes. With the signatures of two exam participants, an exam supervisor, and a member of the e-exam team, all parties sign to confirm that the e-exam took place as described and that the checksum is legally valid.