Online exam checklist

Check what type of online assessment you're doing

There are three types of online assessments:

Online Supervised Exams (OSEs)
Time Constrained Assessments (TCAs)
Other Assessment (OA).

Online Supervised Exams:

start and finish at a set date and time
have a time limit once you begin
are accessed in Stream
are supervised electronically.

Time Constrained Assessments:

start and finish at a set date and time
have a time limit once you begin
are accessed in Stream
aren't supervised.

Other Assessments:

are scheduled on your exam timetable in the student portal
are administered through the college, so you should contact your course coordinator if you have any questions or require assistance.

In your exam timetable in the student portal you can view:

exam start and finish dates and times
time limits
what type of exam it is.

Find out what to expect in Stream

Use our support information in Stream to learn what it's like to do an assessment online.

Guidance includes:

information about how online assessments work
practice tests you can try as many times as you like
answers to common questions about online assessments.

Open the Online Supervised Exam Student Support Stream site (access only available to students sitting an OSE this semester)

Visit the Time Constrained Assessment Student Support Stream site

Learn to use PSI software

PSI delivers the exam supervision software Massey uses. Your computer's webcam and microphone are used to monitor your exam.

You will need to download PSI before each exam that you sit. It's a good idea to download PSI before your first exam and test it to make sure it works on your computer. The Online Supervised Exam support Stream site contains step-by-step guides to downloading and using the software.

Find a place to sit your exams

You can sit your online exams where you choose. Choose a place that:

is quiet
is somewhere you won't be interrupted
has a secure, stable internet connection
has a power socket so you can plug your computer in
doesn't contain any materials that aren't allowed in the exam rules.

You might need to book a room in your local library or on a Massey campus if you don't have somewhere suitable at home. Do this early, so you're prepared for the day.

To book a room in a Massey campus library please email library@massey.ac.nz and mention the campus where you want to sit your exam. You can also make a booking at the Service Point of the library where you want to sit your exam. Limited rooms are available.

Make sure you have the right equipment

Ideally, you should do your exams on a Windows computer or a Mac. Make sure you use a device that:

can access Stream
has a keyboard so you can write your answers easily
has a webcam and microphone
has a reliable broadband internet connection.

PSI will not work on phones, tablets or touch screens.

Contact Assessment Services at exams@massey.ac.nz if you have any questions about sitting exams online.

Find out what materials you're allowed to use

If you see the letters OB next to your exam title on your timetable, your exam is open book.

This means you can use certain reference materials in the exam, like notes or books. Contact your course coordinator to find out what you're allowed to bring with you.

Check what materials you're allowed in your exam

Visit OWLL to find out how to prepare for open book exams

Know where to get study tips, guidance and support

We have resources and services to help you prepare for exams, and can give you support if you're feeling anxious.

Find study advice in OWLL

The Online Writing and Learning Link (OWLL) contains lots of advice to help you prepare for tests and exams, and strategies that will help you on the day. There’s information about:

studying for tests and exams
types of exam question
organising your time in an exam.

See exam advice and tips on OWLL

Book an appointment with a Learning Adviser

A Learning Adviser can give you advice about preparing for exams, either one-on-one or in a small group.

Find out more about Learning Advisers and other study support services

Get support for exam anxiety

We know exams can be stressful. You can get support to help you fight exam stress and anxiety from the Student Health and Counselling Services at our Auckland and Manawatū campuses.

Make an appointment to see a counsellor, or email to ask a question, discuss a worry or get advice.

Student Health and Counselling service (Auckland) email: studenthealth@massey.ac.nz

Student Health and Counselling service (Manawatū) email: s.counselling@massey.ac.nz

Student Health and Counselling service (Wellington) email: studenthealth.wellington@massey.ac.nz

If you’re a distance student, contact the Student Health and Counselling service at the Massey campus nearest you.

Technical troubleshooting

We are open from Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.30pm. If you call outside these times during an exam period your call will be redirected to Assessment Services between the hours of 7am to 10pm. Or email exams@massey and this will be dealt with on the next working day.

Internet problems in Online Supervised Exams

If your internet stops working while you're doing an Online Supervised Exam:

PSI will keep recording until it reconnects
you can keep working on the exam question you've started
you won't be able to start a new question until the internet reconnects.

Power cut

If there's a power cut during your exam, restart PSI when the power reconnects.

PSI issues

You can get support to help fix any problems with PSI all day, every day.

PSI live chat support

Stream problems

See our guide to Stream. If you have issues with Stream please contact us.

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