How To Get Securexam To Work Properly

If you have not installed Securexam yet please go here, click on "Using Computers For Exams," log on using your ID and password, scroll a third of the way down the screen and select the "Download Securexam Student Software" link.

For those who have used the Securexam software in the past, or those new to the experience, you know Securexam is a temperamental piece of software. Everyone has heard or seen the horror stories of it locking up at either the wrong time or simply refusing to shut down properly. The following tips helped many students ensure that Securexam behaved properly or something close to properly.

1. Do not run any other programs at the same time as you are taking the exam.
2. Disable any programs in your System Tray. Right click on the icons next to your clock in the lower right corner of your screen. A menu should appear for every program. Select Close, Exit, or such similar command to turn off those programs. This was the biggest difference in performance that many of us noticed!
3. IT recommends you disable your screensaver. I have never done that, but it would not hurt.
4. I usually disconnect my network cable just to make sure network traffic does not try to access my laptop while Securexam is running.

Before you take your final please do a test run with Securexam. Make sure it opens up, that you can type, and most importantly that it will SAVE your work to the floppy disk, CD-ROM, or USB key that you are using. Once the file is saved you can not access it, but you can tell the saved file exists via Windows Explorer. I would hate to lose an exam simply because I failed to double check the media I selected would actually save the file.

For those unfamiliar with Securexam it will appear like a very depowered version of Microsoft Word. Most of the features you are used to will not appear. Forget about tabbing between windows as the Securexam window is the only thing you can access.

Good luck!