Exam accommodation

Exam accommodations ensure an equitable opportunity for students to demonstrate their acquired knowledge and skills in a course. If you require accommodations due to accessibility, functional, or cognitive challenges, please get in touch with us.

Types of exam accommodations

These accommodations must be arranged before requesting your exam booking:

• location or environment (private room, semi-private room with less distraction, natural lighting)
• ergonomic support (ergonomic chair, footrest, pillow, earplugs)
• health-related support (beverage, snacks, glucometer, medications)
• extended exam writing time
• support services (scribe, personal aid, sign language interpreter)
• alternate format of the exam usually related to the use of assistive technology (voice dictation software, screen reader, braille, word processor)
• physical aides or literacy tools (hard copy dictionary, memory aid)

Additional medical documentation from a medical professional is required to verify the need due to the impact of a disability. Examples of this type of accommodation are:

• Exam structure: split the exam and revise the order of questions.
• Exam delivery: write an exam over multiple days.
• Alternate exam response method: complete an oral or video exam.
• Alternate assessment: a unique exam is created for a student (take home, split or question types).

These examples of accommodations are not all-inclusive due to the individual nature of accommodations that may be required.

Some exam accommodations are not possible, given the essential learning outcomes of courses.

Accessibility Services has a responsibility to ensure the integrity and security of exams. Invigilation, when conducted virtually, requires a working webcam and microphone.

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Accommodation set-up

Upon registering with Accessibility Services, you received a Letter of Accommodation and Accommodation Plan. The approved exam accommodations are listed, including the process to request an accommodated examination.

Each course has different course outcomes and evaluation methods. Upon enrolling in each course, review your exam accommodations to ensure your individualized needs are addressed.

If you need to adjust your accommodations for a particular disability-related barrier you experience, please discuss this with an accommodated exam administrator in Accessibility Services at least 20 days before your desired exam write date.

In short, the review of accommodations considers the following:

• provided details on previous exam accommodations at AU
• identification of how the accommodations were of assistance to you
• information from medical or assessment documentation
• Accessibility Services will work cooperatively to identify what reasonable accommodations will be recommended while maintaining academic standards

You are responsible for ensuring your invigilation site can provide your needed accommodations before requesting the examination set up with Athabasca University. Accessibility Services can provide you with your Letter of Accommodation again if required. It is your responsibility to inquire with your chosen invigilator.

Accessibility Services will confirm the approved exam accommodations to you and your invigilator once the exam is processed for writing.

Students are responsible for invigilator fees, exam rescheduling fees, and supplemental fees as outlined in the AU Undergraduate or Graduate Calendars.

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How to write exams

Athabasca University’s exam invigilation centres in Athabasca, Edmonton, and Calgary have been closed since the beginning of the COVID-19 global pandemic. Nearly all exams are now being offered online instead of in person.

Most of our external partners offering exam invigilation services have reopened. We are pleased to share that we are working to transition students from our temporary O365/MS Teams invigilation service to our Canada-wide invigilation network. Our robust invigilation network offers everyone the option of virtual exam invigilation via ProctorU, as well as the availability of in-person invigilation to write online exams.

Find further information about requesting exams and invigilators on the Exam Services Support page .

Option 1: ProctorU

AU has partnered with ProctorU to host online invigilation services. If your exam is available to write online, ProctorU is your first choice. It allows you to write your exam from the comfort of your home and is available 24/7 for learners who meet the technical requirements.

There is a 2-step process for booking your exam with ProctorU. You must book your exam invigilation appointment with ProctorU at least 20 calendar days before you’d like to write your exam, then log in to myAU and request your exam for the same date you’ve booked through your invigilator.

Please note that ProctorU may update its process from time to time, so it is important always to review ProctorU’s exam readiness guide before your exam.

Using ProctorUOption 2: Approved external invigilator

AU encourages learners to use ProctorU wherever possible but recognizes you might prefer to have your online exam invigilated in person.

You can have an online exam invigilated by third-party invigilators already approved as part of AU’s Exam Invigilation Network. These invigilators’ services are subject to change, so learners are responsible for confirming an invigilator’s ability to supervise their exam and provide approved accommodations before booking.

The same 2-step process for booking your exams applies. You must first book your exam invigilation appointment with your invigilator of choice at least 20 calendar days before you’d like to write your exam, then log in to myAU and request your exam for the same date you’ve booked through your invigilator.

Third-party invigilators may have COVID-19 preventative measures in place, but AU cannot guarantee that learners will not contract COVID-19 due to attendance at a third-party invigilation site.

Learners assume and accept all COVID-19-related risks arising from the learner’s attendance and participation at the third-party AU-approved invigilator or invigilation centre. Learners who choose to write exams with a third-party AU-approved invigilator or invigilation centre are responsible for ensuring that they are comfortable with COVID-19 precautions at that site and that they will abide by them. Any specific requirements should be confirmed with invigilation sites directly.

Option 3: Requesting an alternate assessment

If you’re unable to book with an approved external invigilator and you are unable to use ProctorU, you can contact your faculty for alternate arrangements:

• Faculty of Business
• Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
• Faculty of Health Disciplines
• Faculty of Science and Technology

If your request for an alternate assessment is due to the impact of a disability and you are registered with Accessibility Services, we can facilitate the conversation upon receipt of the medical verification of the need for an alternate assessment and your request to advocate on your behalf.