Unanticipated Interruption of Testing Policy

  • Responsible: Office of Educational Affairs, Senior Associate and Associate Deans
  • Audience: Students, Faculty, Staff
  • Approved by:  CCIA  Approval Date: 3/2/16
  • Approved by:  College of Medicine Executive Committee Approval Date: 6/8/2016
  • Revision history: 11/6/2026

Policy

The University of Illinois College of Medicine recognizes an obligation to establish standardized procedures to address unanticipated interruptions in examinations or assessments (e.g. tornado, fire alarm, network outage, or power failure) that minimize impact on student performance and exam/testing integrity.

Procedure

Group Exam Interruption Procedure

1. Response

In the event of an unexpected interruption, ensure the safety of all students and staff. If evacuation is deemed necessary, follow the site’s established emergency procedures.

The lead proctor or exam administrator must record the exact time of the interruption, preferably on the board or another visible location.

2. Evacuation

If evacuation is necessary:

  • Announce where students are going and not to discuss the exam
  • Leave all testing materials at student stations.
  • Proceed to the designated emergency assembly area.
  • Provide adequate supervision to prevent students from being left alone and to ensure they do not discuss the exam.
    • For Phase 1 exams, promptly notify the appropriate Dean and the Educational Affairs Assessment Team of any interruptions.
    • For NBME exams, take the following additional steps:
      • Instruct students to close the exam browser using Ctrl + Shift + Q or shut down the device. This preserves their remaining test time.
      • On the Chief Proctor workstation, click Log Out (do not select “End Exam”, as this finalizes the exam and prevents resumption).
      • Once all personnel are evacuated, contact the NBME immediately.
      • Instruct students to remain with their assigned proctor and not engage in any conversation about the exam.

3. Decision on Continuation

The decision to resume or terminate the exam should be made by the exam administrator, in consultation with relevant College Deans and IT support, based on the following:

  • Overall safety and security of the site.
  • Estimated duration of the disruption.
  • Any psychological impact on students due to the event (e.g., traumatic incident).
  • Whether all exam locations were impacted or if alternative rooms are available.
  • Risk or evidence of unauthorized communication or collaboration among students during the disruption.

4. Minor Disruptions (No Evacuation, <1 Hour)

If the disruption is less than one hour and does not require evacuation:

  • Students should remain quietly in the testing room or another designated area under supervision.
  • Students must be instructed not to discuss any part of the exam, even briefly. Any communication may constitute academic misconduct, subject to disciplinary action under the university’s academic integrity policies.
  • Once the issue is resolved, the exam should resume with the remaining time preserved.
    • Example: A two-hour exam interrupted after 15 minutes resumes with 1 hour and 45 minutes remaining.

5. Extended Disruptions (>1 Hour or requiring evacuation)

If the interruption exceeds one hour:

  • The exam may resume if there are no safety concerns.
  • Alternatively, the exam may be terminated and rescheduled, based on circumstances and administrative judgment.

6. Exam Termination and Rescheduling

  • If an exam is terminated:
    • An alternate testing date will be scheduled by the college as soon as reasonably possible.
    • Students will only have one exam score recorded.
      • If the original exam is resumed and completed, that score will stand.
      • At the discretion of the college administration, students may be offered the opportunity to be granted full credit for a partially completed exam.
  • If an exam is terminated and rescheduled, only the rescheduled exam will be counted. All examination materials from the terminated session will be considered void, with all exam results negated.

 

Isolated Incident Exam Procedure

1. Response

  • If a student encounters a technical issue during an examination (e.g., computer malfunction, software failure), they must immediately notify the proctor. Failure to notify the proctor makes the student ineligible for an appeal.
  • The proctor will document the incident, including the nature of the issue and the time it occurred.
  • If the technical issue is promptly resolved, the student may continue with the examination. Should the issue remain unresolved, or if the student is unable to proceed, they will be escorted from the examination room. The student will then be provided with the relevant examination policies and procedures for addressing the incident.
  • In the event an exam is voided, the college will determine the date for the makeup exam. A voided exam is classified as a makeup exam.

2. Post-Examination Procedures

2.1. Exam Appeal (Pre-MPL Release and/or during the exam)

  • Students who believe that a technical incident adversely affected their performance may request to void their attempt at the exam.
    • Deadlines:
      • Phase 1 – Block Exams: The appeal must be submitted via email to the appropriate Phase Dean before the release of the Minimum Passing Level (MPL). Once submitted, the appeal cannot be withdrawn. Submit initial appeal documentation within 24 hours of the completion of the exam. Makeup exams are not eligible for exam appeals due to MPL being known.
      • NBME and Phase 2 Exams: The appeal must be submitted via email to the appropriate Phase Dean before the release of the student’s score. Submit initial appeal documentation within 24 hours of the completion of the exam.
  • The Dean will determine whether the technical appeal is valid. If granted, the student’s score for the affected exam will be omitted from their record, and a makeup exam will be scheduled for the next available exam date.

2.2. Informal Grievance (Post-MPL Release)

  • Students who did not submit an appeal within 24 hours of the completion of the exam may file an informal grievance.
    • Grievance must be submitted through the informal grievance process here
    • The Dean will request supporting documentation from the Testing Coordinator.
  • The Dean will determine whether the grievance is valid. If granted, the student’s score for the affected exam will be omitted from their record, and a makeup exam will be scheduled for the next available exam date.

3. General Guidelines

  • Students are expected to maintain professionalism during examinations. Disruptive behavior will be documented in the incident report.
  • All incidents and decisions related to technical issues during examinations will be documented and retained by the testing administrator.
  • The outcome of an appeal may result in a removal of exam attempt score, rescheduling of the examination, and/or other appropriate actions as determined by the Phase Dean.
  • If an exam is terminated by the student and approved to be rescheduled by a Dean, only the rescheduled makeup exam will be counted. All examination materials from the terminated session will be considered void, with all exam results negated.
    • Students who are unable to attend the next available makeup exam must schedule a meeting with the Phase Dean to determine an appropriate alternative testing makeup exam date.

Student Illness During an Exam Procedure

1. Immediate Response During the Exam

  • If a student becomes ill during an exam, they should immediately notify the nearest proctor or exam administrator.
    • The proctor should:
      • Assess the situation quickly.
      • Escort the student to a designated area if they are able to walk.
      • Call emergency medical services if the student requires urgent care or is unable to move safely.
        • Inform the assessment administrator and the relevant Phase Dean as soon as possible.
        • The student will be given the option to either continue with the exam or void it. If the student chooses to void the exam, they must provide documentation from a healthcare provider to validate the void. Upon approval, the voided exam will not count as an attempt, and the student will be granted a new first attempt. The student will be required to take the makeup exam at the next scheduled exam session.

2. Documentation

  • The time the student ended the exam and or left the exam should be documented.
  • The nature of the illness, as described by the student or observed by the proctor (without speculation about diagnosis), should be recorded in an incident report.
    • The report should also note:
      • Actions taken by staff,
      • Whether the student returned to complete the exam, and
      • Any disruptions to other students.
  • Students must follow the excused absence procedure if excused from the exam.

3. Exam Continuation Options

  • If the student recovers quickly and is able to return within a reasonable timeframe, they may be permitted to continue the exam at the discretion of the chief proctor.
  • The remaining exam time will be calculated based on when the student left and returned.
    • Please note that NBME exam time lost cannot be added back. The student/or proctor must Control+Shift+Q or shut down the computer to pause the time.
  • If the student is unable to resume the exam, it will be considered incomplete and handled according to the makeup exam policy. If an exam is terminated due to illness, only the rescheduled exam will be counted. All examination materials from the terminated session will be considered void, with all exam results negated.

Note:

Violations of exam protocol during any disruption—particularly unauthorized communication—may be considered violations of the College’s Statement on Professional Behavior and the UIC Student Disciplinary Code and may result in disciplinary action.