ExamLock is a University of Alberta application that instructors may use to promote academic integrity during eClass exams. The tool is available in IST managed computer labs and is available for download onto student's Mac OS X and Windows machines below. This article overviews the basics of ExamLock quizzes for students and provides links to download the tool.

Students using ExamLock in campus computer labs should consult Using ExamLock in Computer Labs.

General ExamLock Information

The experience of completing an exam in ExamLock is very similar to completing it directly in eClass but there are several important differences:

• Users are unable to navigate away from the quiz attempt once it is started.
• Users cannot open any other applications during the quiz attempt.
• Most keystroke shortcuts and combinations are not functional during exam attempts.

Furthermore, ExamLock records all of the following and stores it as a part of every exam submission:

• Screenshots of all on-screen activity during every exam attempt.
• Records of any attempts to exit the exam-taking application.
• Records of any attempts to use image-capture software during an exam.

When using ExamLock, students must sign in with their CCID password and must comply with the Campus Computing Use Policy and the Code of Academic Integrity.

In addition, and if applicable, it is very important that when taking exams, students should:

• Laptop users should ensure that their device is fully charged before starting an exam, especially when the exam has a longer duration.
• Close all other applications on their device before the start of the exam, especially any memory intensive programs. ExamLock will close any prohibited applications when launched so students should save any in-progress work before launching an attempt.
• If using the wireless network on campus, use the UWS wifi network instead of the Guest@ualberta wifi as this can timeout during an exam.
• Use only one monitor (disable any other monitor connected to the device) if possible.

Download Links

• Download here for Mac OSX - version 10.10 or newer. Note: While we have not yet released a version of ExamLock specifically for the M1 mac chip architecture and M1 has not been added to our list of supported platforms, our testing with our latest version (1.4.30) has shown no issues to date.
• Download here for Windows - Windows 10 or newer
• iPads and Chromebooks are not supported

Note: As of May 1st 2019, ExamLock checks for AND automatically updates itself to the latest version when it is launched. For this reason, it is essential for all students to ensure they validate their device before they attempt an ExamLock quiz. Any students who downloaded ExamLock prior to May 1st, 2019 should ensure they remove any old versions and install a new one from the links above.

macOS Catalina and later: Running ExamLock on macOS Catalina and later will require users to allow permissions for it to run properly. More information found here.

Installation instructions for MacOS

Select the MAC OSX Download link above. Once the download is complete, it will appear at the bottom of the page. Select to open the installer ExamLock-Setup.dmg.

If the downloaded installer is not at the bottom of the page as below, it will be located in the Downloads folder (select Finder and on the left-hand side column select Downloads)

A new window will appear, drag the ExamLock icon over to the Applications folder icon

If this message appears, follow the steps in this article: ExamLock Installation and macOS Catalina and later

To open ExamLock navigate to the Applications folder, select ExamLock

ExamLock will now open on your macOS device

Validating A Device

IMPORTANT: Before taking any exam using the system, students MUST confirm that their machine is compatible. If a machine is not validated, when ExamLock is first it will display the message 'Your device has not been validated for ExamLock. Please login and take the Practice Exam':

After signing in using a CCID, students should click Practice Exam to validate their device:

Once the Practice Exam is completed and submitted, students should see the message 'This device can successfully complete ExamLock exams':

The 'not validated' alert will no longer be displayed when ExamLock launches and students should be able to successfully complete exams.

Any student who DOES NOT see the above message on completion of the Practice Exam should consult Troubleshooting ExamLock Errors and if the problem persists, contact eClass support for assistance.