Exams
Exams are administered by the Law School Office of the Registrar.
- General Guidelines
- Laptop Exam Guidelines
- Hand Writing Exam Guidelines
- Take Home Exam Guidelines
- Scheduling Special Examinations
- Questions
I. General Guidelines
1. You need a computer generated exam identification number (Exam ID) for each exam. To obtain your list of Exam ID numbers:
If you have any trouble accessing your Exam ID numbers, please contact us via e-mail at lawrecords@umich.edu or stop by the Law School Registrar's Office, 300 Hutchins Hall, as soon as possible.
2. Please refer to the Summer 2008 Final Exam Schedule for dates, times, and rooms for your exams. The Final Exam Schedule is posted in the lobby of the Law School Registrar's Office, 300 Hutchins Hall; on the Hutchins Hall first-floor bulletin board across from the elevator; available via the touch-screen kiosks; and at the "Exams" link on the Law School Registrar's Office Web site.
3. Report to the exam room twenty-five (25) minutes prior to the exam start time.
4. If you arrive after the exam has started, do not enter the exam room. Instead, go directly to the Law School Registrar's Office, 300 Hutchins Hall, to see David Baum, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs. Students who arrive in the exam room after the proctor begins to announce laptop exam instructions (approximately 10 minutes prior to the scheduled exam start time) are considered LATE and will be sent to the Law School Registrar's Office.
5. If laptop usage is allowed at an exam, only one laptop per student is allowed in the exam room.
6. The proctor will provide exam procedure information. Pay special attention to these announcements!
7. Law school exams are anonymous, and self-identification of any kind is not permitted. NEVER put your name, class level or personal comments (which might identify you) anywhere on your exam materials.
8. Sit every other seat in the exam room.
9. Internet access is normally not permitted during any exam (unless it is specifically stated as allowed). At exams that prohibit Internet access, students are on their honor to not access information on the Internet during the exam.
10. Do not converse in the exam room. Electronic communication between students is strictly prohibited at all exams.
11. Students must turn-off the ringers/buzzers on all watches, cell phones, Palm Pilots, and pagers. Cell phones, Palm Pilots, and pagers must be stored out of sight. Cell phones are NOT allowed to be used as calculators at exams that allow calculators.
12. Walkman, radios, and other types of tape-recording/playing equipment are not permitted in exam rooms. Students may not listen to music during the exam.
13. Noise-cancelling head phones are not permitted in exam rooms. Ear plugs will be available from the proctor.
14. Briefcases, knapsacks, backpacks, and purses must be kept on the floor, at the owner's feet, during the exam.
15. Any materials taken into an exam room must remain in clear sight of the proctor.
16. Your exam will be given to you face down; do not turn over the exam until you are told to do so by the proctor.
17. When the exam requires you to complete a computer scantron sheet, drop the "E" (this is the only time you will do this) and write your Exam ID number in the lower left section under "UM ID Number" and blacken the appropriate circles.
18. Report immediately to the proctor if you become ill during the exam. Do not wait until the exam is over.
19. Some Law School clocks do not function properly. Rely on the proctors as the official timekeepers.
20. You may leave the exam room without permission from the proctor. Do not take the exam or any materials with you.
21. Report problems (general or personal) to the proctor.
22. Report cheating or other significant complaints to the proctor.
23. At the approach of the end of the exam, a thirty (30) minute warning and a ten (10) minute warning will be announced.
24. When the "STOP TYPING or STOP WRITING" command is given, you must stop typing or writing immediately! Failure to stop upon the final command will result in charges of exam procedure violation and the extra time will be reported to the professor.
25. At the end of the exam, if you still need to write your exam information on the flash drive bag label, write your exam information on the bluebooks, number the bluebooks, write your exam identification number (Exam ID) on exam questions, etc., you must do so in front of the proctor when you hand in your exam materials.
26. You must form a single line to turn in your exam materials to the proctor.
27. Noise is distracting. Once you have handed your flash drive/bluebooks to the proctor, return to your seat, quietly collect your belongings and leave the exam room. Care should be taken not to slam doors or make noise when leaving the exam room. Do not loiter in the hallway to talk with fellow students. Clear the hallway as quickly as possible. Be considerate of fellow students who are still taking exams!
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II. Laptop Exam Guidelines
Laptop computers have become a very important tool for most law students. The vast majority of students use them to write answers to essay questions on in-class examinations. If you are not already comfortable typing on a keyboard, we recommend that you take steps to become so in order to give yourself the option of using a laptop for in-class essay examinations. If you choose not to use a laptop computer for examinations, you will be permitted to hand write your answers. Separate guidelines for hand writers appear below in section III. Hand Writing Exam Guidelines.
1. Students are responsible for providing their own equipment.
2. If you do not have a laptop or yours is broken and you wish to type your in-class essay exams, consider renting a laptop from Computer Alley (4395 Jackson Rd., 734.769.8230) or borrowing one from a friend. Rented or Borrowed Laptops: If you are renting or borrowing a laptop to take exams, please see an IT staff member to move all exams taken on that laptop to the network before returning the laptop to its owner or vendor.
3. The current version of the Electronic Bluebook (EBB) exam software must be installed on the laptop that you intend to use for in-class essay exams. Please see the EBB Web site under "EBB General Information" for technical and minimum system requirements for the Windows version of EBB, and "EBB Installation Instructions" for instructions to download, install, test, and configure EBB.
4. The current version of the Electronic Bluebook (EBB) exam software is v. 3.54.0015 (Windows) and v. 2.00.0021 (Mac) and they have been available since April 1, 2008. The version number can be found at the bottom of the Welcome screen in EBB.
5. Students MUST use the current version of EBB for Summer 2008 laptop exams; prior versions of EBB cannot be used.
6. The current version of the Electronic Bluebook (EBB) exam software is available from the EBB download and information Web site. The EBB Web site address is: http://cgi2.www.law.umich.edu/EBBTest/Home.aspx. The EBB Web site is the only site from which you can download the current version of the EBB software. Instructions for Downloading, Installing, Testing, and Configuring EBB are available on the EBB Web site, as well as EBB General Information, Important EBB FAQs, Laptop Exam Power Settings Profiles, EBB Safety Tips, and an EBB Checklist.
7. The Electronic Bluebook (EBB) program is available on CD or flash drive for students who are unable to download EBB through the Internet. Please bring your laptop to the Law School Registrar's Office, 300 Hutchins Hall, to sign out a CD or flash drive and load the program. You cannot remove this CD/flash drive from the lobby area of the Law School Registrar's Office.
8. Following ALL of the instructions on the EBB Web site under "EBB Installation Instructions" (including testing and configuring EBB) is strongly recommended for safe exam taking. The 7 steps for Downloading, Installing, Testing, and Configuring the Windows version of EBB are: (1) Download and Install EBB, (2) Test Blocked & Unblocked EBB, (3) Bookmark the Submit Exams Web site, (4) Configure Laptop Exam Power Plan Profile, (5) confirm English Language Settings, (6) Disable Dial-up Internet prompts, and (7) Remove Microsoft Works Suite Add-in for Microsoft Word. Please see the EBB Web site for detailed instructions for each step. Mac EBB users: Beyond downloading, installing and testing EBB, and bookmarking the Submit Exams Web site, you should disable the screen saver and sleep functions in OSX prior to taking an exam if you are using the Mac version of EBB.
9. There is not a specific EBB installation deadline, but we strongly urge you to update to the most current version of EBB and test EBB in both Blocked and Unblocked modes well before your first laptop exam so that the IT staff can assist you if you encounter problems. IT Help Desks are located in 200 Hutchins Hall, #6 and S-380B Law Library; walk-in hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-4:30 p.m.
10. Bring your AC plug-in cord. Do not rely on your battery!
11. Make sure your battery is fully charged, in case you need it as a back-up.
12. Please mute your speaker volume before the start of an exam.
13. Your laptop must have a USB port so that you can save your exam to a USB flash/pen drive [hereinafter "flash drive"].
14. NEW: One flash drive per exam period will be distributed in the exam room to each student. Students should use the same flash drive throughout the exam period. Receive a flash drive from the proctor at your first EBB laptop exam and return the flash drive to the proctor at your last EBB laptop exam for the exam period. Retain all of your exam files on the flash drive.
15. NEW: At midterms and early final exams that occur prior to the regular exam period, the proctor will distribute and collect flash drives at the same exam.
16. NEW: In the exam room, Windows EBB users and Mac EBB users will insert the flash drive into a USB port on their laptop at different times. Windows EBB users should insert the flash drive before opening EBB and Mac EBB users should insert the flash drive after exiting EBB.
17. NEW: At the student input screen in EBB, Windows EBB users and Mac EBB users will select different file-saving locations from the drop-down menu. Windows EBB users should select the drive-letter for the flash drive and Mac EBB users should select their hard drive.
18. Do not click the "Start Exam" button in EBB until the proctor gives this direction.
19. At the conclusion of the exam, please upload your exam file from the flash drive to the Submit Exams Web site prior to removing the flash drive.
20. NEW: Mac EBB users ONLY: Insert the flash drive after exiting EBB, copy the exam file from your hard drive to the flash drive, and upload the exam file to the Submit Exams Web site.
21. NEW: If this is your last EBB laptop exam for the exam period, the proctor will supply you with a labeled anti-static plastic bag in which you will place the flash drive; please hand-in the flash drive with your exam materials to the proctor.
22. Wireless cards are not required, but they are strongly recommended. Wireless cards are recommended so that your exam can be uploaded to the Submit Exams Web site and saved to the Law School network. Regardless of wireless connectivity, exams are saved to your hard drive automatically every 30 seconds during an exam, to the flash drive every 30 minutes, and to your hard drive and flash drive at the end of an exam. Without a wireless card, you will be unable to upload your exam file from your flash drive to the Submit Exams Web site at the end of the exam and your exam will not save to the Law School network.
| Electronic communication between students is strictly prohibited at all exams. |
Internet access is normally not permitted during any exam (unless it is specifically stated as allowed). At exams that prohibit Internet access, students are on their honor to not access information on the Internet during the exam.
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23. Wireless users: EBB should automatically take you to the Submit Exams Web site at the conclusion of the exam. Create a bookmark in your Web browser or place a link on your desktop to the Submit Exams Web site now for use in the event that EBB does not automatically redirect you to it: http://wg-inform.law.umich.edu/submitexams/home.aspx. After a laptop exam ends, prior to removing your flash drive, please upload your exam file from your flash drive to the Submit Exams Web site, EVEN IF you get a green screen which indicates that your exam saved to the Law School network. If necessary, reestablish a Network connection after the exam has ended so that you can complete this important step.
24. EBB runs in two distinct modes: Unblocked and Blocked. Unblocked means that you can access files on your laptop for research during the exam. Blocked means that you won't be able to access files on your laptop during the exam.
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If you have a wireless card, please turn it ON for both types of exams (Blocked AND Unblocked). |
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Law students with wireless cards should automatically be connected to the Law School wireless network upon laptop bootup but, if you are not automatically connected or if you are a non-Law student with a wireless card, please log in to the Law School wireless network (prior to starting EBB) so that the exam can be saved to the Law School network.
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25. Please consult the
Final Exam Schedule to find out what type of laptop usage is allowed, if any, for each of your exams. The
Final Exam Schedule will indicate whether an exam is "Laptop-Blocked," "Laptop-Unblocked," "NLA" (No Laptop Allowed) or "Laptop for Research Only."
26. The "EBB Installation Instructions" on the
EBB Web site include important laptop configuration instructions for safe exam taking. Configuring these settings is
very important to minimize the chance of your laptop freezing during an exam. Any settings that you change on your laptop subsequent to EBB installation and testing should be changed back prior to taking an exam using EBB.
27. Windows EBB users: Before taking a laptop exam, remember to
select the
"Laptop Exams" Power Plan Profile that you created during the EBB configuration process.
28. Mac EBB users: Before taking a laptop exam, remember to disable the screen saver and sleep functions in OSX.
29. What to Do in the Event of a Computer Problem at an Exam:
Students can use the EBB Recovery Feature. If your laptop crashes during the exam and EBB restarts, EBB will present you with the following message: "The last exam was not properly closed. Do you wish to make a recovery?" Click Yes. EBB should resume the exam.
In an effort to minimize the instances where students who intended to type their exam in EBB must resort to hand writing in bluebooks due to laptop failure at an exam, the Law School offers students the opportunity to type the remainder of their exam in EBB. Students may choose to continue hand writing their exam in bluebooks if they wish -- bluebooks will be available from the proctor at laptop exams in case of laptop failure.
Please note: It may still be necessary to continue hand writing the exam in bluebooks, but we will make our best effort to allow students to type the remainder of the exam in EBB.
a. Computer Problems PRIOR to the Start of the Exam:
If you receive a drive error message you should try a new flash drive (please obtain one from the proctor). If you still receive an error message, if EBB won't open, or if the laptop crashes prior to the start of the exam, you may elect to obtain a Computer-Problem Form from the proctor that you will take to the Registrar's Office for assistance. You should not leave the exam room with any paper exam materials. You should:
- return to the proctor any paper exam materials that you received;
- obtain a completed Computer-Problem Form from the proctor;
- collect your belongings (including laptop and flash drive) and report to the Registrar's Office (300 HH).
b. Computer Problems DURING the Exam:
LIMITATION: You only have the option to type the remainder of your exam in EBB until 30 minutes prior to the end of the exam. If computer problems occur when there are LESS THAN 30 minutes left in the exam, you must obtain bluebooks from the proctor and continue hand writing your exam (LawIT assistance will be provided after the exam has ended).
In order to be eligible for the opportunity to type the remainder of your exam in EBB, you MUST try the EBB Recovery Feature at least once. The EBB Recovery Feature allows students to restart their laptop, re-open EBB, and continue typing from where they left off. If the EBB Recovery Feature does not work (i.e., laptop will not restart, EBB will not re-open, OR the previously typed text does not reappear [YOUR WORK IS PROBABLY NOT LOST], you may elect to obtain a Computer-Problem Form from the proctor that you will take to the Registrar's Office for assistance. LawIT staff will recover and print the previously typed portion of the exam and best efforts will be made to provide you with the opportunity to type the remainder of your exam in EBB. You should not leave the exam room with any paper exam materials (a Registrar's Office staff member will retrieve them from the proctor). You should:
- return to the proctor any paper exam materials that you received;
- obtain a completed Computer-Problem Form from the proctor;
- collect your belongings (including laptop and flash drive) and report to the Registrar's Office (300 HH).
In the event of laptop failure, you may choose to continue hand writing in bluebooks instead of taking advantage of the opportunity to type the remainder of your exam in EBB. Bluebooks will be available from the proctor for this purpose. You may obtain bluebooks from the proctor, return to your seat, and continue hand writing your exam.
c. Computer Problems at the END of the Exam:
LawIT staff will be available to assist you in the exam room after the exam has ended.
Caution: There is no guarantee that your exam answers will always be recoverable in every situation -- this is true no matter what computer testing program you use. Any time you use a computer you take some risk of an error occurring that cannot be corrected regardless of the best efforts made.
30. EBB "Number of Essay Sections": Prior to the start of a laptop exam, the proctor will tell you the "number of essay sections." If the exam has more than one part (e.g., a multiple-choice part followed by an essay part), the "number of essay sections" refers to the number of EBB section tabs needed for the essay part of the exam. You must input this number when logging into a laptop exam. If the number is 1, your EBB screen will not have section tabs and you will be expected to place page breaks between your exam answers. If the number is 2 or higher, your EBB screen will have section tabs, and you will be directed to enter your answers in one of two ways: (1) one question per section tab (e.g., type answer to question 1 in "Section 1" tab, type answer to question 2 in "Section 2" tab, etc.); OR refer to exam copy for specific groupings of questions per section tab (e.g., type answer to question 1 in "Section 1" tab, type answers to questions 2, 3 & 4 in "Section 2" tab).
31. Students must use the assigned class number and their associated Exam ID number when logging into a laptop exam. The class number can be found on the Exam Schedule and will also be written on the board in the exam room. You have a different Exam ID for each exam and you must bring this "E" number with you to the exam.
32. You will receive further laptop exam instructions from the proctor and it is imperative that you follow every instruction when it is given. Do not start the exam until the proctor tells you to so do. Starting prematurely will result in charges of exam procedure violation and the extra time will be reported to the professor.
33. If you need to leave your seat for any reason, please be careful not to dislodge any cords in the room.
34. Please check your e-mail during the exam period! If there is a problem printing your exam, the Law School Registrar's Office will notify you the same day to bring in your laptop for exam recovery.
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III. Hand Writing Exam Guidelines
1. Bring your own unused bluebooks to write exams. Bluebooks must be 8-1/2" x 11" and can be purchased at any of the bookstores that sell textbooks. You should write on every other line and only on the front of each page unless instructed otherwise by the professor or proctor.
2. Do not write your name on the bluebooks. Write your assigned Exam ID number ("E" followed by 5 digits) on each bluebook.
3. If you use only one bluebook, number the cover "1 of 1." If you use more than one bluebook, number the cover of each bluebook in the pattern "1 of 4, 2 of 4, 3 of 4," etc.
4. If the professor requires the use of a pad of paper instead of bluebooks, a pad of paper will be provided. Do not bring your own pad of paper.
5. If the laptop exam takers are using the Unblocked EBB software, which allows them to access their notes during the exam, the hand writers may bring their laptops to an Unblocked exam to use for research only (i.e., accessing notes) -- this applies only to Unblocked exams, not Blocked exams. Please see the Final Exam Schedule to find out if a particular exam is "Laptop-Blocked," "Laptop-Unblocked," "NLA" (No Laptops Allowed), or "Laptops for Research Only."
6. At "Laptop-Unblocked" and "Laptops for Research Only" exams that prohibit Internet access, students are on their honor to not access information on the Internet during the exam.
7. Please arrive in the exam room 25 minutes prior to the scheduled exam start time. Report to the appropriate exam room (by alpha split) as listed on the Final Exam Schedule.
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IV. Take-Home Exams
1. Pick-up and return take-home exams from the exam proctor in the Law School Information and Distribution Center which is currently located on Sub-2 of the Law Library, but the Center is expected to return to the Reading Room in the Fall.
2. Take-home exam proctor hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
3. Bring picture identification to show the proctor when picking-up and returning take-home exams.
4. Do not use Electronic Bluebook software for take-home exams.
5. Please keep track of your take-home examination questions. If you do not, other students who have not yet taken the exam may inadvertently find them.
6. You must return the take-home exam questions AND two (2) copies of your exam answers to the exam proctor.
7. WARNING: Students who use laptops, word processors, desktop computers, etc., to write take-home exams do so at their own risk of mechanical failures. If you have a mechanical failure, contact David Baum, 734.764.0516, or Christine Gregory, 734.936.0776, as soon as possible.
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V. Scheduling Special Examinations
Please refer to the Final Exam Schedule for updated exam information. According to the Academic Regulations as listed in the Student Handbook, students are eligible to take a final exam at a time other than the scheduled time for reasons listed below. Arrangements for special exams may not be made by e-mail. Exams may be rescheduled for the following reasons:
- Two (2) exams scheduled at the same time
- Three (3) exams in consecutive exam periods (morning, afternoon, morning OR afternoon, morning, afternoon)
- Ten (10) credit hours of exams in a 48-hour period (students should interpret the "48-hour" period as meaning two consecutive calendar days during regular office hours, e.g. 8:00 a.m. Monday to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday)
Students should make an appointment to see Debby Hartranft or Jack Atkinson in the Law School Registrar's Office, 300 Hutchins Hall. These routine changes should be arranged during the last 3 weeks of classes and should be completed by the last day of classes.
- An illness or death in the family, illness of the student, or other compelling circumstances may merit a change in exam scheduling.
Please contact either:
David Baum, Assistant Dean for Student Affairs (Marilyn, Room 301, Hutchins Hall, 734.764.0516)
Christine Gregory, Assistant Dean for Student Services (Trudy, Room 307, Hutchins Hall, 734.936.0776)
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VI. Questions
If you have any questions please contact Debby Hartranft by phone at 734.647.7589 or by e-mail at dmhart@umich.edu.
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