AssessME Exam
A VS Code extension for securely delivering and sitting encrypted exams distributed as .exam files.
What It Does
- Opens encrypted
.exam files directly inside VS Code using a built-in custom editor
- Prompts for a password to unlock the exam — wrong passwords are rejected without exposing the content
- Renders theory questions (multiple choice, short answer, essay) and coding assignments with live answer capture
- Auto-saves student answers back into the
.exam file as work progresses
- Submits the completed exam with a cryptographic record of the submission time
- Supports kiosk mode for high-stakes exams: hides the VS Code UI chrome, blocks common keyboard shortcuts (Ctrl+Tab, Alt+Tab combos), and logs focus-loss events to AssessME FLOW
- Faculty-approved reference links embedded in the exam open in an isolated browser window during kiosk sessions
Setup
No extra installation steps. The extension activates automatically when a .exam file is opened.
If your institution uses the AssessME AI Assistant, the shared settings below are already configured:
"assessme.backendUrl": "https://your-backend-url",
"assessme.enrollmentCode": "GCIS124-XXXX-XXXX"
Usage
- Open the
.exam file provided by your instructor — VS Code will detect it automatically.
- Enter the exam password when prompted.
- Answer all questions. Your answers are saved automatically as you type.
- Click Submit Exam when done. A submission record is written into the file.
Kiosk Mode
When the exam is launched through the kiosk batch file or the Open Kiosk Preview for .exam command:
- The VS Code sidebar, panel, and activity bar are hidden automatically on unlock.
- Common switching shortcuts are blocked inside the exam webview.
- Any time the exam window loses focus is logged to AssessME FLOW.
- The UI is restored automatically when you submit or close the exam.
Opening a .exam file directly in normal VS Code always uses normal mode, even if the file header was previously marked for kiosk delivery.
Privacy
The extension reads only the .exam file you open. It records exam events (unlock, question visits, submission, focus changes) to AssessME FLOW using your enrollment code. It never reads other files, browser history, clipboard, or network traffic.
Requirements
- Visual Studio Code 1.85 or later
- An
.exam file distributed by your instructor
- Internet access to reach the AssessME backend (for FLOW event logging)
