Examplify and NBME Requirements

Set up your computer for Examplify and NBME exams

It is recommended that you get your computer ready for taking an Exam. You will want to minimize common issues prior to every exam. McGovern Medical School IT (MSIT) recommends that you do the following.

Run all the security patches update. Some students on an exam restart, have gotten hung up on a system update that cannot be canceled. Make sure your computer is up to date. To update click here. <<SECURITY PATCHES>>
Restart the computer. We have found that most students do not restart their computer for weeks, even months. It is important to restart your computer at least once a week. Most exam issues have been resolved with a computer restart.
Update to the latest exam software. Have the latest update installed for your exam software. If there is a new update, it will notify you upon launch.
Prohibited applications must be closed. These include apps like Spotify, screen/image capture, video recorder, cloud services, Citrix Receiver, any email applications, etc. To close applications for PC click here; or Mac click here..
Windows Defender Antivirus is recommended. Temporarily disable additional antivirus programs like McAfee, Norton, etc. If McAfee installed on your computer, you should uninstall it or temporarily disable it. To disable or uninstall click here.
ExamSoft Password Reset. If you lost or forgot password, go to https://examsoft.com/uthmed click on the “Lost Student ID or Password?”
Run the practice exam. The most important thing you want to do is run the Examplify practice exam and NBME Workstation Certification. NBME click here and ExamSoft click here.

For any issues that are not resolved by the above steps, please go to the General Troubleshooting Guide and Information or submit a ServiceNow incident: https://uthealth.service-now.com/uthealth

General Troubleshooting Guide and Information

NBME Workstation Certification
- Troubleshooting Guide (Windows)
- Troubleshooting Guide (Mac)
- Uninstall and Reinstall Citrix Receiver (Mac)
- The Most Common Known Issue (Mac)
ExamSoft/Examplify Best Practice
- Freezes Up During The Exam
- Troubleshoot Guide
Disable McAfee Anitvirus
Uninstall Antivirus Software
Uninstall Programs In Windows 10
Security Patches Update

NBME Workstation Certification

Confirm that your laptop is compatible with NBME Secure Browser before the exam day.

Go to http://wbt.nbme.org/exam and follow the on-screen instructions to download the Secure Browser.
On the Mac, your system preferences must be set to allow for the download of applications from “Anywhere”: Apple menu | System Preferences | Security & Privacy | General
Close out all browsers (IE, Chrome, FireFox, Safari, etc.) once the download is complete.
Restart your (PC/Mac) laptop – Recently run applications do NOT always clean up themselves after being closed and tend to leave processes running in memory. Some of these processes could be flagged by the NBME Secure Browser. For Macs, uncheck “Reopen windows when logging back in.”
Prior to launching the Secure Browser, you must exit any of the following types of programs:
- Cloud Services (Dropbox and Google Drive)
- Instant Messaging
- Webcam/Recorder Software (Panopto must be uninstalled) To uninstall click here.
- Screen/Image Capture Programs (Snagit, Snipping Tool, Greenshot etc.)
- Communication Platforms (Skype)
- To close programs for PC click here or Mac click here.
Run the secure browser. Use the “Workstation Certification”
Choose Examinee Personal Laptop Certification and proceed to the sample test. If you receive the following error message, please submit a ServiceNow incident: https://uthealth.service-now.com/uthealth

NBME Troubleshooting Guide (Windows)

Problem 1: Prohibited applications detected as still running

The NBME secure browser will detect if an examinee is running a program capable of recording or

communicating exam content. Detection of any prohibited software will block the examinee’s access to the exam until all prohibited services have been closed. Proctor monitor will display programs running on the NMBE panel for each student.

Press “Ctrl+Alt+Delete” on the keyboard > click Start Task Manager
Click the Processes tab > select the prohibited running process from the list > Click End Process to disable the process.

Problem 2: Computer Freeze

Do not “End” the exam. Restarting the browser should fix this problem. Exit the NBME Secure browser by pressing “Ctrl+Shift+Q”, and then relaunch the exam.

NBME Troubleshooting Guide (Mac):

Please quit all applications like Spotify, screen capture, video recorder, cloud services, any email applications, and the browser after you have downloaded the Secure Browser from the NBME site. You will need to do this prior to every exam.

GoPro – If GoPro is installed on your computer, it must be uninstalled.

Remove and Delete the GoPro application
Restart your machine
Image Capture Extension – The most common known issue is a process running that the NBME thinks is capturing images is called Image Capture Extension. Below are the steps to resolve the Image Capture Extension or Screen Capture process.
1. Run the Activity Monitor application located in your Applications folder inside the Utilities folder, or search spotlight and type in Activity Monitor and press Return.
2. Look for Image Capture Extension or Screen Capture in the list of process names.
3. If found running, use the force quit feature in Activity Monitor to end the process (the X icon in the upper left of the monitor).
  
  **Check to ensure that Image Capture Extension is no longer running**
4. If the Image Capture Extension does not force quit and still exists under Process Names, restart the computer and make sure to uncheck Reopen windows when logging back in.
5. Launch the Secure Browser
NBME Most Common Known Issue (Mac)
Security issue: “Allow apps download from”
Solution:
under “General” Tab:
Service Records: caused by CitrixSolution: Uninstall “Citrix” and restart the computer. To uninstall Citrix, go to Citrix Receiver website: https://www.citrix.com/downloads/citrix-receiver/mac/receiver-for-mac-latest.html download the installer. After you run the installer, it will give you the option to install or uninstall Citrix. Students can use the same file to install if needed after the exam.
Image Capture Extension: caused by photo, video, iPhone/iPad sync app Known app: GoPro, iPhoto Potential app: Media card in a card reader, Bluetooth try to sync with device Solution:
iPhoto can be resolved by restarting the computer.
GoPro needs to be uninstalled then restart the computer.
Remove the media card from the reader
Disable Bluetooth ExamSoft/Examplify Best Practice
If you need to download and install a new copy of Examplify, go to https://examsoft.com/uthmed our institution ID is “uthmed”.
Restart your (PC/Mac) laptop – Recently run applications do NOT always clean up themselves after being closed and tend to leave processes running in memory. Some of these processes could make the computer hang during Examplify starting up. *For Macs, uncheck “Reopen windows when logging back in.”*
Take the “Sample ExamSoft Exam” before the exam day. Complete the sample test and upload the exam.
Prior to launching Examplify, you must temporarily disable any of the following types of antivirus programs like McAfee, Norton, etc. If McAfee is on your computer, click here to disable or click here to uninstall.
Please download your exam files before the day of your exams.

If you are having an issue with Examplify and need assistance, please go to General Troubleshooting Guide and Information or submit a ServiceNow incident: https://uthealth.service-now.com/uthealth

Examplify Troubleshoot Guide

Problem 1: Forgotten ID or Password Student forgot ID

ID is the UTHealth User ID
1st letter of first name + Last name and possibly a number
Example: jnguyen2 or dsmith4
Student forgot Password
Go to https://examsoft.com/uthmed
Click on Lost Student ID or Password?
A link to reset the password will be sent to the student’s UTHealth email account
Problem 2: WARNING Message for Antivirus Software
Antivirus programs can sometimes interfere with Examplify. Students have been instructed to disable their antivirus program during the exam temporarily.
Problem 3: Cannot Start Exam Students may need to input a resume code when attempting to re-open an exam
Do NOT use the code provided on the screen.
The correct code will be provided on the slide with the exam password.Problem4: Computer Freeze
Do NOT exit the exam.
Turn off the computer — press & hold the power button for about 10 seconds.
Restart computer.
When the ‘Resume Exam’ window appears, select the “Resume” button.
The student may be prompted for a resume code.
Do NOT use the code provided on the screen.

The correct code will be provided on the slide with the exam password.

Examplify Freezes Up During The Exam

If your Examplify freezes up during the exam, please follow these steps.

DO NOT exit the exam.
Perform a hard restart by pressing down on the power button, wait at least 5 seconds until you here your computer power off, and then press the power button again to power back on.
If prompted, log back into your OS desktop profile, and let the Examplify exam start its recovery process. If the Examplify exam does not start, then start it manually by double-clicking on the Examplify software icon located in task bar, desktop area, Programs/Apps folder (Windows), or Applications folder (Mac OS).
When prompted, click on the “return to exam” button to get back into the exam.

NOTE: If a resume code is needed, then enter the code provided to you by a proctor. Resume codes are case sensitive so be careful or you may have to repeat Steps 1 through 4.

Uninstall McAfee Antivirus click here.

Disable McAfee Antivirus

Right-click the McAfee icon at the bottom-right corner of Windows Desktop.
Select Change settings > Real-time Scanning from the menu.
In the Real-Time Scanning status window, click the Turn off button.
Now specify when Real-Time Scanning will be resumed. It is recommended to select When I restart my PC from the drop-down menu. Click on the Turn off button to confirm your selection.

McAfee AntiVirus has now been successfully disabled until the next computer restart.

Uninstall Programs In Windows 10

Panopto – You must uninstall it. It cannot be disabled in Task Manager.

Search for Control Panel using the search box and click on it when you see it in the search results.
Ensure View by is set to Category at the top. Then, find and click on the option that says Uninstall a program. It will let you remove programs from your computer.
On the following screen, you will see a list of all the software installed on your computer. Find Panopto in the list, click on it, and then select Uninstall from the top menu bar.
The standard uninstallation wizard will launch and follow on the screen until the program is fully removed from your computer.
When the software is uninstalled, restart the computer.

Uninstall Antivirus Software in Windows 10

To find and uninstall antivirus software from your computer follow these steps below.

Search for Control Panel using the search box and click on it when you see it in the search results.
Ensure View by is set to Category at the top. Then, find and click on the option that says Uninstall a program. It will let you remove programs from your computer.
On the following screen, you will see a list of all the software installed on your computer. Find Antivirus software in the list, click on it, and then select Uninstall from the top menu bar.
The standard uninstallation wizard will launch. Follow the on screen directions until the software is fully removed from your computer.
When the software is uninstalled, restart the computer.

Security Patches Update

Security patch updates occur frequently. You should keep your computer up to date.

Windows Updates

Select the Start (Windows) button from the bottom-left corner.
Go to settings icon.
Select the Update and Security.
Choose Windows Update tab in the sidebar (Circular arrows)
Select Check for updates. If there is an available update, it will begin downloading automatically.

Mac Updates

Open Software Update by clicking the System Preferences icon in the dock.
Select Software Update.
Click Update Now.
You will now connect to Apple’s website and retrieve the latest updates. You will see a list of updates. Check the items you wish to install and click Install.
If asked to accept a software license agreement, read the agreement and click Accept.
Sometimes new components will ask you to restart your computer. If so, you will see a Restart button.
Save your work and close any open programs before clicking Restart.

Uninstall and Reinstall Citrix Receiver (Mac)

Citrix Receiver – If installed on your computer, you must uninstall it.

Open the downloaded dmg file used to install Citrix. To download Citrix Receiver installation file: https://www.citrix.com/downloads/citrix-receiver/mac/receiver-for-mac-latest.html
Double click on the dmg file, and select Uninstall Citrix Receiver.
Click Open
Click Continue
Enter your computer password.
A confirmation will appear that it has been uninstalled.
To reinstall Citrix, double click on the dmg and select Install Citrix Receiver and follow the short installation steps. Please make sure to uninstall Citrix before every exam.