Does Aspen use proctored exams?
Yes. Aspen references proctored examinations as part of its assessment in some courses. Proctoring means your exam is supervised — typically requiring photo identification, a permitted testing environment and working camera and microphone equipment — rather than being an ordinary open submission.
Why it catches people out
Nothing about proctoring is difficult. What causes problems is timing. Students discover the requirement in the week the exam is due, then spend that week resolving equipment, identification or a quiet space instead of revising.
Aspen's courses run eight weeks. A week lost to logistics is an eighth of the course, which is a far bigger proportion than it would be in a sixteen-week semester.
What to do in week one
Open the course in the classroom at classroom.aspen.edu and read the assessment schedule before anything else. If a proctored exam appears, note the date and check the stated requirements immediately.
Test your camera and microphone, confirm your identification is current, and identify somewhere you can sit uninterrupted for the full duration. If you work shifts and share your home, that last one is the constraint worth solving early.
Common questions
Are all Aspen courses proctored?
No. Proctored examinations feature in some courses rather than all of them. Check the assessment schedule for each course when it opens.
What do I need for a proctored exam?
Typically photo identification, a working camera and microphone, and a permitted, uninterrupted testing environment. Confirm the specific requirements stated in your course.
Where do I find my exam schedule?
In the online classroom at classroom.aspen.edu, not the student portal at my.aspen.edu. The portal holds records and billing; the classroom holds coursework.