eAssessment
eAssessment
A Monash-owned, custom-designed assessment platform - independent from the LMS used for teaching, that provides a secure, robust and user-friendly experience for students.
eAssessment at Monash
Monash has two supported assessment platforms: eAssessment and Moodle (ELMS). Both in-semester and end-of-semester timed assessments can be delivered via either platform, however, there are many advantages to using the eAssessment platform for your assessments.
Centrally timetabled final assessments should be delivered via the eAssessment platform wherever possible.
-
Create an eAssessment Grade Sync activity
Learn how to create an eAssessment Grade Sync activity and link it to your eExam. This allows marks from assessments on the eAssessment platform to be imported into Moodle Gradebook.
-
Add Unit preview and adjust activity settings
Learn how to add your eExam to the Moodle Unit preview, adjust the maximum grade, weighting and apply a hurdle, if required.
-
Display eAssessment grades to students
The eAssessment grade item automatically hides the grades and feedback and cannot be unhidden by any user in the Moodle Gradebook. Learn how you can reveal the eAssessment grade, if required.
eAssessment for in-semester and final assessment
View
The eAssessment platform can be used for both in-semester and final assessments. Click on the tabs below to note the features of each.
- Timed online assessments, either remote or on-campus in your scheduled class space
- Recorded eAssessment (without online supervision)
- Unsupervised eAssessment (with or without Safe Exam Browser)
For more information, see In-semester eAssessments.
To support the strategic direction of the University, a pilot programme will be in place for 2026 semester one assessment delivery. During the pilot period, a new recorded eExam option will be introduced to replace previously supervised eExams.
Recorded eExams contain similar technology features to ‘supervised eExams’, but they do not have an online supervisor/invigilator present.
Recorded eExam features include:
- Secure login to the platform using Okta multi-factor authentication
- Automated online check-in process for students: students must agree to exam Terms and Conditions, share their webcam and entire screen, capture webcam images of their photo ID and face for ID verification, acknowledge and present authorised materials to their webcam.
- For off-campus recorded eExams, students must also complete a room scan, which includes a secure upload of images of their exam space
- Their exam attempt is recorded from start to finish.
- System -generated flags may be applied in the event of suspected integrity breaches.
For end-of-semester assessments, held on-campus, students will continue to be invigilated and supported by in-venue supervisors.
During the pilot period, the following changes will be implemented:
- On-campus eExams (previously with online supervision) will no longer have the online supervisor component, but students will be invigilated by in-venue supervisors.
- Off-campus eExams (accredited units) that previously had online supervision will continue to be invigilated online.
- Off-campus eExams (non-accredited units) that previously had online supervision will change to a recorded eExam without online supervision.
- All other options, including unsupervised eExams, remain unchanged.
- AAA students are exempt from changes during the pilot period. For on and off-campus eExams moving to a recorded eExam with no online invigilation, AAA students in that unit will continue to have an online supervisor to monitor and support them.
Note: All of these final assessment options must be centrally scheduled to ensure availability of technical support. Visit the OASIS website for more information about scheduling final assessments.
Considerations for using eAssessment
View
Security and academic integrity
eAssessments subject to external accreditation can be supported by the enhanced cybersecurity features of the eAssessment platform along with recorded exam attempts and in-venue supervision. Remote eAssessments for online-only accredited units will have online supervision enabled. eAssessments without online supervision can have a lockdown browser enabled to further support academic integrity if required.
Expand the accordions below to learn more
-
Recorded eExams contain similar technology features to ‘supervised eExams’, but they do not have an online supervisor/invigilator present.
Recorded eExam features include:
- Secure login to the platform using Okta multi-factor authentication
- Automated online check-in process for students: students must agree to exam Terms and Conditions, share their webcam and entire screen, capture webcam images of their photo ID and face for ID verification, acknowledge and present authorised materials to their webcam.
- For off-campus recorded eExams, students must also complete a room scan, which includes a secure upload of images of their exam space
- Their exam attempt is recorded from start to finish.
- System -generated flags may be applied in the event of suspected integrity breaches.
For end-of-semester assessments, held on-campus, students will continue to be invigilated and supported by in-venue supervisors.
-
Safe Exam Browser (SEB) is a “lock-down browser” that can support academic integrity by preventing students from accessing and using unauthorised material on the device they are using for their eExam.
SEB temporarily removes the ability to:
- copy/paste information from other sources
- access other files, software or websites
- carry out system functions on their computer.
Safe Exam Browser's lock-down functionality also changes the way the computer's keyboard behaves. See eExam using Safe Exam Browser for a list of these changes.
Safe Exam Browser can be made available for unsupervised eExams. SEB is not available for eExams using Monash eVigilation.
If you want to use Safe Exam Browser
Let your faculty Data Integrity Officer know if you want your non-invigilated scheduled final eAssessment to use SEB. They'll ensure your assessment data in Callista is updated to reflect this option.
Once you’ve finished creating your eExam, we’ll configure the settings to apply the lock-down functionality.
What your students will need to do
Students are required to download the latest version of SEB software on the device they will use for their exam. If they don’t install the software, or set up their device according to our Install Safe Exam Browser instructions, they're likely to encounter technical difficulties on exam day and may not be able to access the exam.
On the day of the exam, students login to the eAssessment platform, navigate to their eExam and click the Launch Safe Exam Browser button. This action immediately locks-down their device so they can't access other applications. They'll then see the eExam landing page and the Start Exam button which becomes active at the scheduled start time.
Once you confirm your non-invigilated final assessment requires SEB, we’ll email your students to advise them of the steps they need to take to prepare their device for an eExam using Safe Exam Browser.
Information for students is available from eExams using Safe Exam Browser.
Note: While remote invigilation with Monash staff is available and may be used in circumstances when exams need to be secured, it may impact on the student experience.
eAssessment design
The eAssessment platform offers a range of assessment question types. Due to the enhanced security of the eAssessment platform, some question types have slightly different functionality to those in Moodle ELMS. Expand the accordions below to view more information about supported question types in the eAssessment platform.
-
Question type Description Short answer Students are required to type in a word or phrase in response to a question (that may include an image), which must match one of the acceptable answers exactly. Essay (long answer) Students answer by entering text online. True/false Students are given only two choices for an answer. The question content can include an image or HTML code. Simple mathematical equation Students are required to perform simple mathematics, which may require a calculator or students to show their steps. Students can use keyboards to key in their answers. Multiple choice – single answer Students are required to select one correct answer from a series of options. -
Question type Description Limitation File download/upload
Ability for educators to upload a formatted file (e.g. MS Office apps) and for students to download, answer and re-upload for marking.
- File size for final assessment: 5MB file per question
- File size for in-semester assessment: 100MB per question
Multiple choice - multiple answers
Students are required to select multiple correct answers from a series of options.
- Exam creation: have to put in negative value for wrong answers
- Exam delivery: Students cannot cross out the incorrect answers
Matching
Matching questions have a content area and a list of names or statements which must be correctly matched against another list of names or statements. For example: "Match the Capital with the Country" with the two lists "Canada, Italy, Japan" and "Ottawa, Rome, Tokyo".
- Quality assurance: All eExam checking must be done in the eAssessment platform to confirm how the content will appear to students
Embedded answers (Cloze)
Students are required to select the correct answer from several choices embedded within the question text, including multiple choice, short answers and numerical answers
- Exam creation: Harder to create eExam. Contact Assessment Operations for further instructions on how to create this question type
- Quality assurance/exam delivery: When PDFed, questions appear in a different order to which they appear online
Choose X of Y questions
Students are required to respond to only X number of questions from Y questions available.
- Exam creation: total mark must be total of all sub-questions, not only the selected ones
- Exam delivery: Students will see the status for that question as "incomplete" even though they have answered the required # of questions
Drag and drop markers
Students are required to drop markers onto an area on a background image. No predefined areas on the underlying image that are visible to the student.
- Quality assurance: Can't be PDFed
- Exam delivery: Can't be PDFed and printed for AAA students
Extended Matching Extended matching items/questions (EMI or EMQ) are a written examination format similar to multiple choice questions but with one key difference, that they test knowledge in a far more applied, in depth, sense. It is often used in medical education and other healthcare subject areas to test diagnostic reasoning. These type of questions can be handled by other question types like multiple choice or cloze. Composite/Parent-child
Questions have sub questions or are related when marking (e.g. Question 4a and 4b which are related). Questions have a description that applies to all sub-questions.
- Exam creation: totalling of sub-questions' marks does not always work (sometimes doesn't add up to the sub questions)
- Quality assurance: Image will not display correctly in sub-questions. Contact Exam Services for instructions on workaround
- Marking: Sub-questions are displayed on several screens
- Marking: Doesn't allow to allocate sub-questions to different markers
- Marking: Have to update total mark manually as individual mark for sub-questions do not add up automatically
- Marking review: Composite sub question marks are not displayed in Exam Viewing report
Programming language
Responses require some sort of code.
- Exam delivery: Tab key doesn't work for indentation
Filling in a table in the answer section
Students are required to fill in a table in the answer section.
A response template must be used when creating this type of question.
The table should be added to both - the question text and the response template to mitigate the risk of a student accidentally deleting the table in response template.
Question instructions must clearly direct students to fill in the table in the answer section.
-
Responses that require handwritten notation such as diagrams or mathematical/scientific calculations can be incorporated into the eAssessment through the use of hybrid questions - where students complete those sections on blank sheets of paper that can be scanned and uploaded.
Note: Students are emailed with the instructions for this, but they will need to have the appropriate stationery and technology available.
Question type Description Advanced mathematical or chemical symbols and formula Answers will require the use of mathematical symbols or chemical formulas, whose characters cannot be found on the keyboard including superscript and subscript. Free hand drawing Students are required to use pen and paper to create diagrams, pictures or scientific equations/models. Anything that can be produced by the handwritten response on paper. Foreign languages Students are required to respond in a language other than English.
Support
| In-semester eAssessment | Scheduled end of semester eAssessment |
|---|---|
|
|
Staff resources
View
Help and support
The delivery of eAssessments is centrally coordinated by the Online Assessments and Integrity Services (OASIS) team within the Student Services portfolio. For technical support or more information about eAssessments and eExams, visit Online Assessment and Integrity Services (requires OKTA authentication) or email eAssessment-Support@monash.edu
-
There are different eAssessment platforms for formative or summative assessment.
Summative eAssessment platform Formative eAssessment platform Mock eExam platform - Recorded eExams available
- Lock-down browser available for unsupervised eExams
- Formative feedback functionality is disabled.
- Integrates with Moodle Gradebook.
- Formative assessment platform.
- Formative feedback functionality enabled.
- Can be used for in-semester assessment.
- Integrates with Moodle Gradebook.
- Practice exam environment for students.
- Contains a general knowledge eExam that students can self-enrol into. Academics can also create unit specific mock exams for students (Contact OASIS to set up a mock exam).
- Does not integrate with Moodle Gradebook.
eAssessment training
You can book a training session to learn how to create and mark an eAssessment. Simply contact Online Assessment and Integrity Services via eassessment-support@monash.edu
-
Requests for centrally-managed in-semester assessments will now be collected via a central data collection process before the start of each semester. Online Assessment and Integrity Services will coordinate this process with data integrity contacts in each faculty.
-
If you’ve identified suspicious activity during a scheduled final assessment that you’d like investigated, you can email exam-academicmisconduct@monash.edu to request an investigation.
Upon receiving your request, the OASIS team will aim to provide the following information within five working days:- Time the student commenced their eAssessment attempt
- Time the student submitted their attempt
- Any technical issues logged with IT support
In addition, for supervised eAssessments:
- Flagged incidents of suspected academic breaches
- Recorded evidence of suspected breaches
-
Turnitin is integrated into the eAssessment platform, providing markers visibility of similarity scores for long-form assessment responses.
In the event a student’s eAssessment response displays a high similarity score, you can download the related Turnitin report identifying the text similarities. This report can be used as evidence for a suspected breach of academic integrity. You’ll need to generate a new report download for each response.
Supporting your students
View
How to support your students
Exams can be a very stressful experience for your students and there are a number of ways that you can support them with online assessments. When you run an online assessment using the eAssessment platform, it helps to get students familiarised with the platform and how the assessment will be scheduled and delivered.
It is important to provide students with clear instructions on:
- The type of assessment
- The platform used for the online assessment (Moodle ELMS or eAssessment)
- Whether the exam will open book, closed book or open access
- What maintaining academic integrity in the exam encompasses
- Whether they require specific hardware or software for the assessment
- Whether the assessment will be invigilated
- Any special considerations for sitting a deferred exam
What resources and services are available to students
eAssessments/eExams
Monash has created a comprehensive site to support students in preparing for their eExams which you should share with your students. It provides information on:
- How scheduled final assessments work and the exam rules
- How to sit an on-campus and off-campus eExam
- How to prepare for their scheduled final assessments in terms of study skills
- Device and system set-up
- Troubleshooting and tips
- Where to get help and support
Academic integrity, plagiarism and collusion student website
This web link provides students with resources and training modules on how to avoid plagiarism and collusion, how to avoid cheating and breaches of academic integrity. This is an excellent source to support students with all matters relating to academic integrity.
Student Academic Success: Individual consultants with learning advisers
Share this link with students so that they can access drop-in sessions with a learning skills adviser to learn task analysis, critical analysis, effective reading and note taking, structuring arguments, academic writing, and time management. They can also learn how to locate and evaluate sources, citing and referencing from the library.
Student Academic Success: Academic English
Share this link so that students can obtain support around academic English usage. This will improve their academic writing to help reduce any unintentional breaches of academic integrity.
Student Academic Success: Perform at your peak in final assessments
Share this link so that students can browse resources to support them with all final assessments.
Health and wellbeing: Counselling service
Share this link for counselling services so that students can obtain additional support around a number of issues from managing motivation, coping with stress and/or anxiety, prioritisation and managing perfectionism.
Assessment and results: Special consideration processes
Share this link to let students know how to apply for special consideration that may allow them to obtain an extension, create another assessment, or sit a deferred exam.
Education Performance Standard Framework
View
The Education Performance Standards identify the expectations of education practice at Monash – See the Education Performance Standards for more details.
Impact on student learning | Impact on educational knowledge | Impact on educational environment | |||||
Effective teaching and learning | Responsive program design | Student- centred orientation | Professional learning engagement | Pedagogical content knowledge | Education research performance | Education innovation | Education leadership |
✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
You could address these Practice Elements by providing evidence of how you:
- Design measurable learning outcomes to ensure that each course/ unit/ session or task focuses student learning and prepares students to perform the required skills and knowledge
- Lead teams to redesign or review courses and units and the learning outcomes in these
- Ensure that the focus for teaching and assessment aligns with the learning outcomes
- Design creative ways for students to learn so that they meet the learning outcomes