Each year, the Assessment team, part of the Educational Development team in Library, Academic and Cultural Services, plays a crucial role in delivering a smooth and reliable online assessment experience for students and staff across the University.
Working behind the scenes, the team manages assessments using two key platforms: Questionmark OnDemand (QMOD) and ExamOnline (EOL). These tools support a wide range of assessment types—from formative quizzes to formal high-stakes exams—tailored to the needs of each school.
2024–25 in Numbers
In the 2024–25 academic year, the team successfully set up and delivered 440 managed assessments and exams across both platforms:
- 171 on ExamOnline
- 269 on Questionmark OnDemand
Impressively, 64% of these assessments were created directly in the systems by the Assessment team, showcasing their technical expertise and commitment to quality and consistency.
School Breakdown
Assessments spanned all academic schools, with the following distribution:
- DJCAD: 2 assessments/exams
- School of Business (SBUS): 52
- School of Dentistry (SDEN): 31
- School of Health Sciences (SHSL): 103
- School of Life Sciences (SLSC): 147
- School of Medicine (SMED): 18
- School of Science and Engineering (SSEN): 87
This highlights the team’s wide reach and ability to support diverse academic disciplines and assessment styles.
Student Engagement
Across both platforms, the scale of student participation was significant:
- 16,465 sittings on Questionmark OnDemand, involving approximately 3,000 students
- 4,524 sittings on ExamOnline, involving approximately 2,000 students
Both systems are used throughout the academic year for a variety of assessment types including coursework, class tests, mock exams, and final assessments. While Questionmark focuses on computer-marked assessments, ExamOnline supports tutor-marked activities, offering flexibility for different pedagogical approaches.
Behind the Scenes: Time and Expertise
The delivery of online assessments isn’t just about uploading a test. In 2024–25, the Assessment team dedicated over 400 hours to preparing, delivering, and supporting assessments. Depending on complexity, each exam can take anywhere from 1 to 18 hours to set up and manage—underscoring the meticulous work involved in ensuring a secure, fair, and accessible assessment experience.
Looking Ahead
As digital assessment continues to evolve, the Assessment team remains at the forefront of delivering scalable, robust, and pedagogically sound solutions. Their work not only supports academic integrity and quality assurance but also enhances the student experience—making assessments more flexible, accessible, and aligned with modern learning environments.
If you’re a staff member interested in learning more about how the Assessment team can support your course or module, get in touch with the Educational Development team.
