Examsoft FAQs
Students who elect to use SofTest must review the following information carefully:
Q: Who is eligible to sign up for ExamSoft?
ExamSoft is now available for all J.D., LL.M. and foreign exchange students whose computer meets the minimum specifications.
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SofTest serves as a simplified word processor similar to Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect for essay responses. The software blocks access to all applications and stored files on the laptop during the exam. Once the exam begins, you can work only on the exam and cannot regain access to your files until you exit the exam. (Thus, even if an exam is open-book, you will not have access to any notes, outlines, etc. that are stored on your laptop. Therefore, you still will need to bring in hard copies of notes or other materials that are allowed for an open-book or restricted open-book exam.) Even if the laptop is shut off, crashes, or freezes, upon rebooting the computer a dialog box appears informing you that an unfinished exam has been located and giving you the option of continuing the exam or, if you are finished and want to exit, of exiting the exam and rebooting the computer (which then takes the laptop out of secure mode). The application saves your exam every 60 seconds and creates multiple backup copies, all of which are stored in encrypted format on your hard drive. If your laptop crashes during an exam and there are problems with rebooting it, an encrypted copy of your exam answer will be on the laptop, which only authorized law school personnel can retrieve.
At the end of an exam, you will upload your exam answers to a secure server via the internet. The answer files are retrieved and printed by authorized law school personnel, and they are given to the professors with the other exams. (The exams are still graded anonymously.)
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Q: What are the required laptop specifications?
- Must have an PC-compatible laptop with U.S. English 32-bit versions of either Vista*, or Windows XP (WINXP) with service pack 2 (SP2) installed.
* Vista users - your computer must meet minimum specifications for the specific edition of Vista you are using. Please check the documentation that came with Vista to find these requirements.
Mac users - Mac OS X Leopard (10.5) on an Intel-based laptop with either Windows XP (SP2) or Vista installed in a Boot Camp Partition. (Note that Apple no longer supports Boot Camp on earlier versions of their operating systems.) - Laptop must have a 500 MHz processor, Intel Pentium III or higher preferred (or Industry Equivalent, i.e. AMD), with at least 256 MB of RAM or higher, 50 MB free hard disk space and a screen resolution of 1024x768 or higher.
- Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher.
- An internet connection is required to download SofTest and exam files before the exams and to upload exam answers when you finish each exam. You can download the software and the exam files using our wireless network if your computer has been configured to do so. (AOL users must have AOL 6.0 or higher for home downloads.) To upload your exam answers when you finish each exam, you MUST have your laptop configured for our wireless network before your exams start because after each exam you must be able to connect to our VPN client.
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Q: Will the Law School provide a laptop if I don’t have one?
Unfortunately, the Law School cannot provide laptops. You may want to look into renting a laptop or borrowing a laptop, but you must make sure that the laptop meets the above specifications! Possible places to rent laptops are:
Rentex (800-574-1702)
Rent-a-PC (877-RENTAPC)
Schneider Leasing Company (800-752-7368)
Please note that these companies are NOT affiliated with Boston University, and unfortunately we cannot guarantee the quality of any laptops from those companies.
According to our financial aid office, students who need to purchase a laptop can use private or federal loan funds. The University allows students to add up to $2,500 to their student budget to cover the cost of a computer. This amount can include a printer, additional software, peripheral equipment, and warranty or service contracts. Students must make purchases during the academic year in which they are requesting the increase or after July 1 of the summer before that academic year. Students who purchase a computer for less than $2,500 may request the balance in subsequent years if needed for replacement or upgrade purposes. If you want to add the cost of a computer to your student budget, you must bring a copy of the invoice or receipt with a letter requesting the increase to your budget to the Law Financial Aid Office, 13th floor.
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Q: My laptop does not meet the minimum specs but my roommate uses SofTest. Can I use their laptop for my exams?
Students may use a borrowed laptop as long as the laptop owner uses the same version of SofTest, is not registered for the same classes as the borrower, and there are no exam time conflicts. Any student who plans on using a friend's laptop for their Spring 2008 finals must notify the Registrar's Office by the registration deadline - April 17, 2008. The Registrar's Office will provide further instructions.
Q: Will I be at a disadvantage if I don’t/can’t use a laptop on my exams?
No. Schools that have allowed law students to use laptops on exams have not found that those students receive higher grades than students who do not use laptops. In fact, faculty sometimes report that it is easier to spot weaknesses in answers when they are typed.
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Q: How do I register to take my exams on my laptop this semester?
All students who did not use SofTest for their Fall 2007 exams must download the current version of the software and register it, even if you used the software previously. (The license is only valid for the academic year.) To register for Spring 2008:
- Sign up through the ExamSoft web site. (Instructions for both first-time and returning users are included on this custom home page.)
- Download and install the latest version of the software (SofTest).
- Take the qualification exam.
- Register SofTest.
**Please note that if you experience any problems with downloading the software, you must contact ExamSoft directly at their toll-free number, which is 866-429-8889 or at support@examsoft.com. Their hours are 8:30-5:30 EST, Monday-Friday. Assistance with installing ExamSoft is provided only by ExamSoft. The Law School’s computer services staff are unable to assist with this process.
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Q: I used SofTest last semester. Do I need to re-download the software?
Students who used SofTest for their Fall 2007 exams do not need to re-download the software unless you are notified by ExamSoft of an update to the software.
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Students may sign up with ExamSoft, install the software, do the qualification exam, and register SofTest beginning March 3, 2008 and through midnight on April 17, 2008. Sign-up, download, installation, and registration with ExamSoft may take approximately 30 minutes, depending on your Internet connection. Any student who has not registered the latest version of SofTest by April 17, 2008 will have to hand-write their Spring 2008 exams.
Step-by-step instructions for signing up with ExamSoft, downloading the software, taking the qualification exam, and registering SofTest are on the ExamSoft site .
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Q: How will I know if I have downloaded the software correctly?
ExamSoft will e-mail you a confirmation once you’ve completed the entire download and registration process. If you do not receive this e-mail you should confirm that you’ve completed the steps by logging onto their web site and checking your registration status or by running a self-test procedure on your laptop.
We encourage you to take the "Practice Exam" and strongly recommend you take the "Mock Exam" so that you become familiar with the software. To take a practice exam, double-click the SofTest icon on your Windows desktop and click the "Practice Exam" button when the SofTest Start Window appears. The "Mock Exam" feature was added to provide exam takers an opportunity to experience downloading, taking and uploading an exam administered in secure mode using SofTest. Once you register SofTest you will be notified on-screen that there is an exam file available for download. You may download, take and upload the Mock Exam at your convenience up to two times.
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Q. The spellchecker is available on my Practice Exams. Will it be available on my actual exam?
The spellchecker function will not be enabled for your actual exams.
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Q. Does the format of the Practice Exam directly reflect the format of my actual exam?
The basic layout of the question and answers will be the same. Spell Check is not enabled for your exam, but you will have the Cut, Copy & Paste options. All other word-processing features will be the same on both the Practice Exam and your actual exam.
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Q: What if I miss the deadline for registering with ExamSoft. Can I still register and take exams on my laptop?
Unfortunately, no extensions for any reason can be granted if you miss the deadline for registering with Examsoft. Any student who has not registered the latest version of the software by April 17, 2008 will have to hand-write their Spring 2008 exams. The reason we have to be strict with the deadline is that scheduling exams in this facility is a very complicated puzzle. We have limited rooms for exams since, unlike some schools, we have exams in the J.D. program and four LL.M. programs all happening during the same time period. We simply don’t have the space to make last minute changes.
Also, for the exams on laptops, we have to have our computer staff available for questions and problems that may arise, plus we need to have proctors who are more sophisticated if possible. This can’t be done on a last minute basis. We appreciate your understanding.
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Q: How will the Registrar know which exams I want to take on laptop? What if I change my mind?
We will assume that students who are fully registered with ExamSoft are taking all Spring 2008 exams on their laptop unless we are otherwise notified. Please note you are responsible for verifying that your class information is correct. (A course confirmation was mailed to your local address at the conclusion of the spring add/drop period.)
Any JD student who changes their mind and decides to take one or more exams with standard bluebooks must notify our Registrar, Mary Jo Sullivan, by e-mail no later than 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 17, 2008 . Please indicate to which exam(s) this applies. LLM and exchange students should notify their graduate program office.
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Q: Can I still use my laptop for an exam if I qualify for exam relief or get permission to reschedule an exam?
We will attempt to accommodate students taking rescheduled exams in proctored exam rooms. We cannot guarantee proctors or technical support will be available to handle laptop issues for rescheduled exams.
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Q: When can I download my exams?
Registered students will receive an e-mail when your exam is available to download. You will have a seven day period in which you are able to download a particular exam file. You must download the exam file prior to exam day. Students who have not downloaded the exam file prior to their exam will have to hand-write the exam. The starting time of an exam will not be delayed, nor will the ending time be extended for any student.
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Q: How do I download my exams?
- Connect to the Internet.
- Double-click the "SofTest" icon on your Windows desktop. The "SofTest Launcher" window should appear.
- Click the "Download Exam Files" button.
- Enter your BU ID number (including the "U") and your ExamSoft password then Click "Next."
- If the Download Password screen appears, leave it blank and click "Next."
- Select an exam from the list and click "Download." If there is a second exam in the list, do the same. When you have downloaded your available exam file(s) click Close."
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Q: Will I need to plug in my laptop during the exam, or can I just rely on battery power?
Laptop users will be required to plug their computers into outlets and may not rely on battery power.
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Q: If I use a laptop for exams, will I be in the same exam room as those who are writing their exams?
In most instances, laptop users will be in a separate room, and must report to the exam room no later than 30 minutes before the scheduled time of the exam in order to perform the required set up. Software must be opened within 15 minutes prior to the start of the exam. If the software cannot be opened at least 15 minutes before the start of the exam, the student must hand-write the exam. The starting time of the exam will not be delayed, nor will the ending time be extended. The actual time you have to do the exam is the same as for others who are not using laptops for that exam. On occasion, laptop users and hand-writers will be assigned to the same exam room. (This is usually limited to smaller courses.) If so, the Registrar will provide ear plugs for the hand-writers.
Please note that because of space constraints, laptop users may be in exam rooms where more than one exam is being administered at the same time.
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Q: What if I have a problem with my laptop or the software during the exam?
Immediately inform the proctor, who will contact computer services staff. If any hardware/software problems occur during the exam, you must start hand-writing the exam. Standard bluebooks will be available in the exam room. In that case, the professor will be given the typed part of the exam plus the bluebook part. No additional time will be given to complete the exam even if there are problems during the exam with hardware/software. Generally, the experience at other law schools has been that most technical problems can be solved within a few minutes.
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Q: How is my exam answer printed out?
When you finish the exam, your answer file will automatically upload to a secure server once you connect to the internet. Authorized law school personnel will download your exam file and print out the exam. (It is impossible to print out the exam without specialized software that only authorized law school personnel will have.)
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Q: What if my computer crashes after the Registration Deadline?
Students who have fully registered with ExamSoft by the April 17 deadline may return to the website and re-download the software, if necessary. Students who experience computer problems after April 25 should notify the Registrar's Office of any difficulties. (Students who have already downloaded an exam file when their computer crashed will require an adjustment to their account before they can re-download the exam file.)