Inspera
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Digital exams with Inspera Assessment
The Digital Assessment Service is the University's centrally supported service for secure present in person digital exams.
The software for digital exams is called Inspera Assessment. Colleagues can access Inspera via their Canvas assignments.
Exam types that are possible with Inspera include:
- Automatically marked questions, for example Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blank and Hot Spot question types. See the full list of Inspera automatically marked question types for more information.
- Digital written exams that allow students to type their answers to written questions online. See the full list of Inspera manually marked question types for more information.
At Newcastle, we use Inspera to host in-person locked down exams during main assessment periods, as well as some ad-hoc exams throughout the year. We also use the open-book take-home functionality
For assessments that require specialist maths functionality, the Numbas open source maths e-assessment tool remains available for colleagues to use.
Benefits and uses
Use of Inspera brings a range of benefits:
Enhanced Security
Deterrents, such as randomisation of questions, use of Safe Exam Browser (our lockdown browser) and activity monitoring enhance assessment integrity.
Efficiency
Automated grading for auto marked questions saves time and reduces human error possibility. Faster results can be provided to students, especially for formative tests; allowing timely feedback regarding progress.
Scalability
Digital exams can be scaled for larger classes with use of our PC cluster spaces across campus.
Authentic
We have seen best practice from module teams at Newcastle who use Inspera to host audio and/or video based exams facilitating authentic assessment. Such assessments currently occur in Education, Communication and Language Sciences, Medical Science and Modern Languages.
Accessibility
Inclusive design features (i.e. dark mode) allows for students to take examinations online using Inspera while using in built accessibility tools. There are also options for use of screen reader technology (i.e. Claro) by exempting students from the lockdown environment.
Environmental
Reduced paper usage decreases our institution's environmental footprint.
Frequently asked questions
Consult our frequently asked questions to find out more about Inspera Digital Exams. You can also get in touch with the Digital Exams Team via Digital.Exams@newcastle.ac.uk.
What are the different types of Inspera digital exams?
There are a few different types of Inspera Digital Exams that we run at Newcastle:
In Person Locked Down – the most common exam type that we host. The Central Exams office will arrange invigilators to be present who help host these exams. 'Locked down' mean that students can only access the exam content.
Take Home Open Book – these are less common. Open book exams can be open for a set period, such as 24 hours, or you can set these as timed exams, for example 60 minutes, for students and complete to access within a 24 hour period. Students can access any resources and material.
BYOD – Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) exams were used within and prior to the 22/23 academic year but were paused for 23/24 and remain paused for 24/25.
How should I prepare for an Inspera digital exam?
Module leaders who have a digital exam in their MOF for the current academic year will be contacted at the start of the relevant semester with guidance on preparing for the exam.
Please see our key deadlines for semester 1 and 2 assessment periods in 2024/25:
Task |
Deadline for 24/25 |
Deadline to complete the digital exam form for Semester 1 |
25 October 2024 |
Deadline to prepare question set in Inspera for Semester 1 |
15 November 2024 |
Digital exams: hard deadline to submit backup paper for digital exams to Exam Paper Portal for Semester 1 |
Within 2 working days of backup paper being sent to module team by LTDS, and no later than 6 December 2024 |
Deadline to complete the digital exam form for Semester 2 |
19 February 2025 |
Deadline to prepare question set in Inspera for Semester 2 |
8 March 2025 |
Digital exams: hard deadline to submit backup paper for digital exams to Exam Paper Portal for Semester 2 |
Within 2 working days of backup paper being sent to module team by LTDS, and no later than 11 April 2025 |
Will I prepare an alternative back-up for my digital exam?
To access an Inspera digital exam, students need to log into a campus computer or compatible device using their University credentials. It is highly recommended that students are reminded of this before their exam. If they have forgotten their password, they can reset it via it.servicedesk@newcastle.ac.uk.
Should a student not be able to log in to a device on the day of the exam, students may be allowed - where possible - to take a paper version of the exam. Paper back up exams are often created using the Inspera question set designed by module teams, and colleagues from the central Exams office organise printed versions to be made available in the exam venues.
However, if exam content cannot be replicated in paper format (due to allowed use of webpages, video and or audio content), Schools should consider if the student should take their assessment at the next usual occasion or submit PEC. Please also consider that a back-up paper may not always give students the same experience as an interactive digital exam (e.g. allow-listed use of PDF, word count limits).
If a module team wishes to include content that cannot be replicated in paper format, but wishes students to use a back-up paper, please discuss mitigations and alternative approaches further with the Digital Exams Team (contact via digital.exams@ncl.ac.uk).
How can I prepare my students for their Inspera digital exam?
Module teams should inform students as early as possible that they will be taking a digital exam using Inspera.
To ensure that your students are fully prepared for their Inspera exam you should:
- Share and draw their attention to the student resources on the Academic Skills Kit webpage. Information on this page includes How to access demo exams to try out the Inspera software. This is recommended for all students, to familiarise themselves with Inspera before their exam.
- Add the Inspera student information module from Canvas Commons into your Canvas course. To do this:
- Search for 'Inspera Digital Exam' in Canvas commons (link to instructions in Canvas Orientation)
- Follow the steps to import content from Commons into your Canvas course (link to instructions in Canvas Orientation)
Optionally you can set up a subject-specific practice test for your module using Inspera. If you choose to set up a practice test you can decide whether to book a specific time and venue on campus, or whether to allow students to take the practice test in their own time. Within our Inspera Canvas course, you can find instructions on setting up an Inspera exam.
What do I do after an Inspera digital exam has taken place?
Once the exam has taken place, the module team are responsible for:
- checking the results of automatically marked questions (for example multiple choice questions)
- marking manually marked questions (for example short written answer or essay questions)
- confirming the final marks (If you wish to push the marks through into the Canvas Gradebook this step is required for every Inspera exam, even if your exam contains only automatically marked questions)
- releasing grades and feedback to students.
To learn about these steps book onto an Inspera Digital Exam Marking webinar, refer to the Inspera Guidance Canvas course or view our helpful video guides.
Can I use Inspera for August assessment period exams?
If your semester 1 or semester 2 assessment period digital exam used Inspera and there is a need for an August assessment period exam for students who are resitting or who deferred, you may wish to use Inspera.
In person August assessment period exams
- For the 24/25 academic year, there is no minimum student number threshold for an in person August assessment period exam to be run using Inspera. Any Inspera exam from Semester 1 or 2 can run an Inspera resit in the August assessment period.
- If the August assessment period exam is run using Inspera, any student who needs to sit the exam overseas will need to do so on paper, it is not currently possible to support in person Inspera exam sittings at overseas venues.
- All in person, on campus August assessment period digital exams will be delivered in PC Clusters.
Take home August assessment period exams
- There is no minimum student number threshold for a take home August assessment period exam to be run using Inspera.
- If any student needs to sit the August assessment period take home exam overseas they will be able to do so using Inspera.
Please see below the deadlines for August 2025 assessment period exam preparation:
Resits/Deferrals from Semester 1 |
Deadline for 24/25 |
Deadline to complete the digital exam form for the resit period exam (which was originally Semester 1 exam) |
17 March 2025 |
Deadline to prepare question set in Inspera |
17 April 2025 |
Digital exams: hard deadline to submit backup paper for digital exams to Exam Paper Portal for the resit period |
Within 2 working days of backup paper being sent to module team by LTDS |
Resits/Deferrals from Semester 2 |
Deadline for 24/25 |
Deadline to complete the digital exam form for the resit period exam (which was orginally a Semester 2 exam) |
1 July 2025 |
Deadline to prepare question set in Inspera |
8 July 2025 |
Digital exams: hard deadline to submit backup paper for digital exams to Exam Paper Portal for the resit period |
Within 2 working days of backup paper being sent to module team by LTDS |
What is Inspera Scan?
A basic digital drawing tool can be made available for students to use when answering essay questions in Inspera. If your students need to create more sophisticated drawings as part of the answer to a question, or to handwrite content such as equations on paper, there is the option to use Inspera Scan.
Inspera Scan enables students to hand draw part of an answer to a question in their Inspera exam. After the exam the completed scan sheets will be returned to the School for scanning. The scans are uploaded to Inspera and can be marked online as part of a student's answer to the relevant question.
There are 2 different types of Insepra Scan sheet available, a Grid Scan Sheet and a Blank Scan Sheet. If Inspera Scan is required for your exam, when you complete the digital exam form you will be required to state how many of each type of scan sheet each student sitting the exam will require.
Note that Inspera Scan sheets are designed for content that students need to submit to be marked as part of their answers to questions in the exam. Scan sheets are not intended for rough work. As standard students are provided with a small amount of paper for rough work for all digital exams. If you require your students to be provided with more paper for rough work during your exam you can request this separately from the Exams Office when the backup paper is submitted via the Exam Paper Portal.
What are Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) exams?
Some Inspera exams are delivered on students’ own laptops, if this applies to your exam the Digital Assessment Service team will contact you to let you know and provide information about how to prepare your students.
Taking a digital written exam on their own laptops is preferred by students, as it allows them to produce written work using a machine they are familiar with from producing coursework assignments.
Please note that all exams will be hosted in University PC clusters for the 2023/24 or 2024/25 academic year.