Careful: Costly Moodle Quiz Mistakes to Avoid

Online instructors may choose a number of ways to test your knowledge and progress as you move through an online course. You may encounter exams requiring a proctor, quizzes in lecture videos, essays, or Moodle quizzes, to name a few.

With Moodle quizzes, there are a few things you should know beforehand other than the course material.

Before you test yourself, test your computer

Give yourself at least an hour before the test to make sure your computer is properly configured. Wait until the last minute and you risk a mid-semester meltdown.

• Make sure that your browser is up to par using the Moodle Browser Compatibility check.
• Enable JavaScript in your browser, if it is not enabled.
• Make sure to restart your computer before beginning the quiz.

Don’t get locked out of the quiz

Some Moodle quizzes are set with specific open and close times, giving you a window of time in which you must start and complete the exam.

Example: 
This quiz opened at Friday, 22 June 2018, 9:30 AM
This quiz will close at Saturday, 23 June 2018, 9:30 AM

• Don't wait until just before a quiz closes to start taking the quiz. A Moodle quiz or assignment must be completed and submitted before the closing time.
  For example, if a quiz with a one hour time limit closes at 11 p.m., and you start that quiz at 10:45 p.m. (15 minutes before closing time,) you will only be allowed 15 minutes instead of the full hour. Your attempt will be terminated at the closing time. 
  "Closing time" means just that. No part of a quiz will be available after it closes.
• The Moodle server automatically adjusts to your time zone. If your instructor sets the time for a test to open at 7 p.m. CST and you live in California, the test will open at 5 p.m. for you. Keep in mind that your instructor’s syllabus may say that the test will be open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., and these times most likely reflect UL Lafayette’s local time zone. 

No, you can’t trick the timer

Some Moodle quizzes have a time limit in which you must complete them, meaning a timer will begin counting down once you open the quiz.

Example: Time limit : 1 hour

• The Moodle server clock operates independently of the clock on the computer you are using to take the timed quiz. In other words, resetting the clock on your computer will not affect scheduling of the test or the progress of the timer's countdown.
• If you are not finished when the timer reaches its limit, Moodle will automatically terminate your quiz. Your answers may be lost or submitted, depending upon the way your quiz was set up. Remember to always save answers as you go.
• Even if you close the quiz's browser window (hint: don’t do this), the timer will continue to count down. It is not possible to pause the timer and then resume the quiz later.

General Quiz Taking Tips

• It is strongly recommended that you use a wired Internet connection when taking any quizzes or exams in Moodle. Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) is not as reliable as a wired connection and can be affected by interference from other devices.
• For quizzes and for Moodle in general, do not use your internet browser's "Back" or "Forward" buttons to navigate from one page to another. Use Moodle's built-in navigation features instead.
• Do not try to navigate away from the quiz window to visit other websites, check email, or use messaging, chat, or open any other browser windows. Doing this may result in you receiving a score of zero and/or could be considered as a violation of the university’s Academic Honesty policy, depending upon your instructor’s expectations for the quiz.
• Do not close the quiz browser window during a quiz. Doing this may result in your answers being submitted and/or receiving a score of zero on the quiz, depending upon how the quiz is set up.
• Be sure that you submit the quiz when you finish taking it. If you close the quiz window without doing this, your score may not be recorded and/or your answers may be lost.