Test Exceptions in Blackboard

Please note: Test Availability Exceptions are set for students who require different settings from their peers, for example when receiving an accommodation. You can change the following settings:

  • Number of Allowed Attempts
  • Availability From/Until Dates
  • Time Allotted  
  • Auto-submit

Important: Due to its complicated nature, we highly recommend you use the options listed in this guide and NOT Adaptive Release settings in Blackboard to grant test exceptions for students. Adaptive Release should only be used for higher level content, such as weekly folders, Lesson Plans, or Learning Modules.


When deploying tests in Blackboard, you can set many different test options relating to how/when students complete tests and what feedback they receive. Occasionally, you might want to grant exceptions for various test settings (e.g. extra time, or more attempts) to individuals or groups of students; e.g. to those requiring accommodations.

This guide assumes you have experience creating and deploying tests and setting test options. For help with creating tests, see our Quick Guide for Tests, Surveys and Pools; for help with test options, see our Quick Guide on Setting Test Options.

Step 1

To access the test options page, go to the content area in your course site where your test is deployed.

Click the downward arrow next to the test’s name and select “Edit Test Options.”

Step 2

On the next page, scroll down to Test Availability Exceptions.

To grant exceptions, click the “Add User or Group” button.

Step 3

In the window that opens, tick the boxes next to the names of students or groups for whom you would like to make exceptions and click “Submit.”

Step 4

Back on the main page, choose the settings – such as number of attempts, time limit, or force completion – for each user in their respective fields. Please note that the options available for customization are determined by the settings for the test generally. (If the test is not set to have a time limit, you cannot set a time limit for an individual student, for example.) Note that you can have different settings for each student.

To delete a user or group from the exceptions list, click the red “X” at the far right end of the corresponding row.

Click “Submit” to save your changes to the test.

Note: The only setting that cannot be modified from original test settings is “Do not allow students to start the Test if the due date has passed.” If you have checked this option for this test, you must first uncheck it to allow a student to take a test after the due date has passed.