Troubleshooting Test Problems
If you experience technical difficulties with taking or submitting tests, please review the tips on this page.
Failed Attempts
If you have a failed test attempt and see this image 
in
your course's grade book, contact your instructor immediately. Only your instructor can clear your failed attempt so that you can try again.
After your failed attempt has been cleared, be sure to clear your browser's cache before trying to take the test again.
"Elapsed Time" does not appear in Timed Tests
Students and instructors may notice that the "Elapsed Time" timer feature that normally appears in a timed test’s "Test Status Bar" is missing when using certain Web browsers.
This is a known issue with the Blackboard’s Test Status Bar and the individual browser's support of status-bar scripting. Some Web browsers do not permit status-bar scripting or have this ability turned off.
Please note! - The rest of the timing feature works in its full capacity, recording the amount of time the student spends taking the test and displaying a warning to the student when the allotted time for the test nears its end.
At this time, the following Web browsers do not allow for the "Elapsed Time" messages to appear: Firefox 3.6 or higher, all versions of Google Chrome, and Safari 5.
Workaround Solution
Use Internet Explorer 8 or 9 with compatibility mode turned on, making sure that the browser permits status-bar scripting.
To enable status-bar scripting in IE 8 or 9, please do the following prior to taking your timed test:
-
In Internet Explorer's browser menu, click the "Tools". - From the Tools menu, select "Internet Options".
- In Internet Options, click the "Security" tab.
- On the Security tab, select the "Internet" icon. Then, click "Custom Levels".
- Under "Security Settings - Internet Zone" , scroll down near the bottom of the page and enable "Allow Status Bar Updates via Script".
- Click "Ok" to save this setting.
- Click "Apply", then "Ok" to exit Internet Options.
"Access Denied" Errors When Taking Test or Submitting Test
When taking a standard Blackboard test or a Blackboard test via Respondus Lockdown Browser, students may encounter an “Access Denied” error message that kicks them out of the 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 test is trying to perform a save or submit process.
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, please inform your instructor that you had this error and may have a had a failed attempt. If you had a failed attempt, be sure to follow the guidelines listed above, under "Failed Attempts".
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.
Submit Buttons Will Not Submit Test
If you are having trouble submitting a test, check your browser to make sure you have an up-to-date installation of java and javascript enabled. The easiest way to do this is to use the Browser Tester tool.
If you are using Internet Explorer 8 or 9, enabling "Compatibility Mode" will help fix this issue. Trying to take the test in a different browser may help resolve this issue as well. If you are using Internet Explorer, consider trying Mozilla Firefox.
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 meta code that can make a test behave unpredictably.
However, when taking a test in Internet Explorer, an 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 "Require Sever Verification"(in IE 7) or "Enable Protected Mode" (in IE 8) 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.