Blackboard Ultra (Faculty) - Tests, Surveys, and Pools: Test Availability Exception/Extended Time

Faculty can provide exceptions for individual students within Blackboard Ultra tests. These exceptions may include extended time or changes to availability dates.

Granting Test Availability Exceptions/Extended Time

Blackboard Ultra allows instructors to provide individual students with exceptions to the test availability settings. These exceptions can include extended time limits or adjusted availability dates. Exceptions on time limits can be edited before students begin submissions. However, once students begin submitting assessments, the exception must be granted individually. 

Steps to Add Exception BEFORE Submissions Have Started

  1. Navigate to your course in Blackboard Ultra.
  2. Locate the test for which you want to grant an exception.
  3. Click on the test title.
  4. In the upper-right corner, click the Settings icon (gear icon).
  5. Under "Additional Tools," click Add time limit.

    Under Additional Tools is an icon that looks like a sand timer with hyperlinked text to add time limit in blue.

  6. Enter the desired time limit. 
  7. Under Submission rules, click the radio button next to the preferred choice.
  8. If the option to give the student extra time is selected, choose the preferred outcome in the drop-down menu.

    The time limit panel has a space to enter the minutes allowed for the assessment and a radio button to determine the submission rules. There are rectangular save and cancel buttons on the bottom.

  9. Click Save.

Steps to Add Exception AFTER Students Started Submissions

  1. Navigate to your course in Blackboard Ultra.
  2. Locate the test for which you want to grant an exception.
  3. Click on the test title.
  4. In the toolbar at the top, click Submissions.

    Under the assessment name/title is a horizontal toolbar. The submissions tab is highlighted.

  5. Locate the user for whom the exception is intended. Click the 3 dots on the far right.

    A list of student submissions and their results with an ellipses (3 dots) at the end of each users row.

  6. Select Add or edit exceptions. The icon looks like a clock.
  7. A new panel opens with specifications for that particular student's assessment. Enter the desired settings for the exception.

    The Exceptions panel shows the selected student's name and includes a place to edit the assessment due date and change the access dates/times. There are rectangular cancel and save buttons at the bototm.

  8. Click Save.

Important Considerations:

  • If a due date exception is granted and there is already an automatic zero, the automatic zero will be removed. It will only appear if the student doesn't make a submission by the new, extended due date.
  • Students with exceptions will see the modified due dates or time limits reflected in their view of the test.
  • The original test settings remain in place for all students without exceptions.
  • Always communicate any test availability exceptions to the affected student.

Need Additional Support?

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please contact the ITS Help Desk:

This guide aims to provide useful information, but as technology changes, interfaces or steps might vary. Please use the Comment button to let us know if anything differs from your experience. Your feedback helps us keep this information accurate. Thank you!


Keywords:
Blackboard Ultra, Test Availability, Test Exception, Extended Time, Students, Faculty, Assessment, Tests, Surveys, Pools, Bb, Ultra, Blackboard 
Doc ID:
155706
Owned by:
Jeff P. in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Created:
2025-10-13
Updated:
2026-01-30
Sites:
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville