Overview
This assessment reimagines the traditional final exam by giving students a two-week window to complete an online, invigilated chemistry exam at a time that suits them. By embedding flexibility and inclusivity into the design from the outset, the assessment removes scheduling barriers unrelated to learning while maintaining academic rigour. The approach empowers students to take ownership of their exam experience, supporting diverse cohorts including carers, shift workers, and regional learners without the need for individual accommodations.
Dr Vicky Barnett
Faculty of Science & Engineering
About my unit: Faculty of Science & Engineering | 350+ students | Hybrid | Individual work
Dr Vicky Barnett, Senior Lecturer in the School of Molecular and Life Sciences at Curtin University, shares how she redesigned the final exam for Introduction to Chemistry, a bridging unit for students without ATAR Chemistry, around flexibility and inclusivity. By shifting to an online, invigilated format with a two-week sitting window, Vicky has removed scheduling barriers while maintaining academic rigour, resulting in zero deferred assessments last semester.
Students complete their exam through Respondus Lockdown Browser, which draws from large question pools so no two papers are identical. Rather than sitting at a fixed time and place, students choose when to begin within the two-week window and complete the exam in one sitting. The design embeds Curtin Access Plan accommodations by default, removing the need for individual scheduling or venue arrangements. A handwritten working component submitted via the LMS alongside the online responses adds an additional layer of academic integrity and enables targeted feedback. Students are scaffolded into the technology through two earlier Respondus tasks and access to practice exams before the final assessment.
Suggested Marking Criteria
Note: Marking criteria and weighting are suggested guidelines. Specific descriptions should be adapted to relevant content and learning objectives.