During a system error on an online ARE exam, what should you do?

• A. End the exam and reschedule.
• B. Attempt to fix the issue yourself and keep going.
• C. Do not clear the message; inform the proctor.
• D. Cancel the exam immediately.

Answer: (C)

When a system error happens during an online ARE exam, the right move is to alert the proctor right away and not try to clear or fix the issue yourself. The proctor can pause the session, log the problem, and decide whether to resume, extend time, or reschedule. Keeping the message visible preserves a record of the error for documentation and support purposes, which helps ensure your results aren’t unfairly affected and that the incident is handled properly. Attempting to fix the problem or continuing on its own can risk corrupting the session or violating exam rules, while ending or canceling the exam without proctor guidance can create avoidable complications. If you can note any error codes, the time it occurred, and what you were doing, share that with the proctor so they can troubleshoot more effectively. In short, tell the proctor immediately and follow their directions to resolve the issue.