BYOD Exam Overview
Implementing a BYOD Exam
Organizing the Exam Session
Frequently Asked Questions
BYOD Exam Overview
A BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) exam is a new feature introduced in the TUNI EXAM system of the Tampere Universities community starting October 1, 2025. It allows examiners to organize exams in TUNI EXAM that students complete simultaneously in a supervised session using their own laptops in a campus classroom. Here’s a more detailed description:
For what? A supervised exam session, either (1) an unrestricted BYOD exam or (2) a restricted BYOD exam.
When? The date and time of the exam session are predefined. All participants take the exam simultaneously.
Where? The exam session is held in a campus classroom suitable for BYOD exams.
For whom? Up to 100 participants per session.
With what? Students use their own laptops.
Who? The examiner is responsible for organizing and supervising the exam session.
1) Unrestricted BYOD Exam
An unrestricted BYOD exam allows students to freely use software, digital materials, and online services during the exam.
- Device: Primarily the student’s own laptop, but other smart devices may also be used.
- Supervision: Optional. Supervision is arranged based on needs.
- Internet, software, and attachments: Yes. These are possible during the exam. These cannot be technically restricted during the exam.
- Additional info: Physical materials and aids may also be used.
2) Restricted BYOD Exam
A restricted BYOD exam is the digital equivalent of a supervised paper exam. Instead of pen and paper, students use their own laptops.
- Device: Student’s own laptop. Windows is recommended, but newer macOS versions are also supported.
- Supervision: Required. The exam is taken using Safe Exam Browser (SEB) browser, but additional supervision is needed.
- Internet, software, and attachments: Not possible. The exam is taken in full-screen mode via SEB, giving access only to TUNI EXAM. SEB prevents access to other websites, software or files on the computer.
- Additional info: Students must install SEB in advance to their device. Physical materials and aids may be used. The teacher adds an exam session password and a SEB exam quit password:
- The restricted BYOD exam is password-protected. The password is given at the start of the session to students to prevent access outside the classroom.
- NB! The exam session password is different from the SEB exam quit password. If SEB freezes, you can enter the SEB exam quit password to the student’s device. This closes SEB, and the student can restart it from the start-up file. SEB exam quit password must not be given to the students.
Benefits of BYOD Exams
- TUNI EXAM is familiar to students and can now be used for simultaneous exam sessions.
- Exams can be integrated into teaching sessions, such as midterms or weekly assignments.
- All versatile and user-friendly TUNI EXAM features are available, including various question types and automatic saving during the exam.
- BYOD exams offer solutions for needs not supported in electronic exam rooms, such as writing/drawing on paper, using specific software or online services, or accessing course literature.
- The system is reliable and scalable. Currently, up to 100 simultaneous participants are supported, with a goal of 500 in the future.
Implementing a BYOD Exam
Access Rights
The examiner needs BYOD exam access rights in TUNI EXAM. These can be requested at id.tuni.fi starting October 1, 2025. The access right is named Electronic Exam Service (TUNI-EXAM) BYOD Examiner, and can be found using the keyword “omakonetentti”.
Creating a BYOD Exam
Log in to TUNI EXAM with your TUNI credentials. Creating a BYOD exam is similar to creating a EXAM room exam. Choose either Restricted BYOD (SEB) or Unrestricted BYOD as the exam mode. The main differences are in the Publishing Settings page, where one or more exam sessions are added, and in the exam duration, which can be freely defined. Detailed instructions are available on:
BYOD Exam Instructions: EXAM – BYOD Exam – Eduuni-wiki
Teacher’s Guide: EXAM – Teacher’s Guide – Eduuni-wiki
Organizing the Exam Session
The examiner is responsible for organizing and supervising the exam session.
Room Reservation
If the exam is not held during a scheduled lecture etc., a classroom must be reserved, well in advance.
- TAMK: Reserve a classroom in Peppi. Ensure enough power sockets. Instructions for making a reservation are available in Metropolia Wiki.
- Tampere University: Reserve a classroom in Resource Booker. Recommended rooms can be found using the search term Seating with power sockets. Other rooms may also be suitable. General instructions are available on the intranet page Booking non-teaching facilities.
Communication
Inform students about registration, exam session practices, and rules.
- How to register?
Typically follows the same process as other electronic exams. Students register via Sisu or Peppi, then book a seat in TUNI EXAM.
The direct booking link is found on the Publishing Settings tab and can be shared via email or Moodle. - Where to provide instructions and rules?
Write them in the Exam Session Instructions in TUNI EXAM.
Alternatively, publish them in Moodle and refer to them in the exam instructions. - What to bring?
Inform students in advance: for example, laptop, student ID or photo ID, and phone (for possible two-factor authentication). - What is allowed?
Inform students in advance: laptop charger, mouse, water bottle. - Other practical instructions:
- Is it an unrestricted or restricted BYOD exam?
- Arrival instructions
- Is a test exam available?
- Retake or grade improvement options. You can organize the retakes as a separate exam sessions or as an EXAM room exam.
- If the exam is a restricted BYOD exam, students must download and install SEB beforehand to their devices. SEB is available from safeexambrowser.org
Exam Session and Supervision
Allow sufficient time before the exam session begins for setup and device readiness. Instruct students to arrive, for example, 30 minutes before the scheduled start. Go through the key instructions and rules before the exam begins. Be prepared to offer technical support (e.g., login and starting the exam). Real-time technical support from the IT Helpdesk is not available during the session.
During the exam session, supervision ensures that students follow the rules set and communicated in advance by the examiner. Supervision is an active process:
- Supervisors walk around behind students and observe their behavior.
- Only permitted items are allowed on the student’s desk during the exam.
- The student’s identity is verified when they are ready to leave the session.
- At the same time, it is confirmed that the student has submitted their exam in TUNI EXAM, ensuring the exam cannot be continued outside the room. Any draft paper is also collected.
- If a student is found not following instructions or suspected of violating academic integrity, it is recommended to follow the Tampere University’s Regulations on assessment of studies (§16 Violations and disturbances during a centralised invigilated exam) or TAMK’s Degree Regulations (§32 Fraud).
- If there are multiple supervisors, it is advisable to provide them with written instructions to ensure equal treatment of students. Additionally, an exam session log should be used to record significant events, such as technical issues, interruptions, or suspected misconduct.
Handling Issues
The risk of technical problems is slightly higher in BYOD exams compared to exams taken in EXAM rooms. It is recommended to plan in advance how to respond if a student experiences a technical issue that prevents or interrupts the exam. Consider scheduling a retake exam session in advance. Alternatively, the retake can be arranged as a personal exam in a EXAM room.
Examples of common issues and solutions:
- Student cannot connect to Eduroam Wi-Fi: Use the TUNI-GUEST wireless network intended for visitors. It can be activated for 12 hours. Instructions are available on the intranet page Wireless visitor network.
- Student closes the browser during an unrestricted BYOD exam: The student can restart the browser and log back into TUNI EXAM to continue the exam.
- In a restricted BYOD exam using Safe Exam Browser (SEB), the student selects the wrong institution at login or SEB freezes: Click the power icon in the right bottom corner in SEB and enter the SEB exam quit password (NB! The invigilator or teacher must enter the password, it cannot be told to students). SEB closes and the student can restart SEB and the exam by double-clicking the seb start-up file, as in the beginning of the exam.
- If the computer is completely frozen: The student should force shutdown by holding the power button, then restart the computer and the exam.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I download the Safe Exam Browser (SEB)?
Staff at Tampere University and TAMK have the opportunity to test Safe Exam Browser. Staff can download Safe Exam Browser from the Software Center. Students must download Safe Exam Browser before the exam session from the Safe Exam Browser website.
Are simultaneous exam sessions limited?
The maximum number of participants in a single exam session is 100 students. This applies to BYOD exams organised in TUNI EXAM. The number of simultaneous exam sessions is also limited as follows: If an exam session is organised for 100 participants, no other simultaneous exam sessions can be held.
Can I organize a BYOD exam in a computer classroom?
The BYOD exam implementation project has defined that the exam is taken on the student’s own computer. General computer labs are reserved for other teaching purposes, and using them for BYOD exams may cause capacity issues. If using a computer lab is necessary for accessibility reasons, an exception can be considered on a case-by-case basis.