Exams, tests, quizzes, and assessments are common ways instructors measure your understanding of course concepts and learning objectives. Depending on the course, your instructor may use traditional exams, timed assessments, quizzes, written assignments, discussions, projects, or other evaluation methods. The Concourse Syllabus will explain how you will be assessed in each course. This page will show you how to locate, access, complete, and review exams in Blackboard Ultra, while also highlighting important settings such as time limits, submission rules, accommodations, and instructor feedback. Understanding how Blackboard exams work before test day can help reduce stress and ensure you receive credit for your work.
Always use Google Chrome when taking Blackboard exams.
Avoid using phones or tablets for graded assessments.
Review the Concourse Syllabus for exam policies and due dates.
Read the entire Details & Information panel before starting.
Never begin a timed exam until you are ready to complete it.
Check whether the assessment allows multiple attempts.
Pay attention to time limits and due dates.
Submit your exam before closing your browser.
Confirm that Blackboard records your submission.
Review instructor feedback after grading.
Your instructor may place tests, quizzes, and exams in several different locations within Blackboard Ultra.
You may find assessments:
Inside weekly course modules
In the Course Content area
Through the Activity Stream
Through the Blackboard Calendar
Via instructor announcements
Inside learning modules that must be completed in sequence
Note: Assessment availability is controlled entirely by the instructor. The IDEA Team cannot make any alterations unless with instructor approval.
Some exams may not appear until a specific date and time. Other exams may remain hidden until you complete prerequisite content.
If you cannot find an assessment, review:
The Course Content page
The current week’s module
The Calendar
Recent Announcements
The Concourse Syllabus
The Gradebook
If you still cannot locate the assessment, contact your instructor immediately. Do not wait until the last minute.
It is possible for Blackboard to time out while you are composing answers to essay questions. Bb does save the essay answer box every time you type, but it is possible for it to time out depending on how long you take to answer the question. If you got timed out - before you went to click to Submit your answers, it's possible this work could be lost - and Blackboard will ask you to log in again, losing your work.
It is a good idea for essay questions that can take a long time to compose to copy and paste your work into a secondary place (like a google doc or word doc) and/or to make sure if they step away that they keep Blackboard active by clicking on something at least every 5 minutes or so. Bb does auto-save while typing in the essay box, so this isn't an issue for most, but if you do happen to step away for something or if you compose your message in Word, Office 365 or Google Docs, it's possible it will time out. Be sure to click save every now and again to keep Blackboard active, and we highly recommend copying and pasting your essay answers into a separate location just before you submit, so that your work is backed up.
Before starting an assessment, select it and review the Details & Information panel.
This area may contain important information including:
Due date
Time limit
Number of attempts allowed
Instructions
Availability dates
Point value
Grading rubric
Accommodations
Whether late submissions are allowed
Whether results are shown immediately
Many student issues occur because important instructions were missed in this area. Always review this information carefully before beginning.
Blackboard Ultra allows instructors to provide accommodations and exceptions for individual students.
These may include:
Additional testing time
Extended due dates
Additional attempts
Alternative availability dates
If accommodations have been applied to your account, Blackboard will automatically adjust the assessment settings. Always verify your available time and due date before beginning your assessment.
Untimed assessments allow you to work at your own pace. Depending on instructor settings, you may be able to save your work, leave the assessment, and return later before the due date.
Timed assessments begin counting down once you select Start Attempt.
Depending on instructor settings:
The timer may continue even if you leave Blackboard.
The timer may continue if you close your browser.
The assessment may automatically submit when time expires.
Late submissions may not be allowed.
Never start a timed assessment until you are prepared to complete it.
Blackboard Ultra supports many different question types.
Common question types include:
Multiple Choice
Multiple Answer
True or False
Matching
Fill in the Blank
Short Answer
Essay
File Upload
Calculated Formula
Hot Spot
Ordering
Each question type may behave differently, so read the instructions carefully before answering.
When you are ready, select Start Attempt.
Depending on instructor settings, Blackboard may display all questions on one page or present them one at a time.
Some instructors randomize questions or answer choices.
Some instructors allow backtracking while others do not.
Always read the assessment instructions before proceeding.
Blackboard Ultra automatically saves most responses as you work.
You may see notifications indicating that your work has been saved.
Even though Blackboard automatically saves responses, it is still recommended that you:
Use a reliable internet connection.
Avoid refreshing your browser unnecessarily.
Save lengthy essay responses in a Word document before pasting them into Blackboard if permitted by your instructor.
Verify that uploaded files are attached before submitting.
Remember that auto-save does not mean your assessment has been submitted.
Before submitting your assessment:
Answer every required question.
Review essay responses.
Verify uploaded files.
Check the remaining time.
Review your answers if allowed.
When you are finished, select Submit. Once submitted, your attempt is complete.
Note: Saving your work is not the same as submitting your assessment.
After submitting, Blackboard should display confirmation that your assessment was successfully received.
The confirmation usually includes:
Submission date
Submission time
Attempt information
Submission receipt
Always verify that you receive confirmation before leaving the page.
Depending on instructor settings, grades may be available immediately or after the instructor finishes grading.
To review your results:
Open the assessment.
Open your submitted attempt.
Review any available feedback.
You may see:
Your score
Correct answers
Instructor comments
Rubric results
Question feedback
Overall feedback
Not every instructor enables every feedback option.
Some assessments allow multiple attempts.
If multiple attempts are available, Blackboard will display the number of attempts remaining.
Your instructor determines whether Blackboard uses:
Highest score
Average score
Most recent score
Always review the assessment instructions if multiple attempts are allowed.
Starting a timed assessment before being ready
Using a phone instead of a computer
Missing the due date
Forgetting to submit
Assuming auto-save means submitted
Uploading the wrong file
Waiting until the last minute
Ignoring assessment instructions
Not checking accommodations
Not reviewing instructor feedback
Your instructor controls when assessments become available. Check the module, calendar, announcements, and syllabus before contacting your instructor.
The assessment may not yet be available, may have closed, or prerequisite requirements may not have been completed.
Blackboard often saves your responses automatically, but you should reconnect as quickly as possible and contact your instructor if you experience problems. We always recommend on large essay answers to compose outside of Blackboard so work is NOT lost.
Possibly. However, depending on instructor settings, the timer may continue running while you are away.
Look for the submission confirmation page that displays the submission date and time.
Your instructor may not have posted grades yet or may be waiting until all students have completed the assessment.
On this page, you learned how to locate, complete, submit, and review tests, quizzes, and exams in Blackboard Ultra. You also learned about assessment settings, time limits, accommodations, automatic saving, multiple attempts, grading, and instructor feedback. Understanding these features before test day can help reduce stress and prevent common submission mistakes.
Once you have successfully completed the exam in your SOWK 690 course and achieved the Certificate, you can view and download the certificate from the My Certificates link. To earn your Certificate of Completion, you need to score at least 93% (75 out of 80 points). You can attempt the quiz up to three times. Review any missed questions via the Grade Center .
Click the Printer icon to display the certificate and print it. OR you can take a screenshot of it, or the "Earned Achievements" page, showing your certificate(s). Note that clicking the other icons may result in an error.
We encourage you to store the screenshot(s) somewhere you can find them. Some instructors ask students to produce the certificates and others do not. You do not need to submit them to IDEA Team or anyone else specifically at this time.