Technical arrangements of the tests

Updated

The matriculation examination is taken on a computer using the Abitti exam system. Abitti provides candidates with an equal and information‑secure exam environment and supports the smooth and reliable administration of the examination.

The test situation and the exam system

When candidates arrive at the examination location, they typically encounter a space with a large number of workstations, servers and cabling. Each test last six hours, and therefore a power supply is provided for each candidate’s computer.
 
The candidate’s computer is connected to a closed examination network that has no internet access for the candidate. The examination network may be implemented using wired or wireless connections. Within the network operates a server cluster consisting of the examination room servers, which are responsible for distributing the test items tasks and storing candidate's test answers.
 
The matriculation examination system, Abitti, consists of three main components:
  • the candidates’ computers, which run a dedicated candidate application,
  • a server cluster of examination room servers that manage the test and answers and is connected to the Matriculation Examination Board’s services,
  • a closed examination network through which the candidates’ computers and the servers are interconnected.
Together, these form an exam system in which tests can be conducted reliably and on an equal basis.
 
On examination days, thousands of computers, hundreds of examination networks and kilometres of cabling are in simultaneous use. Completely disruption‑free operation cannot always be guaranteed. For this reason, Abitti has been designed to tolerate disruptions, and its operation does not require an internet connection. If any part of the exam system fails, it can be replaced or restarted without the candidate losing the answers submitted up to that point.

Working in the digital test

Candidates arrive at the examination room with a computer, headphones and other permitted equipment.
 
Candidates starts their computers and the installed candidate application, whereby the computer’s own operating system and contents are bypassed for the duration of the test. After start‑up, the candidate selects the test to be taken and authenticates themselves in the exam system.
 
It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that they bring a computer with an up‑to‑date candidate application published by the Matriculation Examination Board and that they are able to start it. If necessary, the general upper secondary school assists the candidate with starting the candidate application before the examination session.
 
Before the test begins, the principal of the general upper secondary school has downloaded the tests from the Matriculation Examination Board’s examination service. The tests are encrypted and are opened using decryption codes provided by the Board. When the invigilator starts the test, the examination room server distributes the test items and materials to the candidates and receives and stores their answers via the examination network.
 
The server maintains continuous communication with the candidates’ computers and supports both invigilators and candidates in the event of any disruptions.
 
The digital test is divided into two main views:
  • the test view, which displays the table of contents, test items and answer fields,
  • the materials view, which contains the test's attached materials, such as texts, images, tables, audio recordings and videos.
Candidates may move freely between the views during the test, and the views can be arranged side by side on the desktop.
 
Abitti is not merely a text‑entry or multiple‑choice system, but a working environment that simulates a complete computer. During the test, candidates have access to various programs and tools, such as word‑processing and drawing software, calculators and other utility programs. Candidates may produce parts of their answers using these programs, take screenshots of their work and include them as part of their written responses.
 
After the test has ended, the test answers are transferred to the Matriculation Examination Board’s examination service. Teachers read and assess the performances preliminarily, after which the Board carries out the final assessment of the examinations.

Information Security and the Prevention of Cheating

Information security in the Abitti examination system is based on both restrictions and technical monitoring:
  • The candidate application prevents access to prohibited materials and functions.
  • Technical monitoring observes the exam system in order to detect attempts at cheating that cannot be prevented through technical restrictions alone.
  • Data collected through technical monitoring are analysed by the Matriculation Examination Board after the examination days, and the findings are, where necessary, forwarded to the general upper secondary schools for use in investigations of suspected cheating.