Using a Laptop for Final Exams?

College of Law students have the option of taking final examinations on laptop computers. Students wanting to take examinations on laptops will be required to download the latest version of the examination software, Exam 4.0, prior to the day of the exam. The following information has been provided to answer questions students may have concerning Exam 4.0 and to assist students in acquiring and using the software.

How do I download Exam 4.0?

To download Exam 4.0, go to www.exam4.com and select the link “Downloads.” On the following screen, find the link “UT College of Law” and follow the directions.

Is there a fee for the software? If so, how do I pay?

The cost of the software is $10 per-semester for unlimited usage/downloads. Payment services for Exam 4.0 are outsourced through PayPal (www.paypal.com), and you will be required to establish an account with PayPal. On the UT download page, you will find a clearly marked payment key to get the process started.

Will I need to register with the Records office to take exams on laptops?

Yes. You will be required to register with the Records office by providing the office with a copy of your paid receipt no later than one week prior to the start of the exam period. Students who do not register with the Records office by the deadline will not be permitted to take exams on laptops.

Will the Records office furnish copies of the software?

No. Students are responsible for paying for and downloading the software prior to the day of the exam. If you fail to download the software or to register by the deadline, you will not be allowed to take your exams on laptop.

Does the College of Law furnish laptops?

No. The College of Law will not furnish laptops to students. You may borrow a friend’s laptop provided that you still register with the Records office by the deadline. That is, if you borrow a friend’s laptop who has paid for and downloaded the software, you must still pay for the software and provide proof of payment to the Records office.

Can I change my mind if I decide that I don’t want to use a laptop?

You may at any point elect to handwrite your exams. However, students who do not register by the deadline will not have the option of taking exams on laptops.

What capabilities does Exam 4.0 provide?

You will have the capability to cut & paste, undo & redo, and to bold, italicize, and underline text. To perform these tasks, select from the command functions located along the top of the screen. Spell check is not available with Exam 4.0.

How do I get started with Exam 4.0?

To launch Exam 4.0, double-click on the shortcut (the big, red “E”) on your desktop and follow the step-by-step instructions for getting started. Proctors will be in every room 15 minutes prior to the beginning of exams to assist students in setting up their laptops.

Once Exam 4.0 is launched, will I be able to run other applications?

Exam 4.0 is designed to block access to other applications once the software is launched. You should be aware that any attempt to by-pass Exam 4.0 will be indicated on the exam print-out.

Once the exam is over, what do I do?

Once time is called or you have finished the exam, select the command “End Exam” on the taskbar. Verify you want to end the exam by selecting “O.K.” Save the exam to floppy and exit by selecting “File” then “Exit.”

Can I save to CD rather than a floppy?

To save to a CD your laptop must have CD-burning software installed. Exit and quit Exam 4.0 as above without saving to a floppy. Launch your CD-burning software and copy both the exam file (C:\Exam40) and the backup file (C:\Exam40.bak).

What happens after the exams are saved?

Once all exams are saved, your test proctors will collect all floppies/CD’s and take them to the Records office to be printed. Students will not be able to print exams themselves. Once the exams have been printed, they will be given to the professor for grading.

What do I do if I have a problem with my computer during the exam?

Don’t panic! The Records office deals with a number of problems related to computer failure every semester. If you experience any problems, inform your proctor or report the problem to the Records office. Exam 4.0 auto-saves to your hard drive every 10 seconds and creates a backup file every five minutes, so your exam can usually be relaunched with little or no difficulty. If you experience any problems saving the exam to floppy or CD, please bring your laptop to the Records