Faculty Testing Help | Testing Center | BYU-Idaho

# Faculty Testing Help

Information about testing center scheduling, testing center policies, and help to achieve the best test results.

For assistance, please call or email.

Phone: 208-496-1761 
Email: testcenter@byui.edu

All exams are scheduled through the Testing Assessment Records System, or TARS. Tests must be scheduled at least 2 full business days before the test is to open and scheduling opens 30 days before the first day of each semester. Please click the link below to get started. 
 
web.byui.edu/tars

The Testing Center administers 4 types of tests: 

1. ****Bubble Sheet**** - The student is given a booklet that they are not allowed to write on, and a bubble sheet that they fill in to submit their answers. This is recommended for multiple-choice questions.
2. ****Write-On**** - The student is given a booklet that they fill out to submit their answers. This is recommended for exams that require showing their work or include essay questions.
3. ****Write-On/Bubble Sheet**** - The student is given a booklet and a bubble sheet, they fill both out to submit their answers. This is best for exams that contain both multiple-choice and essay questions.
4. ****Computer**** - The student is given a monitored Testing Center computer to complete an exam administered through Canvas or another site (such as McGrawHill Connect). This is recommended for exams that require applications such as Excel or Mathematica.

1. ****Scheduling Exams**** - Exams must be scheduled in advance and are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Final exam slots often fill up very early in each semester. **Scheduling opens 30 days before the first day of each semester.**
2. ****Submit All Tests at Least Two Full Business Days in Advance**** - Exams must be submitted at least two full weekdays, at 12:00 pm, before the exam opens. 
 1. Example 1: Submit by 12:00 pm on Wednesday for a test opening on Monday
 2. Example 2: Submit by 12:00 pm on Monday for a test opening on Thursday
3. ****Final Exams Must Stay Open Through the End of Finals**** - All final exams must remain available through the last day of the official finals period.

****Only one Exam per Section is Permitted at a time during Finals**** - This is due to very high demand during finals.

Yes, if a student needs to take a test before or after the normal test dates, you can go to your test in TARS to override the student's test dates.

If TARS isn't allowing you to schedule your exam on certain dates, it's likely that one or more of those dates have already reached capacity. Please give us a call- we're happy to help you explore available options.

When you schedule your exams in TARS, you will select what you would like to happen to your paper exams when the test dates close. 

- ****Shred Answer Sheets****: The Testing Center will shred all filled bubble sheets, but keep booklets containing test questions. Faculty usually select this option and Shred Tests together.
- ****Shred Tests****: The Testing Center will shred all test booklets that contain test questions. Faculty usually select this option and Shred Answer Sheets together. These options are best for bubble sheet exams.
- ****I will pick up exams****: We will save exams for the instructor to come to the Testing Center to pick them up. We ask that you pick up exams within 1 business day of the test date closing.
- ****Deliver exams****: We will deliver exams to your office manager the day after the test date closes. Please note we do not deliver exams during the finals season each semester.

Computer exam scores will be updated to your students when you choose to release results.

It depends. If your test is administered directly through Canvas, you do not need a password. Instead, you will need to enable an IP Address Filter in your test settings. You can find the IP Address that needs to be entered in TARS. 
 
If your test is administered outside of Canvas, such as McGrawHill Connect or another site, you will need a password enabled, which will need to be copied into TARS.

Both the Testing Center and Proctorio are valuable resources for you and your students. The Testing Center provides a quiet, structured environment with in-person proctors, making it ideal for paper-based, campus exams. Proctorio offers flexibility for remote students and works well for fully online exams. Both options have advantages- ultimately, no system is foolproof when it comes to preventing integrity issues.