Take a SOLE Exam

If your professor requires the SOLE LockDown Browser for the exam, you must download it prior to starting. Learn more about the SOLE LockDown Browser.

Launch the exam

1. In your course, select Assessment then Exams from the left navigation menu. Exams may also be posted within Course Content.

2. Select the exam you wish to take.

3. Review the exam details. If the exam includes any of the following settings, they will appear in red:

   • Time Limit: Indicates the time (in minutes) you have to complete the exam once it’s launched. If the time expires, you’ll be prompted to “Save and Submit” the exam, and no further answers can be added.

   • Due Date: The final date and time to submit the exam. A timer will display during the last five minutes, and you will be prompted to submit your answers when the due date passes. If allowed, you may review the exam after this date.

   • Expiration Date: The last date and time to view or submit the exam. A five-minute timer will display near the end, after which you will be prompted to submit. After this date, the exam will no longer be accessible.

   • Password: This password, set by the course instructor, must be entered before launching the exam. SOLE Support cannot provide the password; it must be obtained from the instructor.

4. Click the Launch button to start the exam. A screen with two options will appear: Watch a Tutorial or Launch Your Exam. Watching the tutorial is optional but recommended for first-time users. After viewing, click Launch Exam to begin.

Answer exam questions

Once launched, you can begin answering the questions. Questions may be delivered one at a time or all at once, depending on the exam setup. For single-question delivery, click Save and use the arrow to move to the next question. For all-at-once delivery, click Save next to each question as you proceed.

After selecting an answer, click the Save button to finalize it. Switching questions automatically saves your choice. Use the Question Legend to navigate questions manually or use the green or black arrows for sequential navigation.

Question types

• Multiple Choice and True/False: Click the radial button next to the correct answer.

• Matching: Use drop-down menus to match correct answers.

• Essay and Fill in the Blank: Enter text directly.

• Multiple Select: Choose one or more correct answers by selecting checkboxes next to options.

• Ordering: Drag and drop answers into the correct order.

• Hotspot: Click on a specified area within an image to answer.

Exam tools

• Flag a Question: Click the flag icon to mark questions to review later.

• Take notes: Click the blue pencil icon to add a private note, or, if enabled, share the note with the instructor.

• Crossing out potential answers: Click on answers in multiple-choice or true/false questions to cross them out, helping you eliminate incorrect options.

• Highlight: Click on text within a question to highlight it in yellow. The yellow droplet icon removes all highlights for that question.

• Timer: If the exam is timed, a clock icon at the top of the screen displays the remaining time. This timer begins as soon as the exam is launched and continues running if you leave the exam. Hover over the clock icon to see the exact time remaining or click the Timer Icon to display it on the bottom right of the page. The timer will turn red during the last five minutes.

• Calculator: If enabled, a calculator will be available at the top right. Click View Calculator to access it or Hide Calculator to close it. The calculator allows for standard arithmetic, exponentials, square root, and trigonometry functions (cosine, sine, tangent).

• Question Legend: Located on the right side of the screen, the legend shows the total number of questions, number of answered, unanswered, and flagged questions, and question sorting options. Each question in the legend is color-coded to indicate answer status:

  • Yellow: Highlighted questions

  • Red: Flagged questions

  • White: Unanswered questions

  • Green: Answered and saved questions

  • Gray/White: Answered but not saved questions

Submit your exam

1. After completing all questions, click the green Finish button at the bottom right. A summary screen will appear showing total questions answered, along with flagged, unanswered and unsaved questions.

2. If needed, click Go Back to review flagged or unanswered questions.

3. When ready, click the green Submit Exam button to complete the exam. Based on availability, post-exam reporting data may display, including your score, question details, answers, point values, and feedback.

If the course administrator has enabled post-submission review, you may be able to review certain criteria:

• Overall Score

• Partially Graded Scores

• Questions and Answers

• Question Point Value, Title, Category, Tags

• Question Feedback

• Shared Notes

These criteria display in neutral orange. When Question Point Value or Answers options are enabled, correct and incorrect answers are displayed in green and red, respectively.

Resume a closed exam

• Resuming Exams: If you close an exam without submitting, return to it via the Exams tool to complete submission. For timed exams, the timer does not pause; it continues from the initial start time.

• Availability Period: If the exam closes before you log in and submit, contact your course administrator.