Run an exam in Safe Exam Browser

Safe Exam Browser is a free lockdown browser for exams. When you deliver a Cesura activity through it, learners must run the activity inside Safe Exam Browser, which blocks other apps and websites for the length of the exam. Cesura refuses any run that does not come from Safe Exam Browser with that activity's settings.

Use it for exam and screening activities. Cesura suggests it on those: "This is an exam activity. Consider Safe Exam Browser delivery."

What you'll need

• A space admin or owner role in the space. Other members see the setting but cannot change it: "Only space admins and owners can change delivery."
• A simulation activity. Safe Exam Browser delivery is available for simulation activities only.
• A space that does not use the LMS access level. Safe Exam Browser is not available for LMS activities or spaces.
• Safe Exam Browser on each learner's computer: version 3.3.2 or later on Windows, or 3.1 or later on macOS.

Turn on Safe Exam Browser delivery

1. Open the space and open the activity in the editor.
2. Go to the Link tab. The Delivery card is at the top.
3. Select Safe Exam Browser only.
4. Check Resources learners can open. It lists the reference websites set on the simulation's template. These are the only outside sites learners can reach inside Safe Exam Browser. To change them, click Edit in template; see Reference resources: let learners open approved websites during a run.
5. Save the activity.

You can also switch delivery from the Share activity dialog. Its Delivery card applies the change at once.

Changes take up to 30 seconds to apply. Learners already inside Safe Exam Browser must reopen the activity link after you save. Cesura reminds you: "Learners already inside Safe Exam Browser must reopen the link after you save."

Share the exam with learners

With Safe Exam Browser delivery on, the link panel shows a Safe Exam Browser link instead of the regular participant link, with the reminder "Learners need Safe Exam Browser 3.3.2 or later on Windows, or 3.1 or later on macOS."

• Share the Safe Exam Browser link the same way you share any activity link, by email, chat, or QR code.
• Or share the settings file. Click Download .seb file and give the file to learners. Opening it starts Safe Exam Browser on the activity. If the button is unavailable, save the activity first.

Embedding and SCORM export are turned off for an activity delivered through Safe Exam Browser. Learners must open it from its Safe Exam Browser link.

What learners see

1. Outside Safe Exam Browser, the link opens a page titled Open this activity in Safe Exam Browser. It has an Open in Safe Exam Browser button, and a Download Safe Exam Browser link for learners who haven't installed it.
2. Inside Safe Exam Browser, the activity runs as usual. In an invite-only space, learners don't need to enter the invite again.
3. During the run, a Resources menu opens the approved reference websites, if the template has any. Each one opens in its own window.
4. At the end, the last report page has a Finish and close Safe Exam Browser button.

If you change the activity's exam settings while a learner is inside Safe Exam Browser, they see "This activity's exam settings changed. Close Safe Exam Browser and open the activity link again."

You read results in Cesura as usual. Reports do not require Safe Exam Browser.

Limitations

• No LMS delivery. Safe Exam Browser is not available for LMS activities or spaces, and SCORM export and embedding are off while it is on.
• Sign-in spaces. In a space that requires sign-in, a sign-in link emailed to the learner opens in their regular browser, not in Safe Exam Browser, and signing in inside Safe Exam Browser can fail. Anonymous access works best for Safe Exam Browser exams.
• Each launch is a new participant. For learners who don't sign in, relaunching Safe Exam Browser starts a new anonymous identity. Attempt limits reset, and a run that crashed cannot be resumed.
• Activities in order. In a space that requires activities in order, learners inside Safe Exam Browser start as new participants with no completed activities. Cesura warns you when this applies.
• Voice runs. The Resources menu cannot be reached during voice runs.
• Closed-book exams. Resources belong to the template, so every activity that uses it shows them. For a closed-book exam, use a copy of the template with no resources.
• Voice settings. If the template's voice settings change after you saved the activity, Cesura shows "The template's voice settings changed since this activity was saved. Save the activity to update Safe Exam Browser." Save the activity again.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely cause and fix
Safe Exam Browser only is unavailable	The space uses the LMS access level, or you are not a space admin or owner, or the activity is not a simulation.
Learners see Open this activity in Safe Exam Browser	They opened the link in a regular browser. They must click Open in Safe Exam Browser, or install Safe Exam Browser first.
A learner is refused inside Safe Exam Browser	Check their Safe Exam Browser version: 3.3.2 or later on Windows, 3.1 or later on macOS. If you changed the settings, ask them to close Safe Exam Browser and open the link again.
Download .seb file is unavailable	Save the activity first.

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