Exam days are stressful enough鈥攄on鈥檛 let technical issues add to the chaos! Check out these exam software tech tips to set yourself up for success on test day.
Click here to download a PDF of best practices.
Install the latest version of the Testing Software:
To ensure a smooth exam experience, it’s crucial to keep your exam software up to date. Software updates provide essential security patches, bug fixes, and performance improvements, and ensure compatibility with the latest exam platform features. Outdated software can lead to technical issues or errors during your exam.
Updating Respondus Lockdown Browser: 
Launch the Lockdown Browser and click the “i” button in the toolbar. For Mac users, this will be under the “About” tab. Once the menu opens, select “Check for Update.” If a newer version of the Lockdown Browser is available, it will begin downloading automatically. Alternatively you can
Updating NBME Secure Browser: 
The latest version of the Secure Browser can be . It is recommended that students download a new browser prior to each exam.
Check your Wi-Fi Connection:
With online exams, ensuring that you have the best possible wireless signal is paramount to avoiding connectivity problems. Students should make sure that their devices are properly connected to the eduroam wireless network prior to every exam for the best results. Attempting to take an exam on a different network could result in disconnecting from the exam with lost progress and time allotment . Having trouble with the wireless network? To troubleshoot, please visit
Managing your Startup Apps and Background Programs:
Closing all unnecessary background apps and processes before opening an exam lockdown browser is crucial for a smooth testing experience. Doing this minimizes the risk of technical issues during the exam, by limiting programs being monitored by the lockdown browser. Background apps can sometimes trigger false flags in the lockdown browser, causing the user to be locked out and barred from re-entering the exam until those programs are closed. Closing these apps educes the chances of the system mistakenly identifying them as suspicious.
Common Problem Programs and Apps:
- Messaging and Communication: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Discord, WhatsApp.
- Cloud Storage and File Sharing: Dropbox, OneDrive, iCloud.
- Study and Note-Taking: Evernote, OneNote, Microsoft Word
- Music and Media: Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube
- Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat.
- Email Clients: Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail.
- Web Browsers: Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Safari.
- Antivirus and Security: Norton, McAfee, Avast, Windows Defender.