How to Fix Timed Exam Errors in Tutor Open edX Palm

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In the dynamic landscape of online education, platforms like Open edX have become indispensable tools for delivering high-quality courses to learners around the globe. However, even the most robust systems can encounter glitches, and the stakes are high when it comes to timed exams. If you've ever found yourself grappling with timed exam errors on Tutor Open edX Palm, you're not alone.

If you are using Palm version 1 or 2 along with Tutor version 16.0.2 and have encountered an error message while attempting a timed exam course. Several users have faced the same issue when trying to start their timed exams. The error message reads: "Axios Error (Response): 0 http://localhost:18740/api/v1/exams/attempt/latest (empty response)".

Timed-exam-Axios-Error-messege-1

It's frustrating when what should be a simple transition to a timed exam becomes an obstacle. But that's not all; after clicking "Start Course", you may encounter yet another error: "Axios Error (Response): 0 http://localhost:18740/api/v1/student/exam/attempt/course_id/course-v1:EDX+E1+0000/content_id/block-v1:EDX+E1+0000+type@sequential+block@2416800d200c44c795aa68e13c195877 (empty response)".

Axios-Error-Response-message-2

The errors you are encountering are a result of improperly configured settings for timed exams. In this blog post, we will guide you through fixing these errors so that you can smoothly transition into your timed exams without any issues. Let's dive into the solution and get you back on track.

When accessing the course (not the studio), make sure you are not logged in as an admin user. Admin users do not have timers or any special provisions for timed exams.

Steps to Fix Timed Exam Issues in Tutor Open edX Palm

Fixing timed exam issues in Tutor Open edX Palm can vary depending on the specific problem you're encountering. However, here are some general steps you can follow to troubleshoot and potentially resolve the issue:

Step 1: Check Studio Settings

Start by navigating to the Studio section of your Open edX platform. The first step is to confirm if timed exam settings are configured correctly. To do this, follow these instructions:

      1. Go to the Subsection settings for the specific course where you're experiencing timed exam issues.

    Check-Studio-Settings-for-timed-exam-error-3-1

      2. In the settings, navigate to the advanced tab.

    advanced-tab-under-the-subsection-4-1

      3. Check if the "Timed" option is selected, and ensure that the allotted time matches your intended exam duration.

      4. Don't forget to save your changes.

      5. Now, click on "Settings" for the course displayed next to "Content" in the navigation tab. To access the advanced settings, click on the dropdown menu and choose "Advanced Settings".

    Enable-Timed-Exams-5

      6. In the "Advanced Settings", find "Enable Timed Exams" and set it to "true" if it's not already configured as such.

      7. Save the changes.

Step 2: Edit Configuration in the Learning File

Before proceeding with this step, ensure that "learning" is already mounted. If it's not, follow these commands to mount it:

      1. First, copy the file from the container:

         ```
         tutor dev copyfrom learning /openedx/app /your/local/path/here
         ```
      

      Make sure to replace `/your/local/path/here` with your actual local path.

      2. Once you've copied the file, use the following command to mount it:

         ```
         tutor mounts add learning:/your/local/path/here:/openedx/app
         ```
      

      Again, remember to replace `/your/local/path/here` with your local path.

    Now that you have the "learning" file mounted, proceed with the configuration changes:

      3. Navigate to the `app/.env.development` file within the mounted "learning" directory.

      4. Look for the "EXAMS_BASE_URL" entry in the `.env.development` file.

    Edit-Configuration-in-the-Learning-File-6

      5. Make the value of "EXAMS_BASE_URL" empty like this:

        ```
         EXAMS_BASE_URL = ""
         ```
      
    Edit-Configuration-in-the-Learning-File-7

      6. Save the changes to the file.

      By following these steps, you've edited the configuration in the "learning" file to ensure that the "EXAMS_BASE_URL" is empty.

Step 3: Restart the Tutor Development Server

After following both of the previous steps, it's essential to restart the Tutor development server to apply the configuration changes. Run the following command:

```
tutor dev stop && tutor dev start

```

This ensures that all changes take effect.

Step 4: Verify the Timed Exam Setup

Once the server has restarted, navigate to the exam course you were encountering issues with. Click on "Start Course", and it should look like this:

Verify-the-Timed-Exam-Setup-8-1

After clicking on "I am ready to start this timed exam", it should initiate a timer, and you'll see the questions displayed below, as shown in the image:

successfully-resove-timed-exam-error-10

By following these steps, you should have resolved the timed exam errors, and your students will be able to smoothly start and complete their timed exams.

Congratulations, Timed Exam Errors issue has been resolved, and best of luck with your Open edX course!

Final Words

By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you should be able to successfully troubleshoot and resolve timed exam errors encountered in Tutor Open edX Palm. These errors can be frustrating for both instructors and students, but by carefully checking Studio settings, editing the configuration in the learning file, restarting the Tutor development server, and verifying the timed exam setup, you can ensure that your exams run smoothly and without interruption. Remember that these steps are specifically for Palm version 1 or 2 with Tutor version 16.0.2, and if you are using a different version, the solution may vary. With a little troubleshooting, you can get your timed exams back on track and ensure a smooth testing experience for your students.

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