Taking an Exam
Instructions for taking an exam on CTSO Central.
Overview
If you've been invited to take an exam for your CTSO's competition, you'll need to follow these steps to log in and begin your exam.
Prerequisites
To take an exam, you'll need an access key provided by your proctor or test administrator. CTSO Central exams are supported on the following devices:
- Windows 10 or 11
- macOS Sonoma or later
- ChromeOS
If your test administrator has configured the exam to require the Secure Browser, you'll need to use the Secure Browser client to take your exam. See the Secure Browser page for more information. Personal ChromeOS devices are not supported due to special configuration required - your school's IT department should review the instructions on the Secure Browser page for more information and configuration steps.
Instructions
- Log in to the Testing Portal at https://etesting.ctsocentral.com.
- Enter your access key and click "Start Exam".
- Confirm your information on the next screen and click "Information is Correct". If any of the information is incorrect, stop and contact your test administrator.
- If your exam has been configured to require the Secure Browser, you'll be prompted to download, or for ChromeOS devices, you'll be directed to launch the Secure Browser client. Follow the instructions provided to download and launch the Secure Browser. For more information, see the Secure Browser page.
- If configured, your browser will scan for any prohibited extensions. If there are any found, you'll need to remove them and click "Continue".
If you try to re-enable an extension that is prohibited during your exam, your exam will automatically lock, and a proctor will be notified. The proctor will then need to manually unlock your exam.
- If configured, you may be prompted to accept a test agreement. Review the agreement, sign your name, and click "Accept".
- Review the test information and instructions. When you are ready to begin, click "Begin Exam".
Each question will be displayed one-at-a-time in the exam window. You can navigate between questions using the "Next" and "Previous" buttons. You'll also see a test navigator on the left side with each question and its status. You can click on a question number to navigate directly to it.
- Answered — filled blue cell (you have saved a response)
- Unanswered — muted gray cell (no response yet)
- Current — blue ring around the question you are on
- Flagged — yellow/warning cell (marked for review; you can flag answered or unanswered questions)
Your test answers will periodically save automatically, and in the event network connectivity is lost, your answers will be automatically saved when connectivity is restored. You can see the status of your connection in the top right corner of the exam header:
- Online — green; your network connection is stable and answers are saving.
- Reconnecting — amber/pulsing; your network connection is unstable and answers are saving locally.
- Offline — red; you are disconnected and answers are saving locally.
As you are testing, you can flag a question if you'd like an easy reminder to return to it later. Click the Flag button at the top of the question to flag it. When flagged, the button looks like Flagged. Click it again to unflag. Flagged questions are also shown in yellow in the test navigator.
If your test administrator has configured your exam for special accomodations or extended time, those will be pre-set in your exam for you. With the exception of extended time, you can edit accessibility options by clicking the Accessibility button in the top right corner of the exam window. You can configure the following options at any time during your exam:
- Text Size
- Contrast
- Theme (Light Mode/Dark Mode)
- Reduce Motion (minimizes animations and transitions)
- Readable Font (legible font for screen reading with wider spacing)
- Underline links for easy identification
- Read Aloud (shows controls to hear the question read aloud)
- Keyboard Shortcuts (allows you to navigate the exam by keyboard)
Your test administrator may also enable the use of a calculator during the exam. If so, you'll see the Calculator icon in the top right corner of the exam window. You can click the calculator icon to open the calculator. The calculator can be moved around the screen, minimized, or closed.
Move-Away Timer
Your test administrator may have configured a "move-away" timer for your exam. This is the amount of time you can be away from your exam window before it is automatically submitted. If configured, you will see a Focus Lost screen like the example shown here. The timer counts down from when you left the exam window. Click Return to exam (or press any key) to dismiss it and continue. If the timer reaches 0, your exam will be automatically submitted, and your proctor will need to manually unlock or reset your exam.
Focus Lost
You have navigated away from the exam. Please return immediately to continue.
Exam will be auto-submitted in
seconds
Click anywhere or press any key to return
Test Locked
Your test administrator or proctor has the ability to remotely lock your exam session. They may do this for various reasons, such as to prevent cheating or to allow you to take a break. If your exam is locked, you will see a Session Locked by Proctor screen like the example shown here. Wait for your proctor to unlock your exam before you can continue. While your test is locked, you will not be able to access the exam window or questions, and your timer will be automatically paused.
Session Locked by Proctor
A proctor has temporarily locked your session. Please wait for the proctor to unlock your session.
Your progress has been saved and your timer is paused.
Test Terminated
A proctor can also permanently end your exam session. If that happens, you will see an Exam Ended by Proctor screen like the example shown here. Your answers up to that point have been submitted, and you cannot continue the exam.
Contact your proctor or event coordinator if you have questions, and reference the session code shown on the screen when seeking assistance. Your proctor will be able to provide you with a new access key to continue the exam, if permitted by your test administrator.
CTSO Central cannot provide support for an exam that was terminated by a proctor. Your test administrator or proctor has the sole authority to unlock or reset your exam. Please review your test administrator's policies and procedures for more information.
Exam Ended by Proctor
Your answers up to this point have been submitted.
- Your exam session has been recorded
- Contact the proctor or event coordinator if you have questions
- Reference your session code when seeking assistance
Submitting Your Exam
When you are ready to submit your exam, click the Submit Exam button in the left corner beneath the Questions navigator. A confirmation dialog appears (example shown here) with how many questions you have answered, any that are flagged, and how many are unanswered. Check the confirmation box, then click Submit Exam.
Once submitted, exam answers cannot be changed.
Submit Exam?
Please review your answers before submitting. Once submitted, you cannot make changes.
Answered
17 / 20
Unanswered
2
After a successful submit, you see an Exam Submitted confirmation like the example shown here. At this point, you've successfully completed and submitted your exam. Keep your session code if you need to ask your proctor or event coordinator about the exam later. In many competitions, scores are not shown immediately; results are released later according to your test administrator's process.
Exam Submitted
Your answers have been saved and submitted!
- Your answers have been saved and submitted!
- Your results will be available at a later date.
- Contact your proctor, event coordinator, or instructor for more information about this testing session.
- Your session code is your unique identifier for questions about this exam.
Your exam will also be automatically submitted if your time expires, if a proctor has manually terminated your exam, or, if configured, you have exceeded the allowed "move-away" time.
Related
Learn about CTSO Central's Secure Testing System for browser-isolated exam delivery.
Deploy and use the Secure Browser client.
Monitor active test sessions and respond to security alerts.
Create exams, add questions, and configure security settings.
View exam results for your conference's competitive events.