Technological problems delay Indiana remote bar exam one week

The Hoosier state is postponing its bar exam by one week to Aug. 4, because of ongoing problems with the testing software, the Indiana Supreme Court announced Friday afternoon.

The test was to be given July 28, but it was being offered remotely so the applicants could take the test in the safety of their homes without fear of being exposed to the coronavirus.

However, the exam is now being delayed one week because of “unforeseen complications” after the software was updated by the vendor, ILG Technologies, according to the Supreme Court. The court said the postponement would allow for a “software correction” and give additional study time to the applicants

“Earlier this week applicants started to experience delays when typing during practice tests,” said Bradley Skolnik, executive director of the Indiana Supreme Court’s Office of Admissions and Continuing Education. “We know this added unnecessary anxiety to the applicants and impacted their ability to study in this critical week.”

Applicants had been having trouble with the ILG360 program during multiple live trials and software updates. Also, a decision to allow unlimited bathroom breaks while the test was ongoing raised such concerns about increased cheating that some applicants petitioned the Supreme Court to change the format to open book. 

The Office of Admissions and Continuing Education sent an email to the applicants Friday, announcing the postponement. According to the email, the technical difficulties were taking longer than anticipated to fix.

“Despite repeated reassurances that we received from the vendor, it is unlikely these problems with the software will be resolved prior to Tuesday’s scheduled exam,” the ACE told the applicants.

The email also stated the Supreme Court, Board of Law Examiners and Office of Admission and Continuing Education sympathized with the applicants and acknowledged the stress and inconvenience the test-takers have been enduring.

“We feel terrible regarding this development,” the ACE said of the delay. “However, under the circumstances, it is simply not possible to administer the exam this coming Tuesday. It would be a grave disservice to all of you if we attempted to administer the exam at that time.”

Applicants who cannot take bar on the rescheduled date are being told to contact the Office of Admissions and Continuing Education for  guidance or to get a refund of the application fee. Those applicants will be eligible to sit for the next exam.