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Lock down a Moodle quiz so students can only take it inside Safe Exam Browser.
We highly recommend trying this early in the semester with a 'low risk' test quiz to help students with any issues that arise.
Before you build the quiz: know the device limits
| Supported | |
|---|---|
| Windows | Yes |
| macOS | Yes |
| iPad / iOS | Yes |
| Chromebook | No |
This is the #1 thing to communicate to students. Chromebook users cannot take an SEB quiz. Identify these students before exam day and arrange a lab machine, loaner, or alternate assessment.
Students install SEB once, on first use. After that, launching an SEB-enabled quiz opens the lockdown browser automatically.
What "locked down" actually means
Once SEB launches, the student's machine is locked to the quiz:
- No other tabs or browser windows
- No Dock (macOS) or switching to other apps
- No copy/paste
- They work through the quiz only, then exit
Setup: three settings sections
1. Timing - set a time limit
Open the quiz → Edit settings → Timing.
- Set a Time limit (e.g., 10 minutes). Do this even if you're not using open/close dates.
- Leave When time expires as Open attempts are submitted automatically.
A time limit matters more than usual here - it's the thing that reliably ends the session.
2. Attempts - set to 1
Grade → Attempts allowed: 1
If you leave this higher, a student can quit SEB, relaunch it, and retake the quiz.
3. Safe Exam Browser section
| Setting | Value |
|---|---|
| Require the use of Safe Exam Browser | Yes – Configure manually |
| Show Safe Exam Browser download button | Yes |
| Enable quitting of SEB | Yes |
| Quit password | Optional |
Do not enable "Browser security" (under Extra restrictions on attempts). SEB already handles all of that. Turning both on causes conflicts.
Click Save and display. You should see a confirmation banner: this quiz has been configured so that students may only attempt it using the Safe Exam Browser.
The two settings that cause support tickets
1. Enable quitting of SEB = Yes. If set to No, a student who finishes the quiz cannot exit the browser. Their only option is to power off the machine. Always leave this on.
2. Attempts allowed = 1. Covered above, but it's the most common oversight.
Review options — a real limitation
Anything students review must happen inside SEB. Since SEB can't launch after the quiz closes, the "After the quiz is closed" review column is greyed out and effectively unavailable.
Practical takeaway:
- Decide up front what students see immediately after submitting (e.g., The attempt only, feedback and correct answers off).
- If you want students to review the exam later, plan a separate mechanism — an in-class review, or a non-SEB practice copy of the quiz. Don't assume they can go back into it.
Pre-flight checklist
- [ ] Time limit set
- [ ] Attempts allowed = 1
- [ ] Review options set intentionally (post-close review is unavailable)
- [ ] Require SEB = Yes, using existing template
- [ ] Show download button = Yes
- [ ] Enable quitting = Yes
- [ ] Browser security not enabled
- [ ] Confirmation banner appeared after saving
- [ ] Chromebook students identified and accommodated
- [ ] Students told to install SEB before exam day
Suggested message to students
This exam uses Safe Exam Browser, which locks your computer to the exam window. Install it before exam day — you'll see a download button on the quiz page. It works on Windows, Mac, and iPad. It does not work on Chromebooks — contact me now if that's your only device. Once you start, you won't be able to open other tabs, switch apps, or copy and paste. You'll have [X] minutes to finish.
Source link: https://docs.moodle.org/502/en/Safe_Exam_Browser
