Intro Text

proctored exams portal faq

 

The Proctored Exams Portal (PEP) is the system instructors use to request exam proctoring at Campus Test Centers and students use to schedule exam appointments at Campus Test Centers.

Once an instructor submits a proctored exam request in the PEP, students assigned to complete the proctored exam can use the portal to schedule exam appointments at a Campus Test Center.

This page provides answers to the most commonly asked questions about the Proctored Exams Portal.

PEP: How to take a make-up exam

If you missed your exam deadline or experienced a technical problem during an exam, you may be eligible for a make-up exam. First, contact your instructor(s) to request a make-up exam. Your instructor determines your eligibility and re-opens the Proctored Exams Portal if approved. Then, schedule your exam using the portal. If you do not see any exams assigned to you in the portal, please contact your instructor to verify that all exam details have already been entered.

PEP: Portal not loading

If the portal is not loading, please try some of the solutions below:

  1. Use Chrome. Be sure to use Chrome to access ICON and the portal. You need to have the latest version of Chrome. It updates frequently.
  2. Use a desktop or laptop. The portal will not open correctly on a mobile device, for example a cellphone or iPad.
  3. Clear cache and cookies. Clears any saved information from the last time a webpage was accessed. Visit the ITS website for step-by-step directions.
  4. Turn off pop-up blockers. The test center schedule opens in a pop-up window. Allow pop-ups so that you can schedule your exam appointment.
  5. Inactivity in ICON. If your instance of ICON has been open for an extended period, you may have been logged out due to inactivity. We recommend closing all windows/tabs with ICON. Then, in a new window or tab, log into ICON again and make another attempt to open the portal.

There is more help available:

  • ITS may be able to help determine if the machine you are using has another type of issue. 

PEP: Cancel or reschedule an exam

Exam appointments made in the Proctored Exams Portal can be easily cancelled or rescheduled – as long as the window has not expired. Visit our Exam appointments: UI exams page for step-by-step directions.

If the exam window has expired, please contact your instructor for permission as this would now be considered a make-up exam.

PEP: Viewing exam details

There are two sections in the Proctored Exams Portal: Assigned Exams and Scheduled Exams.

Assigned Exams, the upper section of the portal, lists all proctored exams assigned to you for that course.

Scheduled Exams, the lower section of the portal, lists all proctored exams that you have scheduled for that course.

Some exam details are visible when looking at the list of exams. These include exam name, exam date(s), exam duration, and exam status. 

Other exam details are available only by selecting the exam name. These include materials allowed, special instructions for students, exam delivery method, and exam medium.

PEP: Unable to schedule a virtually proctored exam

Virtually proctor exams can be taken on-demand. You do not need to schedule a specific time to start the exam. You may start your exam using Honorlock at any time during the exam window; exam windows are typically 24 hours. 

PEP: Unable to click the schedule exam button

It is important to check the status of any exams in the portal. Exams ready for scheduling will have a scheduling link or links in the “Status” column. Exams that have been cancelled will have a status of “Cancelled” and no scheduling links will be available. Exams that were not scheduled before the exam window ended will have a status of “Exam Expired.”

Scheduling links will vary from course to course based on which exam delivery method the instructor has chosen. The scheduling links can be “Schedule in Virtual Proctor” or “Schedule in Testing Center.”

If you are unable to click the "Schedule in Virtual Proctor," this is likely because your instructor requires students to have permission to use the virtual proctor. Once you have instructor permission, you will open the Quizzes page in ICON during the exam window to start your exam. You do not need to schedule exams taken with the virtual proctor.

PEP: What materials are allowed during the exam

Materials that are allowed for your exam can be found by selecting the exam name in the portal. No supplemental materials are allowed during the exam – electronic or otherwise – unless approved by the instructor. 

If approved by the instructor, Honorlock has both a basic or scientific online calculator. If any other materials are allowed (physical scratch paper, notes, etc.), they will be listed in the Proctored Exams Portal and in the exam instructions in ICON. 

PEP: How to double-check any exam accommodations

Use the Proctored Exams Portal in ICON to verify exam accommodations are correct. If you are approved for extended time, you will see the extra time displayed in minutes in the “Extra Time” column. If you are approved for reduced distraction, you will see a “Y” displayed in the “RD” column. (RD stands for reduced distraction.) 

PEP: No exams listed in the portal

If you expected an exam to be available to schedule and it is not there, please reach out to your instructor. It is possible that your instructor has not yet finished filling out all the required fields in the Proctored Exams Portal for students to begin scheduling. 

If you are unable to reach your instructor, please contact Exam Services directly.

PEP: Take a make-up exam from a prior semester

If you will be taking a make-up exam from a previous semester, you will NOT be able to schedule an exam appointment using the Proctored Exams Portal. This is because the Proctored Exams Portal only works in the current active semester.

If your instructor has given you permission to make up an exam from a prior semester, please contact exam-services@uiowa.edu. Provide the complete course number, semester, and your preferred testing date/time. You will be contacted with scheduling options for your exam appointment.

PEP: How to opt out of exam reminder emails

To stop email reminders about scheduling your exam, do the following:

  1. Open your course in ICON.
  2. Click on the Proctored Exams Portal.
  3. If you plan to complete your exam at the test center, click on the button Schedule at Test Center.
  4. If you plan to complete your exam with the virtual proctor, click on the button Schedule with Virtual Proctor.