Common Test Problems
Troubleshooting Test Problems
If you experience technical difficulties with taking or submitting tests, please review the tips on this page.
Difficulties Accessing Test, Selecting Answers, or Submitting the Test
If the test is not responsive to your actions, or you are kicked out of a test session unexpectedly, please review the following conditions and contact your instructor:
- Make sure you are using a Windows or Mac computer with supported web browser to take the test. If you are using Respondus LockDown browser, make sure that it is up to date.
- Disable third-party browser add-ons or extensions.
- Close any extra programs that might be running in the background of your Windows or Mac computer. Updates, antivirus scans, and streaming media may slow down your computer's responsiveness during test-taking.
- If you are using the Google Chrome browser, make sure that you are using the latest updated version.
- If you are using Internet Explorer, you may need to adjust settings for "Compatibility Mode" and "Security Zones". As an alternative, we strongly recommend using Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome as your browser.
- Make sure your connection to the Internet is strong and stable. We do not recommend using mobile devices, phones, or wireless (Wi-Fi) or satellite Internet to take tests! These technologies often cause technical problems due to weaker signal strength or dropped connectivity. To avoid problems when taking tests, we recommend using an Ethernet cable to connect a laptop or desktop PC to the Internet.
"Access Denied" Error Appears When Taking Test or Submitting Test
This error is known to occur when a student has double-clicked or clicked multiple buttons in succession anywhere within the test while the browser is processing the first click.
If you experience this error, try returning to the exam by clicking your browser's back button or try to access the test again to initiate a new attempt. If you cannot resume or begin a new attempt, please contact your instructor immediately!
This error can be prevented: use only single left button mouse clicks to navigate, save, and submit answers. Please be patient after clicking on a button for a response. Do not repeatedly click buttons!
My Grades tool Doesn't Confirm that My Test was Submitted
If you submitted your test, but your course's My Grades area lists the test as not having been completed or still in progresss 
, there may be been a problem with the submission process. Contact your instructor immediately!
Only your instructor can clear your failed test attempt so that you can try again.
After the test attempt has been cleared, be sure to clear your browser's cache before trying to take the test again.
Test Taking in Internet Explorer and the "Paste to Clipboard" Pop-Up Message
Please be advised that we do not recommend copying and pasting content from a Word document into a Blackboard test's text-fields because it often includes code that can make a test behave unpredictably.
When taking a test in Internet Explorer, a dialogue box may appear and ask: "Do you want to allow this page to paste information from your clipboard?" If you cannot close this pop-up, try adding blackboard.matc.edu to the browser's list of trusted sites.
In Internet Explorer, click the "Tools" menu.- From the Tools menu, select "Internet Options".
- In Internet Options, click the "Security" tab.
- On the Security tab, click the "Trusted Sites" button.
- In the "Trusted Sites" window that appears, add the complete URL Web address of any sites that you do not want to be blocked in the "Add this Website to the Zone" text field. Click "Add"
- Uncheck the "Enable Protected Mode" checkmark.
- Click "Close" to exit the Trusted Sites window.
- Click "OK" to exit Internet Options.
After adding Blackboard to your list of trusted sites, you may be prompted by a security warning pop-up box when you try to access Blackboard. If you are prompted, click the security warning's "Yes" option.