This article explains what happens when a Learner loses their internet connection during a Timed Assessment, and what you can advise Learners to do if it occurs. It applies to Assessments that have the Timed Assessment option enabled, where the Assessment expires after a set duration.

What Happens If a Learner Disconnects During a Timed Assessment?

When a Learner loses internet connection during a Timed Assessment, the timer continues to run throughout the disconnection. The timer does not pause, regardless of how much time the Learner had already spent in the Assessment. What happens next depends on whether the Learner can reconnect and reopen the Assessment window before the time runs out.

Reconnecting Within the Exam Time

If the Learner reconnects and reopens the Assessment window while time still remains, they can return to and resume the Assessment. They do not start over from the beginning. Because the timer continued to run during the disconnection, the Learner will have lost some of their available time.

In this case, the time spent is not yet recorded in the Assessments Report, and will not be recorded until the Assessment is marked as complete.

Reconnecting After the Exam Time Has Ended

If the Learner reconnects but attempts to reopen the Assessment window after the time has run out, they cannot return to or resume the Assessment. In this situation, their time in the Assessment is recorded as 0 in the Assessment Activity Report, regardless of how much time was spent before the disconnection.

Recommended Guidance for Learners

Because the timer cannot be paused, we recommend advising Learners to contact their Admin or Manager as soon as they experience internet issues during a Timed Assessment. This is especially important if a Learner is unable to reconnect before the timer runs out, since their time will be recorded as 0 once the exam time has ended. Depending on your organization's process, the Admin or Manager can then re-enroll the Learner in the Assessment or take another appropriate action.