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Stopped-Clock Breaks

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Stopped-Clock Breaks

Also known as breaks, test breaks, stop-the-clock breaks.

Stopped-Clock Breaks is an accommodation that provides students with a set amount of additional time per hour that students can take a break from writing their test.

The break time does not count towards student’s exam writing time to ensure they are not penalized for taking the break.

This accommodation is designed to support students who experience disability-related impacts or symptoms during exams.

Breaks provide students with an opportunity to manage disability-related impacts such as re-focusing attention, using the washroom, coping with physical discomfort, stretching, reducing cognitive or physical fatigue, attending to medical needs, implementing anxiety reduction strategies, etc. Recent research indicates that breaks “may be a more appropriate and reasonable accommodation than extended time” for students with disabilities including ADHD and mental health.

Breaks will be listed in a student’s accommodation plan as a number of minutes per hour of testing (for example, 5 minutes/hour). Break time is calculated based on a student’s total writing time (including extra time). If relevant, you can calculate the total amount of time using this app (external link) .

  • Students writing in-person tests at the Accommodated Test Centre (ATC) must inform their invigilator(s) at the start and end of their break and leave all testing materials at their seat.
  • Students remain under invigilation and may only communicate with invigilators/staff during breaks.
  • Students are not permitted to leave the ATC or access any personal belongings/electronic devices.

Stopped-Clock Breaks on Respondus Monitor

What is Respondus Monitor? Respondus Monitor is a tool used by some instructors to oversee remote tests. It utilizes webcam recordings to ensure academic integrity by detecting potential misconduct during exams.

Respondus Monitor with Break Accommodations: For students requiring stopped-clock breaks, Respondus Monitor may inadvertently flag legitimate break activities as suspicious. This occurs because the software is programmed to detect any movement in and out of the camera’s view, potentially interpreting it as a breach of integrity.

What Are the Options? To support all students while addressing these challenges, instructors may consider the following approaches:

  1. Pre-Approve Breaks: Allow students to take breaks as needed and ignore any associated movements or flags.
  2. Visible Indicators: Students can use a visible sign to indicate they are on a break, helping to prevent flagging during these periods.
  3. Break Logging: Require students to keep a log of their break times, which can be verified by instructors after the test.

Important Considerations: While the use of Respondus Monitor is intended to uphold academic integrity, it’s important to acknowledge its limitations regarding academic accommodations. Instructors are encouraged to consider how to implement accommodations equitably when administering exams, as to not inadvertently create unequal testing conditions and place an undue burden on those with disabilities.

To learn more or consult about implementing academic accommodations, instructors may consult with the AAS Learning & Inclusion Education Developers at aaseddev@torontomu.ca.

Harrison, A.G., Pollock, B. & Holmes, A. Provision of Extended Assessment Time in Post-secondary Settings: a Review of the Literature and Proposed Guidelines for Practice. Psychol. Inj. and Law 15, 295–306 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12207-022-09451-3 (external link)