• Uses Internet standards exclusively; works with all modern Web servers and browsers
• Multi-tiered security model based on date, time, station, network (IP) address, session code, personal passcode, and photograph
• Easy remote administration via a Web-based interface
• Real-time "heads up" status display" for each site and station
• Proctor tools for moving stations and cleaning up unsubmitted data
• Presents questions one-at-a-time with a clean, efficient user interface
• Supports multiple choice, extended matching, short answer, and essay question types.
• Allows inclusion of one or more multimedia elements with each question
• Allows long exam forms to be broken up, giving students ample time for breaks
• Supports both fixed and rotation-based seating
• Robust disaster recovery capability for the inevitable computer crashes, fire drills, etc.

A typical station screen is illustrated here. Each computer is identified by a station number. This number is associated with a specific examinee based on a randomized seating chart. (A new seating chart is generated for each testing event.) There can only be one computer (based on network address) and one examinee assigned to a specific station at any given time.

Examinees authenticate using their personal passcode and a session code provided by the proctor. The session code is time limited an will work only during the specified testing interval. The first examinee to login sets the stop time for the entire cohort based on the pre-defined test duration.

Once examinees have logged into an exam the system displays the first question. The remaining minutes and number of unanswered questions appear at the top. Answers are selected by clicking on the A, B, C, etc. buttons. Selecting an answer automatically advances to the next question. If an answer is already selected it is highlighted (as shown here). The Prev and Next buttons allow navigation and review without changing answer selections. A pull-down menu provides an overview of all answers and random access to any question. Examinees may pause temporarily whenever they wish with no data loss. When all questions are answered, the 'Pause' button changes to 'Done' allowing the examinee to end the session and submit their answers.

XAM supports both hypertext and multimedia content. Hypertext links provide a simple way to include auxiliary material (for example, an HTML table of normal lab values). The media tray displays thumbnail links to available items. Media formats currently supported include:

• GIF images
• JPEG images
• Quicktime video clips
• Audio clips
• Quicktime VR images
• HTML pages

A sample question is shown here.

Proctors, instructors and other administrative personnel may check the real-time status of each test site. As shown here, the active test forms are summarized at the top. The lower portion of the screen lists the status of each station (001-120 in this example). During an exam, the number of questions remaining is displayed next to each station. The status may change to paused, done, or ready depending on circumstances. Errors are highlighted as they occur. This page automatically updates every 60 seconds to keep the information current.