> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://synap.ac/docs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://synap.ac/docs/platform/exams/candidate-experience.md). # Candidate experience Candidate experience settings determine what students see and can do in the exam player. They cover the exam mode, timers, navigation, question order, on-screen tools and reference information. Preview the exam after changing them; a small switch here can substantially change how the exam feels.
Synap candidate experience settings in the Exam editor.

The Experience page brings together exam mode, timing, security, navigation and student tools.

### Exam mode | Mode | Feedback and timing | Best for | | ---------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------ | --------------------------------- | | Practice | Candidates can review answers and see feedback after each question | Learning and formative assessment | | Exam | Feedback is deferred until the end or after marking | Untimed summative assessment | | Timed exam | Exam behaviour plus timer settings | Time-controlled assessment | ### Timer options | Setting | What students experience | What to check | | ------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Time limit | Sets an overall duration | Use when all sections share one time budget | | Infer from individual questions | Adds question timers; questions without a timer default to two minutes | A content-authoring change can change total allowed time | | Section timers | Gives each section its own timer instead of one overall timer | Unused time is not a shared pool | | Soft timer | Lets candidates continue after time expires | Treat time as guidance; reports should distinguish overtime | | Enforce full time | Cannot submit until the full duration has elapsed | Enable only when students are required to remain in the exam for the whole time | Access arrangements can apply an attempt-specific time multiplier. A 1.25× multiplier on a 120-minute exam gives that candidate 150 minutes. Confirm how this combines with section and instruction timers. ### Navigation | Setting | Candidate effect | | ------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Prevent navigation between questions | Candidates progress in order and cannot freely move between questions | | Disable control panel | Removes the question overview/control panel | | Bookmarking | Lets candidates mark questions to revisit | | Soft sections | Lets candidates view submitted sections without changing answers | | Resume later button | Exposes a save-and-return action; actual resumption still depends on Security settings | Do not enable a return-oriented tool such as bookmarking if navigation rules prevent candidates from using it meaningfully. ### Shuffling | Setting | Options | Notes | | ----------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------- | | Shuffle questions | Enabled or disabled | Preserves EMQ groups and section boundaries | | Option shuffling | Disabled, random or alphanumeric | Verify questions that depend on option order | | Shuffle sections | Enabled or disabled | Changes the sequence of entire sections | ### Candidate tools | Tool | Options or effect | | ------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Calculator | None, standard or scientific | | Notepad | Provides an on-screen scratchpad | | Strike-through | Lets candidates eliminate options visually | | Highlight | Lets candidates highlight question text | | Flagging | Lets candidates report a possible issue with a question | | Microphone settings | Lets candidates select an input device for audio recording questions | | Resizable panels | Lets candidates adjust question and answer panel widths | Candidate notes and highlighting are aids, not submitted answers. State this where misunderstanding would create risk. ### Display and reference information * **Show available marks** exposes the marks available for each question. * **Exclude informational questions from counts** prevents non-answer items inflating the visible question count. * **Pinned message** displays persistent support, copyright or legal text. * **Lab values** provides a reference panel. * **Additional information** provides a titled, icon-labelled panel with rich content. * **Theme** controls the player appearance. * **Player / allowed players** determines which assessment player candidates use or may choose. ### Browser-level restrictions You can disable copying, pasting and the right-click menu in the player. These settings discourage casual copying but do not lock down the student’s whole device. Use proctoring when you need broader monitoring or device controls. Disabling notifications hides most Synap notifications during the exam, while essential messages can still appear. ### Instructions Pre-exam instructions appear before the exam starts. In-exam instructions can add a dedicated screen before questions, with title, rich body, audio and timing controls. | Instruction option | Behaviour | | --------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Instructions timer | Adds time separate from the exam or section timer | | Audio autoplay | Starts the uploaded audio automatically | | Disable playback controls | Prevents pausing or replaying audio | | Auto-advance after time | Moves on after a configured delay | | Auto-advance after playback | Moves on as soon as audio finishes | | Enforced timer | Starts immediately or after audio starts, depending on configuration | Use a test student to check that the instructions are readable, any audio works and the timing is comfortable. Saving this page can update unstarted attempts, so preview again if you edit instructions after registering students. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com. ## Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter: ``` GET https://synap.ac/docs/platform/exams/candidate-experience.md?ask=&goal= ``` `ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. `goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. 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