Best for
- Practical and observed tasks
- Presentations, vivas and performances
- Combining offline work with online results
Capabilities
- Task instructions shown to candidates
- Manual marking and feedback in Synap
- Results reported with the rest of the exam
Considerations
- Give clear instructions on where and how the task is completed
- Agree how markers will record evidence
What is an off platform question?
An off platform question represents a task that happens outside Synap, such as a practical assessment, an observed skill or a presentation. The task sits in the exam like any other question, and the marker records the result in Synap.
When to use it
Use off platform questions when an assessment combines online questions with practical or observed work. It keeps every component in one exam, so results, feedback and reporting stay together.
How Synap marks it
Off platform questions are manually marked. Markers enter marks and feedback in Synap, and the result is included in the candidate's overall score.
Authoring tips
Write the task instructions as you would for candidates on the day, and include the marking criteria so every marker records results the same way.
Off platform is one of 29 question types in Synap's exam authoring software, alongside reusable question banks, bulk import and flexible marking.