Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - E-Assessment

FAQ for Examiners

  • 1. Select

    • What information do examiners have to submit to the examination office?

      The examinations are decided by the examination board (PA) and/or faculty council for each semester. For this purpose, the examiners are requested in good time by the PA or examination office to provide the necessary information (form of examination according to the SPO, examination dates, etc.). According to § 96d ZSP-HU, deviations from the form of the final module examination specified in the subject-specific examination regulations may be permissible if, due to an exceptional circumstance for which the examiner is not responsible and the consequences of which cannot be compensated in any other way, an application is made. This application for a change in the form of the examination must be submitted to the PA in good time.

    • Are other forms of examination than those of the SPO possible?
      Is it permitted to offer forms of examination other than those specified in the module descriptions of the subject-specific SPO?

      Yes, in the event of exceptional circumstances: see § 96d ZSP-HU (Special Cases, Deviating Form of Examination).

      SPO = Study and Examination Regulations

    • Does the answer-choice method have to be in the SPO?
      If I want to conduct an examination in whole or in part in the answer-choice method, does it have to be named as an examination form in the subject-specific examination regulations?

      If the examination form written examination is specified in the subject-specific examination regulations, the examination can be conducted in whole or in part in the answer-choice procedure without requiring an amendment to the subject-specific examination regulations.

      Please note, however, that § 96 paragraph 11 sentences 2 to 5 apply accordingly, i.e. you must announce the changed form of execution at the beginning of the semester. In addition, please note that no deviations from § 96c paragraph 4 sentences 1 and 3 and paragraph 5 are then permitted, i.e. you may not change the assessment standards for the answer-choice procedure stated in the ZSP-HU. For this, the answer-choice procedure would have to be specified as a form of examination in the subject-specific examination regulations. Otherwise, the usual rules for conducting an examination apply, e.g. the mandatory supervision.

    • Is supervision mandatory for digital exams (distance exams, exams in person)?
      If the module description and the SPO specify "written examination" as the exam type, according to §96b the examination can also be conducted as a digital exam in person or distance examination upon application to the examination board. Is a supervision then mandatory?

       

      Yes, supervision is always compulsory for an examination. According to § 96b paragraph 1 sentence 3 ZSP-HU, supervision is required for all types of examinations ("analogue" examinations, digital face-to-face examinations, distance examinations).

      If an application is submitted to the examination board for a distance examination with waiver of video supervision, the board may not approve this waiver of video supervision. It may approve the distance examination, since § 96b paragraph 1 sentence 1 ZSP-HU stipulates that the form of a module final examination suitable for this purpose, as specified in a subject-specific examination regulation, may be conducted in whole or in part as a digital examination or as a digital distance examination. But an examination remains an examination: continuous supervision must be guaranteed.

    • Does the type of examination offered have to be identical in both examination periods?

      Yes.

      According to § 107a paragraph 1 sentence 4 ZSP-HU, the examination board must ensure that the principles of a fair examination procedure are observed. If it is not ensured in another way - and in a court-proof manner - that the examination requirements are the same, the same form of conduct must be specified for both examination periods.

      However, even if the Presidential Board has determined exceptional circumstances in accordance with § 96d ZSP-HU and use is made of the option to deviate from the form of examination specified in the subject-specific examination regulations, the subject-specific requirements of the module final examination must be preserved; in particular, the number of credit points assigned to the module final examination remains unaffected.

    • Is it possible to conduct an exam digitally at any time?
      Is it possible to conduct an exam as a digital on-site exam or a distance exam without exceptional circumstances being identified?

       

      Yes, if the module description in the SPO states "written examination" as the form of examination. However, the examiner must apply for this other form of examination to the examination board, which will then decide on the application.

  • 2. Inform

    • Who regulates the compensation for disadvantages (NTA)?

      The responsible examination board decides on the compensation for disadvantages upon application of the student (cf. § 109 paragraph 2 ZSP-HU). It is useful if not only the NTA is justified in the application, but also a possible NTA is mentioned.

    • What form can a disadvantage compensation (NTA) take?

      Compensation is made by determining a different date, an extended duration or processing time, a different location, a different form, the admission of auxiliary means or auxiliary persons or in another suitable way. The course work or examination to be taken must be of equal value (cf. § 109 paragraph 1 ZSP-HU). If the student can credibly demonstrate that he or she does not meet the technical requirements, compensation for disadvantages will be granted in accordance with § 109 ZSP-HU (cf. § 107a paragraph 7 ZSP-HU).

    • Does the university provide technical support?

      For questions regarding technical support (in the sense of compensation for disadvantages, NTA), e.g. in the form of loaned equipment and / or Internet access, the responsible faculty is the contact partner, who will provide the appropriate technology if necessary.

    • Until when do examiners have to determine and announce the form of the examination at the latest?

      The form of the examination should be determined before the examination schedule is decided (before the start of the lecture period). If this is not possible, the students must be informed immediately after the form of examination has been determined. Section 96d (2) and (3) ZSP-HU applies.

    • Until when do examiners have to inform the students about the examination form?

      According to § 96 paragraph 11 sentence 3 ZSP-HU, the notification has to be made at the beginning of the semester in which the final module examination is offered.

      Deviations are permissible if the examinations cannot be carried out in the planned form or the effort to carry them out would be disproportionate (occurrence of exceptional circumstances). Students are to be informed immediately of any change decisions. If students have already registered and been admitted to the examination, they may withdraw their registration until immediately before the examination (§ 96d).

    • Is it allowed to require the installation of Safe Exam Browser?

      In principle, the installation can be required under narrowly defined conditions for an exam (e.g. remote exam) (§ 107b). However, it does not work on Linux computers.

  • 3. Create

  • 4. Register

    • Do students agree to the exam procedures when registering for the exam?

      In principle, yes, as the general conditions (form, scope, etc.) are regulated in the subject-specific study and examination regulations. A special regulation applies in the case of a remote supervised examination, where students have a right of choice, i.e. they can choose an alternative examination format without video supervision when registering for the examination (§ 96b, paragraph 4).

  • 5. Prepare

  • 6. Conduct

    • How much time should one allow immediately before a digital distance exam?

      This depends on how many people are taking the exam. Since the identity must be established individually (see authentification for a distance examination), this can lead to a considerable amount of time for large cohorts, even if authentification can also take place during the distance examination. A trial run is particularly important here in order to be able to gather reliable empirical values.

    • How is an exam unlocked?
      1. The actual examination activities in the course can be linked via " Requirements" to the fact that the health and independence declaration, which again should only be made accessible shortly before the start of the examination, has been completed "successfully" (answered with "Yes").
      2. The entire course can be set as hidden for participants.

      After completion of the examination, the course should in any case be set to "hidden" again.

  • 7. Judge