General Questions
What is e-assessment?
E-assessment refers to the use of technology to create, administer, and evaluate exams and assessments.
What does Cirrus Assessment offer?
Cirrus Assessment offers a complete end-to-end assessment platform, from exam booking through to item-banking, assessment creation, scheduling, invigilation and exam delivery. It also has a comprehensive grading system built-in. Lastly, we offer integrations with credentialing tools. This supports your micro-credentialing and digital badging programme perfectly.
What types of assessments can be conducted online?
We support a variety of assessments, including multiple-choice, essay, programming/coding, high-level financial exams, and high-level STEM exams.
How secure are online assessments?
Our platform uses advanced security measures, including encryption, secure login, and proctoring tools, to ensure the integrity of the assessments.
Can students take assessments from any location?
Yes, students can take assessments from any location with an internet connection, subject to the security requirements set by the institution.
Do you work with test centres?
Yes, we partner with pop-up test centre companies that can set up centres around the world on short notice. We fully support both remote and in-person assessments.
What are the benefits of switching from traditional to online assessments?
Benefits include reduced administrative burden, instant grading, better scalability, enhanced security, and the ability to assess a wider range of skills and competencies.
Do you offer exam booking capabilities?
Yes, we offer a seamlessly integrated booking system that supports both booking in test centres as well as allowing for candidates to self-enroll.
Platform and Technology
Is your platform compatible with our existing Learning Management System (LMS)?
Yes, our platform integrates seamlessly with major LMS providers like Moodle, Blackboard, Canvas, and others.
What are the browser requirements for using your e-assessment platform?
Our platform is cloud-based and works on any modern browser.
- Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Microsoft Edge
- Apple Safari
Features and Functionality
Can we customise the assessment interface to match our institution's branding?
Yes, we offer customisable skins to align with your institution’s branding guidelines.
What types of question formats do you support?
Our platform supports multiple-choice, true/false, short answer, essay, matching, drag-and-drop, and more. In total our question banking tool has more than 20 different question types.
Can we use multimedia in our assessments?
Yes, you can embed images, audio, and video in your assessments.
Does the Cirrus platform support micro-credentialing?
Yes, our unique blueprint test creation ensures each candidate receives a balanced set of questions, enabling micro-credential exams to be delivered anytime, anywhere. Additionally, we integrate seamlessly with credentialing tools to issue badges and certificates.
Can we influence the development roadmap?
Yes, our customers inspire our development priorities. We allocate 40% of our development capacity to customer-specific needs. We also offer co-sponsorship options, where we share development costs with customers, prioritising these enhancements on our roadmap.
Security and Integrity
How do you prevent cheating during online assessments?
We use a combination of remote proctoring (both live and AI), secure browsers (Safe Exam Browser), plagiarism detection, plus a host of exam randomisation features (LOFT 3.0, item randomisation, section randomisation, and parameterisation to ensure unique-yet-balanced exams).
What measures are in place to protect student data?
We comply with all major data protection regulations, including GDPR and FERPA, to ensure student data is secure and private. We are also ISO 27001:2013 certified – meaning we adhere to the gold standard in data protection and cybersecurity.
Administration and Analytics
How do we create and manage assessments on your platform?
Our platform includes an intuitive interface for creating, scheduling, and managing assessments. We also offer bulk upload options for large question banks.
Can we generate detailed reports and analytics?
Yes, our platform provides comprehensive analytics on student performance, question difficulty, and overall assessment effectiveness.
Is it possible to set time limits and accommodations for students with special needs?
Yes, you can set specific time limits for each assessment and provide accommodations such as extended time for students who require them.
Implementation and Training
What is the process for implementing your e-assessment solution at our institution?
We offer a step-by-step implementation process, including initial consultation, customisation, training, and ongoing support.
Do you provide training for our staff and faculty?
Yes, we offer extensive training sessions and resources to ensure your staff and faculty are comfortable using our platform.
How long does it typically take to get set up with your e-assessment platform?
The setup time varies based on the institution’s requirements, but it typically takes between 2 to 4 weeks.
Pricing and Contracts
What is the pricing model for your e-assessment services?
Our pricing model is flexible and can be tailored to your institution’s needs, including per-assessment pricing, annual subscriptions, or volume-based discounts.
Do you require a certain minimum commitment on volume?
The great thing about Cirrus is that you can grow your business with us. If your volume is low, you can start small.
Are there any long-term contracts required?
We offer both long-term contracts and flexible, shorter-term agreements to suit your institution’s preferences.
Do you offer any trial or demo versions of your platform?
Yes, we provide demo accounts and trial periods so you can experience our platform’s capabilities before committing.