--- title: Introduction to Oral Assessments description: This is an introduction to the Oral Assessment feature / Video Response feature in Cadmus. --- [Skip to content](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers/introduction-to-oral-assessments#main-content) English Show submenu for translations [Contact Support](https://support.cadmus.io/kb-tickets/new?hsLang=en) [![Cadmus Wordmark & Logo\_Master File\_Cadmus Icon\_Ink.png\]](https://support.cadmus.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Cadmus%20Wordmark%20%26%20Logo_Master%20File_Cadmus%20Icon_Ink.png?height=40&name=Cadmus%20Wordmark%20%26%20Logo_Master%20File_Cadmus%20Icon_Ink.png)](https://support.cadmus.io/?hsLang=en) - [Cadmus](https://cadmus.io/) - [Contact Support](https://support.cadmus.io/kb-tickets/new) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Cadmus](https://cadmus.io/) - [Contact Support](https://support.cadmus.io/kb-tickets/new) - English Show submenu for translations - [Contact Support](https://support.cadmus.io/kb-tickets/new) What would you like to learn? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Cadmus Help Docs](https://support.cadmus.io/?hsLang=en) 2. [Teachers](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en) 3. [Oral Assessments](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#oral-assessments) # Introduction to Oral Assessments ## An introductory guide to learn how to set up an Oral Assessment in Cadmus. Cadmus now supports Video Response questions with oral assessments. This may be used to support a follow-up oral component — asking students to speak about their own work, giving institutions a stronger layer of learning assurance. Each video response question includes: - A question prompt (hidden from the students) - A preparation window - A recording window - A set number of attempts (up to 10 per question) Students answer video response questions in sequence, recording a video for each. Video Responses may be graded per question using a Marker Rubric. This article will guide how to 1. [Creating an Oral Assessment](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers/introduction-to-oral-assessments#anchor) 2. [Adding instructions to an Oral Assessment](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers/introduction-to-oral-assessments#add-instructions) 3. [Select requirements and settings for an Oral Assessment](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers/introduction-to-oral-assessments#requirements) #### How do I create an Oral Assessment? 1. Create a Cadmus link in the LMS and click on the Go to Cadmus button to go to the Cadmus Teacher Environment. 2. Select **Oral Assessment** as the format and click Confirm. ![](https://support.cadmus.io/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-44-4298-AM.png?width=401&height=505&name=undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-44-4298-AM.png) **TIP**: Click the switch format button on top to quickly switch to Oral assessments from any other assessment format. #### How do I add instructions to my Oral Assessment? 1. In the assessment builder, select **Video Response** as the question type from the dropdown. ![](https://support.cadmus.io/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-46-7397-AM.png?width=502&height=472&name=undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-46-7397-AM.png) 2. Add your question prompt in the question space and assign the appropriate points. 3. Below the question prompt, set the **Response time** (maximum time limit allowed for the video response), **Preparation time** (maximum time limit to prepare before recording the video response), and the number of **Attempts allowed** for students to record the video response. Up to 10 attempts can be allowed per question. Preparation time and Response time are in the format \[MM:SS\] **TIP:** Allowing multiple attempts is useful for practice assessments that students revisit throughout the semester. 1. Click the three dots inside the question block to duplicate, delete, or add a marking rubric to the question. 2. Similar to the multi-format builder, you will find the *Settings* tab from where you can edit requirements and settings, and the *Questions* tab from where you can reorder the question list, to the left. ![](https://support.cadmus.io/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-47-2063-AM.png?width=571&height=180&name=undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-47-2063-AM.png) **TIP**: You may add all the other Multi-format question types, along with video response type questions, to your Cadmus Oral Assessment. However, keep in mind that those questions will not be hidden from students. #### Setting requirements and settings for Oral Assessments - Under *General Settings*, first select whether the assessment will be administered live (all students **together at the same time**) or in a time window (students write in **their preferred time within the window**). - Next, select the **Duration** of the assessment. Students must start recording a response before the duration runs out. If they are in the middle of recording a response, the remaining response time will be accommodated so they can submit it. After the duration runs out, students will not be able to start recording a response. **NOTE:** When setting attempts and durations, It's crucial to build in enough total time to cover every possible attempt. This is because before starting any attempt (including re-attempts), Cadmus checks that there is time remaining in the assessment to cover a full Preparation + Response window. For example, if a student already used part of their time on attempt #1 and doesn't have enough left for a complete attempt #2, they won't be able to start it — even if they still have attempts remaining.  Total Duration should comfortably exceed: **Reading time + (Number of attempts × (Preparation time + Response time))** Alternatively, turning off Reading Time can also be an option. ![](https://support.cadmus.io/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-47-5997-AM.png?width=410&height=445&name=undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-47-5997-AM.png) - Switch on the **Reading Time** toggle to allocate time for students to read through the general assessment instructions. Note that it does not reveal individual question prompts, which stay hidden until a student clicks Start on that question. Students will not be able to start recording their response during this time. Meanwhile, Preparation time is time a student will receive to prepare for individual video response questions.  **Tip**: If your assessment is tight on time, consider turning Reading Time off, since it isn't functioning as extra preparation time for any specific question - Switch on the **Video mandatory** toggle to enforce students to keep their camera on while recording their responses. ![](https://support.cadmus.io/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-46-4656-AM.png?width=432&height=364&name=undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-46-4656-AM.png) - Next, set the assessment integrity options: enable the **Access Codes Requirement** feature to enable student assessment entry using a valid, unique code. - Enable **Respondus LockDown Browser** for students to take the oral assessment in a locked browser environment. ![](https://support.cadmus.io/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-47-9775-AM.png?width=406&height=533&name=undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-47-9775-AM.png) - Under *Submissions* settings, switch on the **Referencing** toggle to allow references and footnotes for extended answer-type questions. Choose the referencing style from the dropdown. Under more options, select if references or footnotes may be included in the word limit. - Next, decide if the assessment will have **Auto Submission** enabled. If enabled, students’ work will be automatically submitted after the assessment duration or window is over. - Allow *Backtracking* if you wish to enable students to go back and re-attempt questions. If disabled, students will not be able to go back to a question they’ve attempted or skipped. - Switching on the **Re-attempts will expire** feature allows you to set a time window within which the student will have to start another attempt at recording their response. *For example, if the setting is on and the time is set to 2 minutes, the student will have to record their next attempt within 2 minutes of finishing the previous recording.* When a student gives up on an attempt before the response time ends, the re-attempt window starts from the moment they give up, and the time remaining to start the next attempt is shown in the dialogue. If the feature is off, students will be able to record their re-attempts at any time during the assessment. - Enable **Students will receive their submission PDF** setting to allow students to download a copy of their submission. ![](https://support.cadmus.io/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-48-7996-AM.png?width=389&height=703&name=undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-48-7996-AM.png) - Under *Marking* settings, you will see the **Total points** for the assessment. This will be auto-calculated according to the individual points per question and hence, non-editable. - Use the **Weighting** setting to add how much the exam is worth (in %) to the unit. Note that this won’t affect how grades are returned to your respective LMS. - Toggle on the **Show rubrics to students** option to allow students to view the grading rubric of every question. - Use the **Anonymous Marking** setting to show or hide student names in the class list. ![](https://support.cadmus.io/hs-fs/hubfs/undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-49-1676-AM.png?width=384&height=561&name=undefined-Jul-16-2026-05-34-49-1676-AM.png) All the requirements can be reviewed from the panel on the right. Click **Confirm** to save them. In the next step, review and finalise the instructions. Click **Release Instructions** to publish the Oral assessment. **NOTE:** Oral Assessments can only be graded using Cadmus Marker. Learn more about [Marking Oral Assessments](https://support.cadmus.io/marking-video-response-assessments?hsLang=en) here. Learn how a student navigates video responses [here](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers/understanding-the-student-view-of-video-response-questions?hsLang=en). --- #### A student can't start their next attempt, even though they have time and attempts left This typically happens when the time remaining in a student's assessment isn't enough to guarantee they can complete a full Preparation + Response window for another attempt (see the calculation [above](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers/introduction-to-oral-assessments#timecalculation)). If this happens: - **Reset the student's assessment** for a fresh start. This wipes any existing recording, so only use this if the student is comfortable losing earlier attempts. - **Grant extra time** instead, calculated from the student's original start time (elapsed time + time still needed) **NOTE:** For more information on how to grant special consideration to a student, please refer to [this article](https://support.cadmus.io/granting-special-considerations-for-oral-assessment?hsLang=en).    - [Teachers](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Introduction](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#introduction) - [Setting up assessments](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#setting-up-assessments) - [Managing your class](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#managing-your-class) - [Turnitin + Cadmus](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#turnitin-cadmus) - [Marking + feedback](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#marking-feedback) - [Exams](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#exams) - [Drafts](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#drafts) - [Insights](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#insights) - [Students working](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#students-working) - [FAQs + Troubleshooting](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#faqs-troubleshooting) - [Multi-format Assessments](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#multi-format-assessments) - [Group Assessments](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#group-assessments) - [Oral Assessments](https://support.cadmus.io/teachers?hsLang=en#oral-assessments) - [Students](https://support.cadmus.io/students?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Introduction](https://support.cadmus.io/students?hsLang=en#introduction) - [Working in Cadmus](https://support.cadmus.io/students?hsLang=en#working-in-cadmus) - [Submitting](https://support.cadmus.io/students?hsLang=en#submitting) - [Grades + Feedback](https://support.cadmus.io/students?hsLang=en#grades-feedback) - [Drafts](https://support.cadmus.io/students?hsLang=en#drafts) - [FAQs + Troubleshooting](https://support.cadmus.io/students?hsLang=en#faqs-troubleshooting) - [Multi-format Assessment](https://support.cadmus.io/students?hsLang=en#multi-format-assessment) - [Group Assessments](https://support.cadmus.io/students?hsLang=en#group-assessments) - [Oral Assessments](https://support.cadmus.io/students?hsLang=en#oral-assessments) - [Admins](https://support.cadmus.io/admins?hsLang=en#main-content) - [Integrations](https://support.cadmus.io/admins?hsLang=en#integrations) - [Release Notes](https://support.cadmus.io/release-notes?hsLang=en) - [Privacy Policy](https://support.cadmus.io/privacy-policy?hsLang=en) - [Cadmus](https://cadmus.io/) - [Video Tutorials](https://cadmus.io/video-tutorials/) - [Contact Support](https://support.cadmus.io/kb-tickets/new) - [System Status](https://cadmus.statuspage.io/) [![](https://support.cadmus.io/hs-fs/hubfs/Cadmus%20Wordmark%20%26%20Logo_Master%20File_Cadmus%20Wordmark_Berry.png?width=100&height=100&name=Cadmus%20Wordmark%20%26%20Logo_Master%20File_Cadmus%20Wordmark_Berry.png)](http://cadmus.io) Copyright © 2026, Cadmus