The lockdown is forcing universities and their departments to adapt. Classes are now held online, and exams will soon follow suit. While we are currently conducting several stress tests to ensure that all our students have optimal conditions for taking their exams, you will find below some tips for improving your internet connection, as well as a reminder of the procedure to follow for your upcoming online exams.
Testing Your Internet Speed and Interpreting the Results
To enable students to take their exams online and allow staff to work under the best possible conditions, the DSIN is providing a tool that lets you measure the quality of the connection between your home and the university: https://testdebit.umontpellier.fr/
Data reception (download)
After completing this test, the results will appear, and you can interpret them using this short guide:
- A speed between D and F is considered slow (low throughput);
- A C-class speed between 3 and 7 Mbps is classified as "medium speed"; it is at these speeds that remote work can begin to function effectively.
- Speeds of 8 Mbps or higher are considered "broadband"
- Connections exceeding 30 Mbps are classified as "ultra-high-speed."

Data upload
This value represents the speed at which data is transmitted from your computer to the Internet; it is often referred to as "upload speed" or simply "upload."
An average download speed of 1.2 Mbps is sufficient for transferring data from your computer.
Response time (ping)
This value represents the time taken for a round trip between your computer and the server hosting the files used to measure the data download speed; it is often referred to as "latency."

A value in the green zone is required for high-quality video conferencing (without interruptions).
Improving Your Wi-Fi Connection
If the connection is not optimal (between D and F), you should:
- Use a wired connection whenever possible : The connection will be more stable, and devices connected via Wi-Fi will have better speeds.
- Positioning Your Router Correctly : Avoid placing it under the TV or in a closed cabinet. Ideally, install it about 1.5 meters above the floor in an open area. Never place anything on top of it, and plug it in directly (do not use an extension cord or power strip).
- Close any programs that are currently running: To get the most out of your bandwidth, remember to turn off Wi-Fi on devices you’re not using (phones, connected devices).
- Turn off automatic Wi-Fi scanning : By default, Windows constantly scans for nearby wireless networks. This feature, which is unnecessary if you always connect to your own network, consumes bandwidth.
- Check for viruses: Whether by displaying ads or secretly using the computer’s resources, some malware unnecessarily consumes bandwidth.
If, after checking all these steps, the connection is still weak, please contact your registrar’s office so they can help you access the exams under the best possible conditions. Please also feel free to report any issues you encounter during the exams.
Take exams
With a reliable internet connection, students can take their exams.
To do this, students must log in the same way they do for tablet-based exams in the lecture hall: log in from your device on SIDES + ENT authentication + enter the exam code.
The box codes will be sent via email before the event.
On the day of the test, we encourage students to, if possible, put themselves in an exam setting:
- Start the connection at least 15 minutes before the scheduled times (to allow for any unforeseen circumstances)
- Being alone in a room
- Keep only the exam materials (pen, blank scratch paper, etc.)
- Do not attempt to connect to any applications other than the one required for the exam. This could disrupt the connection and interfere with your ability to write.
Once the challenge begins, it’s up to you!
We wish you the best of luck on your exams!
Bonus
In this article, you’ll also find our tips for studying remotely!
















